High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary

Date: Saturday, December 31, 2010
Time: 1:00 pm
Where: Shelburne, MA
What: Snowshoeing/Hiking Adventure

What started out as a snowshoeing adventure at one of my family's favorite hiking spots, High Ledges Wildlife Sanctuary in Shelburne, turned into a winter hike because the snow, unfortunately, wasn't deep enough. Today was balmy (it's all relative!) and sun-filled--a simply splendid afternoon--and perfect for an outdoor activity to ring in the new year. I love how different a familiar place looks in various seasons. We usually venture here in the fall when the trees are full of brightly colored leaves, the streams are churning, and the trails are rocky. This afternoon the vistas were amazing since the trees were bare, the streams were easy to cross (always a plus for me), and the trails were lightly covered in snow. All this created a winter wonderland as we wandered up and down the Dutch and Mary Barnard Trail to reach the Wolves' Den and eventually came to the Ledges, rugged cliffs that offer a magical view of the Deerfield River and the villages of Shelburne and Shelburne Falls. This hike took about two hours and definitely helped us work up an appetite for our New's Year's feast. Thank God for natural beauty and good food!