266 Walks in New England 



Things One Sees in Winter 



NOW that the January thaw is here, and 

 the frosts are getting out of the earth as 

 in March, and the leaves in the forest 

 steam with the odours of last fall, and many a bud 

 is coaxed into dangerous forth-putting, it may 

 seem a bit out of order to speak of the character 

 istic pleasures of cross-country walks in the winter 

 snows. But the recess of winter just in this region 

 will be over soon enough ; all bitter February, 

 with its traditional three cold days, is before us ; 

 and the snows will be furnished in due time. 

 These snows are the only drawback to the pleas 

 ure of winter walking. It requires twice or thrice 

 the nerve and muscle force used in other seasons 

 to traverse a mountain pass in the uncertain foot 

 ing of the snow ; the necessity of lifting the feet 

 six inches or a foot at every step is exhausting, 

 and then the ice that underlies the snow at un 

 expected places betrays the too confident foot. 

 It is rather odd that the snowshoe is not used 

 hereabouts, for it would be of great value in 



