What tracks are these

[AndyF]

I saw this track crossing Lowe's Path yesterday



It was smooth and looked like something dragged. It was too narrow and uniform for cross country skis. It was maybe 9 inches wide. I thought maybe an animal with a tail dragging behind it but I couldn't see any signs of foot prints.

Any guesses?

 

[rocket21]

I can't quite tell the width from the photo, but they do look like ski tracks to me - I'm taking note of the raised snow on the left side of the photo (not raised on the right), which looks sort of like it was pushed while turning.

 

[TJ aka Teej]

Right down the middle of a trail?

Weathered ski tracks. Weathering does funny things to tracks.

 

[BlackBuffalo]

It's like a riddle.
My guess it that a hose, tubing or rope was pulled in causing the track. Isn't there maple syrup production in that area?

DaveG.

 

[AndyF]

Skis was my first thought but it was too narrow. Unless it was someone with abnormally narrow feet who skied with them very close together. I suppose it could be a two year old on skis but there were no parent tracks following.

I haven't see any maple syrup lines in this area. There are some more to the east by the Amphibranch Trail.

 

[spencer]

It's missing the pole holes so it isn't likely skis.

FWIW - I've seen sap lines several times in that area.

If it's a sled being dragged with supplies, you'd expect to see some footprint out of the main track every once in a while. Someone was walking very carefully. the slightly higher ridge on the right side of the track makes it look like a narrow sled with an overhang.

Okay, will someone now please pipe in with the correct answer that has us all feeling foolish and saying, Duh?

 

[Jake]

Very Rare

The very rare and seldom seen North Country Ananconda?

 

[sli74]

Would a bird fly that low? Dragging something behind it? What a mystery.

sli74

 

[vegematic]

A snowboard? It looks like it comes down a gentle slope. I;m really grasping at straws.

 

[David Metsky]

An otter, doing a belly slide.

OK, I got nothing.

 

[AndyF]

An otter or some critter doing an otter like belly slide occurred to me. I thought maybe some large tailed critter dragging it's tail behind it to cover its tracks.

Also too narrow for a sled or a snowboard. The track went on in both directions across the trail for farther than I could see. Generally flat but with some slight uphills and downhills.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Dr Wu, messing with us again!

 

[vegematic]

Dr Wu, messing with us again!

It's the only explanation.

 

[spider solo]

If the track went off trail and rambled here and there my vote would be for a porcupine.

 

[Jason Berard]

That would be my vote as well.....

 

[TrishandAlex]

According to this site, a porcupine track may have some raised snow along the middle of the path, in a zig-zag of sorts (from waddling as he/she walks).

http://www.survivaltopics.com/survival/tracking-a-porcupine-in-winter/

Maybe it's a marching porcupine (one without a waddle)?

 

[carole]

If the track went off trail and rambled here and there my vote would be for a porcupine.

Only problem with that suggestion is no footprints. Porcupine have a cute waddle but you would see their prints and the scrapping of their quills along the side of the track.

 

[bikehikeskifish]

It does not look animal-made to me.

It looks like it was gravity-propelled (or possibly motor-driven)

There is a clear lip on the outside of the curve indicating snow was pushed up that way. It appears the inside of the track is deeper.

I think it is a skier/boarder of some sort - either with uncommon skis, or where the tracks are partially wind-blown. If this is looking up hill, as it appears to be, there wouldn't necessarily be any signs of poles.

What could have dragged something in such a way as to obliterate any tracks from the dragger?

Tim

 

[sli74]

I don't know how someone handicapped would have gotten up there without a lift but the handicapped chair skis leave a track that looks like that. Maybe?

sli74

 

[David Metsky]

I don't know how someone handicapped would have gotten up there without a lift but the handicapped chair skis leave a track that looks like that. Maybe?

It has outriggers that are held in the hands and would leave tracks to the main one.