Mild Weather Returns: A December Walk At Community Park, Hazle Township

The weather in December here in Northeastern Pennsylvania can vary considerably from year to year, week to week and even day-to-day.  We had a cold spell with the arrival of the Winter Solstice but the weather changed and warmed up for Christmas week. It was still mild when I decided to hike close to home at our local Community Park in Hazle Township last Saturday. 

Temperatures were in the mid 30 when I began my hike. I walked around Lake Irena which was still mostly  frozen even after the recent warm weather. 

There was some open water and here I found a few mallard ducks swimming in the cold water. 

They quickly flew away as I approached.

There were some black-capped chickadees and sparrows fluttering in the trees along the trail but none near enough to photograph.

I followed the trail from Lake Irena to the Babe Ruth Baseball fields about a 1/4 mile distance. I then  walked along the old  abandoned  access road. Leafless trees surrounded the road with some green pine trees and the various shades of brown provided by the dead leaves and vegetation providing the only color.

There were a number of  side trails created by folks illegally riding their quads and 4 wheel drive vehicles.  One could see the numerous efforts of the landowners to stop them fallen trees, piles of dirt and rocks. Unfortunately these folks don’t ever seem to get the message.

One of the old logging trails led me to the wetlands near the Hazleton airport.

Here I found an abundance of high bush blueberry shrubs. The ground was covered in tea berries. 

These berries are edible throughout the year but I find them tasting nest in the cold of winter, Their flavor takes me back to the warm months of summer. 

I made my way back to the lake  just as the sun was breaking through the clouds. 

The lake was quiet except for the cawing of a  murder of crows chasing a hawk in the woods as the far edge of the water. 

It was a pleasant hike in the mild December weather. Every warm day we get here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, is, in my opinion , a blessing. I am not a fan of the cold any more. But it won’t stop me from enjoying the beautiful woodlands we are so blessed with here. Here is a link to a gallery with some more photographs from my walk. Community Park hike December 28 2019.

Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far.     Thomas Jefferson

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