Ninigret NWR

Posted By on February 24, 2014

Ninigret NWR

2.59 miles; charlestown, ri

i just had to get out again, even though it was a bit colder today. the 10-day forecast has snow and/or icy mix on at least 3 upcoming days. it was windy, too, but the cross-refuge trail is fairly sheltered, so it wasn’t too bad. discovered a new fungus-like plant, too: pink earth lichen. lichen that a lot. sorry.

charlietown runway trail

charlietown runway trail

as you can see from this photo, there were long clear stretches, particularly on the paved and stone dust portions of the trail. but it wasn’t completely snow/ice free. it was just enough to make me think i should have put on my yak-trax by the time i was done. but each individual stretch wasn’t that long, and it seemed like too much trouble to stop and put them on.

icier stretch on foster cove loop

icier stretch on foster cove loop

the snow patches were all like this… short stretches with crunchy snow. it was more annoying than dangerous.

pink earth lichen (dibaeis baeomyces)

pink earth lichen (dibaeis baeomyces)

as i was marching along, i noticed these tiny pink dots in the sandy soil next to the runway trail. i thought at first they were just pink bits of granite, but on closer inspection, i saw they might actually be some sort of fruiting body on lichen. when i got back, i turned to old mr. google and saw that i was correct. this photo on the naturally curious website is much better than mine. in fact, this book on that website looks amazing. i may have to purchase it.

you can find ninigret national wildlife in the hikefinder.

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