Deep snow, beautiful woods and fields, overcast skies that eventually offered sun and white clouds framed the CCC’s Sunday winter tracking event at Langwood Tree Farm on Feb 22, 2026. Twenty folks from Cornish and Plainfield enjoyed each other’s company as they followed naturalist and tracker, Martha Mitchell from Westminster West, VT for a 2-hour snowshoe, exploring tracks and signs of winter life. Afterwards the group gathered in Colleen’s barn for more conversation and a chance to ask questions.

We learned that many animals do not move much in deep snow; it takes too much energy and increases the risk of predation. Also, the ability to determine with certainty what type of animal made a track when the snow is so deep is nearly impossible. The best tracking is done in mud or very light snow when prints are very easy to see. That said, we were able to determine that deer were prevalent (from tracks and evidence of browsing on shrubs), gray squirrel efforts to retrieve buried acorns were also clear, and a fallen tree over a stone wall created a protected area which showed signs of porcupine activity. Once the group reached the hilltop behind the barn we were treated to the sight of 4 crows mobbing a red-tailed hawk in the sky overhead. Quite a dramatic conclusion to our snowshoe adventure!

Martha stopped us from time to time to talk about woodland invasives, insects, fungi and diseases affecting our trees and all of the life forms that depend on them. We shoed across wetlands with running water and Martha pointed out prints leading to ferns (food for turkeys) and red dogwoods which deer browse – she inspired an active dialogue with the group, and all of us learned something new.

Thanks to Martha Mitchell, all those who ventured out to explore and learn more about Cornish winter woods, and to Colleen for welcoming us so warmly to Langwood Farm.