There were a few icy spots on the trail but not all of the little ponds were iced over.
Nature's shrubs,
and ours.
Pretty soon I came to the dirt road that contours at 1200' over from Coyote Wall and to another view to the E.
I followed this road E until it turns into the Catherine Creek drainage. From here, I could see across to Tracy Hill - my immediate goal provided I could get across the drainage, which is impressively steep in this area.
A short distance into the drainage, the road splits - right back to the TH, left deeper into the drainage (past an ancient electric stove) - I went left. About 0.5 mi N on this decrepit road, an even more decrepit and abused old road drops right down to the creek.
Crossing the creek here was easy but climbing out of the drainage was harder. I just put my trust in Bambi and started following the well-used game trails that contoured out of the drainage. On these, the trodden snow made for better footing than the grass underneath.
Across the way, the road I'm come in on could be seen (arrows) cutting the slope.
I eventually contoured E to the crest of Tracy Hill, which is dotted with groves of oaks now shorn of their leaves - this must be a lovely spot in the Spring.
I followed the crest of the hill down, trending a little right to meet up with the road/trail that passes the bottom of the Arch,
and goes back to the TH. A short hike (5 mi RT, 1400' EG) but one where I got to explore some new ground and see this area in Winter's grip. Tracy Hill is a definite must-visit come Spring.
