Thoreau writes in his journal:
The only bare ground is the railroad track, where the snow was shin. The crust still bears, and [I] left the railroad at Androrneda Ponds and went through on crust to Fair Raven. Was surprised to see some little minnows only an inch long in an open place in Well Meadow Brook. As I stood there, saw that they had just felled my bee tree . . .