Ollie Treads Carefully

~ beetleypete

The snow we had earlier this week has not melted. It is still here, despite strong sunshine in the mornings, and the weatherman’s promise of a thaw.

Now the constant sub-zero temperatures have done their job, and it is frozen. This is a serious issue on pavements, and the well-trodden paths on the dog-walking route. There is solid ice on those, two to three inches deep, and difficult to walk on. Bad enough for me in my rubber-soled walking boots, but for Ollie it is incredibly hard for him to keep his footing on his small pads.

His legs splay apart, like Bambi in the Disney film, and he hesitates as he tries to find dry spots to place his feet into. Where it is really bad, he stands still and looks at me, only continuing when I walk away from him.

Over on Hoe Rough earlier, the snow had combined with the mud, freezing into what looks like a miniature mountain range. Walking on that presents new problems, as there is the danger of sinking deep into the areas that have not completely frozen. And the small solid ‘peaks’ are slippery enough to sprain an ankle, if you are not careful.

Ollie chose to avoid the paths completely, and walk in the deep snow instead. I was reluctant to follow him through that. It makes walking harder as I sink into the softer snow with every step, and it also conceals the deep pools that are full of water that could easily go over the top of my boots and soak the inside of them.

This all meant that our ninety-minute walk felt more like it had taken over three hours, especially in the bitingly cold wind that was blowing at me, seemingly from every angle.

We were both glad to get back home into the warm today.

51 thoughts on “Ollie Treads Carefully”

  4. I feel for Ollie, and for you. Multiple snows combined with some melting and freezing are treacherous. You can’t shovel or plow ice. Walking is hazardous. If there is snow on the ground and freezing rain is expected, no-one shovels the snow. Walking through slush, ice, and snow is a marathon. I feel you are getting a small taste of ‘New England 101’. Best to you and Ollie, Pete.

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  6. Jackie bounds from one hole in the snow to another, it almost covers her and sometimes does when she hits a drift 🙂 She is panting hard after 20 minutes of walking (jumping), I stick to my path and hope for the best 🙂

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  7. It seems like it’s frigid everywhere these days. I had a Zoom call today with my three older brothers, and all of us are experiencing cold, wet, or snowy weather. We’re spread out over four time zones.

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  8. Jeannie come lately chiming in with everybody else — watch your steps out there! I hope for both your and Ollie‘s sakes the ice is going to melt soon. That white stuff is pretty when it‘s freshly fallen snow, but when it freezes … the beauty turns treacherous. 😦

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  13. (1) With respect to footing, Ollie would greatly appreciate the vast dry lake beds / salt flats here in the Mojave Desert. However, the lack of trees, running water, and animals might bore him.
    (2) We do have wonderful trails in the forests at higher elevations, however. The Spring Mountains are so named because of the abundance of natural springs, some more seasonal than others. And, of course, Ollie might encounter any number of animals.
    (3) Right now, it’s sunny, and warm enough to wear a short sleeve shirt.
    (4) You suffer in winter. We suffer in summer.
    (5) Have you considered buying waders?

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    1. Waders would be uncomfortable to walk in, as they are meant for standing in water when fishing. And today’s conditions are fotunately quite rare in Beetley.
      Ollie would need some water on a long hot walk. If there was none nearby, I would have to carry a fair bit for him to drink.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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