Frozen Water - Cracked Ice

Looking East atop the southern Wolf Creek levee towards the Great Miami River and Downtown Dayton

CONDITIONS AND ROUTE
Snow and ice, mild wind.  Overcast.  4°f.

The route this morning was not unique; I traveled east along W. Fifth St, through Oak and Ivy Park, along Edwin C. Moses, back west along West Third, north on Williams, scrambled down levee to Wolf Creek, back east to the confluence with the Great Miami River, then doubled back.  

INTERACTIONS
Only a Canadian Goose or two. 

OBSERVATIONS

Looking east atop frozen Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek is almost completely frozen.  Most of it was ice all the way across, but there were still small ribbons of open water.

At the edge of ice, it is pretty thick here right up to the edge.

I noticed walking on top of the creek a spot where apparently either one very well provisioned person, or a group of people had taken to chucking partially consumed apples on top of the ice.  This made me smile.  

Frozen apples.  I counted six.

I came across several different tracks in the snow.  I saw one set of deer tracks behind businesses on West third, as well as many squirrel and goose prints.

Evidence of a dance.

Under Wolf Creek Bridge I noticed that graffiti from the summer had been painted over.  The graffiti here was neither vulgar, nor artistic. 

Both the grey blocks, as well as the "brown" had multiple images.

The short dam where Wolf Creek empties into the Great Miami was a beautiful sight and soundscape.

The Great Miami River is not frozen over, while ice covers some sections completely, others are still quite open.  Ice stretched out from the western bank some 50-100 feet.  I ventured out about 20 feet before I heard the first crack.

Clearing away the snow revealed a clear view of the frozen ice, appears to be a couple inches in some places.

First crack on the Great Miami River, I gingerly turned back towards the safety of the banks.

REFLECTIONS

It is very pleasing to travel the same areas at various times of year and in various weather conditions.  It adds a strength and depth to the environment that is otherwise missed by just driving from point to point.  No matter what the conditions are, and always feel well when I return home from a walk.