<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">One of the rewards to spending time on the Great Glen trail system is the chance to see wildlife. I’ve had a couple treats that way this week, and I hope some of you will too.</div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">On Tuesday, Chris Brockett and I were raking the single track known as Moose Alley, it’s off Libby Trace near Coffee Pot Rock. A large bird took off silently, crossed Libby Trace, fluttered its wings for a few seconds, then landed silently on a high horizontal branch. The quiet of its action and its size made me quite sure I was seeing an owl. I walked slowly and quietly down the single track in hopes of getting closer for a better view. The owl’s body was facing away from me, but it turned its head what seemed like 180 degrees and looked at me intently. I wanted Chris to see it, but feared that any shout loud enough to get his attention would scare it off. I walked back to where Chris was working, but by the time we retraced my steps, the owl had silently flown away. A check in one of our bird books confirmed it to be a Barred Owl.</div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt"> </div> <div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt">Yesterday I saw a moose. How can that not bring a smile?! I was running the “long course” Eli has chosen for our spring trail running & walking series, which starts today. I came out of Wilding and turned down Great Grumpy. Back in the woods was a young male. He had the beginnings of a rack of antlers, to go with his big ears. He looked over his shoulder at me. He seemed in no hurry to move. I always feel blessed by such sightings. I was glad to hear Ryan got to see him also on his run.</div>

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