Early Morning Snowshoeing

The snow hole that the DC area has been in all season finally closed.  We got about 6 inches of really wet, heavy snow last night.  I got up before dawn this morning for a quick snowshoe through Rock Creek Park.  I was out before most people had begun to shovel their walks, so I was able to snowshoe right on the sidewalks all the way down to the park.  The park was nearly silent except for the occasional call of a pileated woodpecker and, as it warmed up, water dripping off the trees.

Pictures (click to enlarge):

 Rock Creek as the sun was coming up.

Mallards feeding in the creek. 

The Valley Spring Bridge over the creek

An oak leaf covered in snow.

 Snow "flowers" on a cherry tree.

Fresh tracks on the Valley Trail.