While a spectacularly breathtaking landscape presents itself after a heavy snowfall, the winter-sleeping trees face hazards resulting from the cold, the winds and the burdens placed upon them
leading to loss of limb, and sometimes life itself.

Saplings bend and groan under the weight of sodden snow. Mature trees already health-compromised, succumb to the blasting effects of merciless winter winds. Conifers, which help to make the landscape so winter-beautiful, surrender their sweeping branches to the force of gravity, weighted by a burden of snow layers, crushing their ability to withstand the rigours of weight and frozen intemperance.

We had a succession of weather-peculiar days this past week, with days alternating from freezing rain to snow, to rain, back to snow and more snow. Ice lavishly covered every surface. And atop that ice, thanks to the rain and the following episodes of heavy snowfall, trees and shrubs were challenged to survive intact.

When, after a number of snowfall events; one throughout the night, another taking up the following morning; we entered the ravine for a walk yesterday, it was to plod along ankle-deep snow-laden trails sunken well below the much loftier snowpack, but already tamped down by a few other hikers who had been there before us, along with the occasional snowshoer and skier.

And true, the forest looked ravishingly lovely, lavishly blanketed in fresh snow, light glinting from sun rays on the ice peeking out here and there from beneath the blanket of snow. And branches carried in a low arc due to the pressure of weight, while felled pine branches were scattered here and there along the trail where they had collapsed, broken from the trunks of old pines no longer able to support the unaccustomed weight.

Dogs walking the trails are delighted at the bonus that the fallen twigs and branches provide for them in chewing material. Skiers have to be adept and quick-thinking to avoid having hanging branches slapping their faces as they zip by, and to manoeuvre around the fallen branches.

But for those trees that have cracked through, leaving tall, naked snags as reminders where a tall forest tree once stood, there will be no spring greeting as sap runs back up to energize new growth. It's a pity, but this is nature's call.