Michigan Forest Life - January 23, 2026

Greetings, friends – from the wilds of Winterfield Pines Nature Sanctuary, 

‘Tis a deeper degree of winter in the forest this week. -12F this morning on the Treehouse

thermometer (Photo 1). It will be colder tomorrow. This coldness is amplified with a layer of stiff wind - about 15mph - that makes things feel colder and brings more danger when stepping outside. But the brutal cold does not wipe out the mornings sunrise (Photo 2.) Mother Nature paints the sky no matter the temperature, and her paintings often become more clear on a cold morning.

When the sun goes down, the views are equally special; a visual reflection of the cold and an ominous preview for what the darkness might bring (Photo 3, 4, 5). Time to be inside. 

I arrived in the forest on Tuesday and picked my way through wind-blown fallen trees crossing the trail. The temperature was +5F then… in the open forest and inside the Treehouse. As night approached I worked to bring up the inside temperature as the outside temperature steadily dropped.  Everything inside needed thawing. The walls, the floor, the insulation, the bed’s mattress (and memory foam mattress cover – it was a brick), the dishes, the books, the cooler… everything. (The only relevance of a cooler in temperature like this, oddly, is to keep things from freezing.) By 10:00 pm I took off my sweater. Most of the Treehouse was +75F, and it felt good. The memory foam made only a reverse impression where my body heat had melted it into a perfect nest. 

Perhaps you ask, “Why is Dan in the forest at a time like this?”

“To feel the power of Mother Nature,” I reply. “It is a unique opportunity. Inspiring. I try not to miss times like this, because they make me feel more alive. Feel like I am participating at a level that is more hands-on.” 

I see animals in the snow, or I cross their tracks.  This morning a line of three deer walked by the Treehouse, single file, -12F.  How do they survive? While walking from the gate to the Treehouse I saw the fresh tracks of a single coyote. When I passed the place at the top of the hill where firewood is processed, a ruffed grouse flew up.

I immediately asked the grouse, “What are you doing out here in weather like this?” And then, realizing the stupidity of my question, I asked myself, “Where would the grouse go?”

I stand in awe of the capacity of wild animals to survive extreme winter conditions. All kinds of wild animals.  They all do it. Yes, ‘tis a deeper degree of winter in the forest this week.  

Please enjoy another teaser from FOREST LEGEND: THE TALE OF OL’ SPLIT TOE – preview

snippet 18 of 27 (Photo 7). If you have not done so already, this is a good time to preorder the book on Amazon or wherever you buy books; hardcover, paperback, eBook, Audiobook. The publication date is March 31, 2026. 

I wish you a bit of deep winter, and a warm place to survive the cold – a human solution (Photo 6).

Until next time,

Dan

Excerpt from Chapter 22

AD 1950 - The large buck lifted his head to catch the doe’s scent one more time. He felt good about himself. At the top of his game. At the top of the herd. It was a spot he had earned and defended over several seasons while Split Toe was away.

He did not expect to hear Split Toe’s challenging grunt. The buck did not know what to make of the challenge. Was this one of the other deer in the area trying again to displace him? Or had an ambitious buck from outside crossed into his territory? There was no end to stray bucks wandering into his forest and trying to take his position. The challenging buck would have to learn his place.

The large buck turned in a ball of fury, not taking time to look closely at his target. He simply saw the dark form of another deer step from cover into the open alfalfa field. The large buck’s head faced the ground when he made the turn, the muscles of his front shoulders and neck tight with pent-up strength. His front hooves dug into the ground as his rear legs launched him in the direction of his opponent.

Copyright @ 2026 by Daniel S. Ellens

Praise for FOREST LEGEND:

“A captivating, gritty tale that blends folklore with raw, emotional depth, leaving readers both enthralled and moved by its unforgettable characters and powerful storytelling.”

– Michael Gabrion, Chairman, Muskegon River Watershed Assembly.