Tuesday: Quick hike at Woods Hollow before work. There was a thin veneer of ice left on the reservoir, and as I approached the water, the wind and ice combined to make a sound like sheet metal being bent.

The strong wind and frigid cold were remarkable.

Wednesday: Short hike at Old Gick Farm (part of the Saratoga Sand Plains WMA). No signs of spring there, yet, and it felt weird seeing it like that. I’ve been there in all seasons, but today hit me differently for some reason. It looked dead.

A picture of a dead grassland, with a bright, hazy sun overhead, making the land look even darker by contrast.