Trudging Through The Snow ( And Thankfully, Some Tire Tracks) At The Susquehanna Wetlands
The snow storm that I said was predicted in my last blog arrived. And it lived up to the predictions. It dumped over a foot of snow on us here in Luzerne County in Northeastern Pennsylvania last Sunday. The snow storm was followed by an arctic cold front dropping the temperatures below zero during the week. I decided to venture back down to the Susquehanna Wetlands and the Susquehanna River to see how they looked after the snow and cold. 
I wasn’t sure if I would be able to park in the wetlands since the gate to the access road is closed in the Winter. I was glad to find there was an area plowed near the Water Fowl ponds. It looked like it was made by the crew who maintain the wetlands and river lands. I parked here and stepped out into the frigid morning air. It was cloudy and around 4 degrees when I arrived at 8:30 a.m. The ponds were covered in ice in snow. There was over a foot of snow on the ground. It was a pretty winter scene, but I did not look forward to trudging through the snow.
I walked along the township road toward the access gate, hoping the maintenance crew plowed the road to the parking lot. Along the way I saw a flock of yellow-throated sparrows feeding on grass seeds exposed by the snow plowing.
A song sparrow joined them. It is a difficult time of year for wildlife since much of the seeds, and vegetation they feed on are covered in snow. 
I was also surprised to see a white breasted nut hatch feeding on the ground. These birds usually are crawling down trees looking for insects underneath the bark. The trees may be frozen solid too. I also heard a few northern cardinals and dark juncos in the surrounding woods but I wasn’t going to stop and get photos. It was cold out.
I came to the access gate and, unfortunately, I found that the road was not plowed. I debated myself whether to trudge through the snow to get the Susquehanna River. I wanted to see how much ice was on the river. I decided I would.
It wasn’t fun walking through the deep snow. I already had walked 3 miles in my neighborhood earlier in the morning, But I wanted to see how much ice was on river so I trudged on. In my younger days I would hike many miles in the deep snow. It’s a lot harder on these older bones and muscles. 
There was no bird activity whatsoever in the trees in woodlands along the access road. There were no human footprints in the snow. I was the only person to trudge trough the foot of snow. 
However, there were a lot of deer and other animal tracks. Unfortunately, I didn’t see any of the critters that made them. 
It was a white Winter wonderland along the trail. The only colors contrasting the white snow were the brown and gray trees branches and some brown and withered fallen oak leaves, 
sycamore seed pods or “buttonballs”,
withered Canada goldenrod flowers ,
and sensitive ferns.
I slowly made my way through the deep snow and got to the parking lot. As I walked down to the Susquehanna river I was surprised, and delighted, to see that a maintenance truck had made its way to the river.
This was good news for me since now I could follow the tire tracks and not have to trudge through the snow. First, however, I walked to the banks of the river and watched the ice flowing downstream.
There wasn’t as much ice as I thought there would be.
I then followed the tire tracks, which took me past the trail head to the Beaver Trail in wetlands where I usually hike,
and followed the trail along the Susquehanna river. I don’t usually hike on this trail.
It still was difficult walking in the tire tracks, but much easier than trudging through the foot of snow. The trail the tire tracks followed took me under ancient oaks, maple and sycamore tree along the river.
The tire tracks then followed a middle trail between the Beaver Trail and the Susquehanna River trail. In about a quarter of a mile on the trail , another trail intersects which leads back to the Beaver Trail in wetlands. Here I saw another set of footprints coming from the wetlands. . I wasn’t the only human who ventured in the deep snow.
I continued following the tire tracks,
and they took me to took me to another trail,the Pin Oak Trail connecting the Beaver Trail in wetlands to the river.
I usually walk back down to the river on this trail. The tire tracks led back to the Beaver Trail and I again debated whether to trudge through the deep snow down to the river. Once again I decided to walk through the snow and down to the river. There was more ice on the river here. A large hawk, I believe it was a red tailed hawk was perched in a tree but I couldn’t photograph it because of the branches.
It was cold and windy, but I continued on following the tire tracks through the wetlands, and making my way to the Riverland section of the private nature preserve.
Here I followed much welcome plowed access road that I followed to Lake Took- A While.
It was frozen and snow covered. 
Along the lake I saw some withered cutleaf teasel flowers,
cattails
and blue green brier berries standing out in the otherwise white Winter world. I had walked about 2 miles and was cold and tired so I decided to hike back .
On the plowed access road I saw more white throated sparrows feeding on seeds along the road.
It was a slow hike back in the frigid air and deep snow, even following the path made by the tire tracks. But it was a pretty winter scene as I walked through the snow covered woodlands.
It wasn’t easy walking in the tire tracks. It only got worse when I got back to the parking lot and the tire tracks ended. I had to trudge through the snow again for my last 1/2 mile of my 3 mile walk. It wasn’t easy and I was glad to make it back to the main.road. 
Here I saw the small flock of white throated sparrows still feeding on the grass seeds exposed along the plowed road.
I was glad to get inside my Jeep and begin to thaw out. I wasn’t a pleasant hike I was disappointed I didn’t see more wildlife on my hike but it was quiet in the wetlands. I saw many tracks in the snow but none of the animals that made them. And there was almost no bird activity on this frigid last day of January. I miss my hikes in the warmer months,when I see migratory song birds, snakes, turtles, frogs, and all kinds of insect. And I miss the deep green colors of the trees and bright colors of the wildflowers. And finally, I miss the many sounds of the warmer months, the song birds, the frogs, and the insects. It’s pretty obvious Winter is not my favorite season. But I did try and appreciate, and share, the subtle beauty of the wetlands in the snow. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web-page with some more photos from my hike in the snow covered wetlands. Susquehanna Wetlands January 31 2026. 
“I wonder if the snow loves the trees and fields, that it kisses them so gently? And then it covers them up snug, you know, with a white quilt; and perhaps it says, “Go to sleep, darlings, till the summer comes again.”
― Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass
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