On days as cold as yesterday when the high for the day reached -8C, the forest floor was frozen solid, and the surrounding forest trees were still outlined with the remnants of the last snowfall, the landscape is inexpressibly beautiful.

Mind, there was a cutting wind to complement the cold. And despite that we were, we three and our two little dogs, dressed for the weather, the icy cold did wrap its fingers around our exposed faces and nipped as well into our vulnerable fingers, mitten-clad or not.

There were no complaints from Jackie and Jillie, they were too busy as usual exploring the milieu surrounding them. One they are intimately familiar with, so much so that Jillie trotted confidently ahead as usual and then got left behind when we decided to take one of those trails we don't often veer onto.

From above, on that alternate trail, we were very aware of her puzzled barking as though to say 'where are you all, where did you go to?' to which we responded, 'up here, Jillie' and lickety-split she tripped the Light Fantastic to rejoin us. Usually when she hurries ahead like that she also looks back from time to time to ensure that we're still in sight. She missed that assurance this time around.

And turning off onto an unfamiliar trail also provides a bit of a perk for them since though they may have been there before on a few occasions, those were still rare occasions. So this gave them the opportunity to re-acquaint themselves to a less-travelled route. Which Jackie, our little explorer, took full and immediate advantage of, while his sister confined herself to the straight-and-narrow, remaining on the trail, but hurrying ahead though her brother forged his way through the forest alongside the trail.

We took that alternate to avoid a double hill requiring two ascents and a questionable descent between them -- which becomes reversed when travelling in the opposite direction. That was our choice yesterday in a bid to avoid some fancy footwork on the icy trails. As it was, we were unable to avoid many of those long, icy patches, and took to winding our way among the trees, off the trail rather than risk what seemed inevitable; another slide and fall.

It worked rather well, for the most part. And there was the additional advantage of having to exert more energy as a result of those alternate avenues the weather conditions forced upon us, since exerting more energy also keeps one warmer.

And despite the concern over the wicked trail conditions there are plenty of areas that are flat, so the ice there doesn't pose that much of a risk, before being confronted yet again with an ascent or descent. As far as Jackie and Jillie are concerned, there's not much difference in the terrain; they happily tackle all conditions. Little Riley used to be terrified of icy conditions and we had to lift him until the way became decently approachable again; not these two.