New snow picked up to ~3-4 inches by 2000' (less under trees) and stayed pretty consistent through the hike, it was easy to walk on. By 4000' however I started encountering old snow layer below, and it was firm and icy, and slowed me considerably. I turned around near 4200', not because of conditions, just decided I didn't want to tag summit in the dark anyway. Crampons would definitely be helpful for the upper part, snowshoes - maybe not so much.
Always thankful they left concrete bridge over this creek, after turning the first mile of road into a trail
In the beginning it was like going in the rain, with snow melting off branches
Spotty forest
Too early for rhododendrons
At a viewpoint ~2,800-3,000 elevation. No views, no wind, no dripping (finally) and very quiet. There were tiny (foxes'?) tracks but it will be more there on the way back.
Saw 2 or 3 of these native birds flying around - yes, active at lower 30's!
I rarely take pictures just going through the forest - but snow brings in more diversity to landscape. This trail is well-graded, views don't change much mile after mile, and hours pass unnoticed.
Yes blue skies did make an appearance on Sunday
The temps dipped into mid-20's or so, and my soaked backpack slowly iced over... But uphill warmed me good enough, so wet winter coat, sweater, gloves, snowshoes were more exercise weight than anything. Rain coat (over a fleece shirt) was probably the best piece of gear I brought that day
The summit is there somewhere. I turned about 50-100' short of ridge viewpoint when trail became icy and going slow.
On the way back near viewpoint I saw that my tracks were followed by 2 cougars (or bobcats?) downhill. I didn't take my dog and my tracks were the only ones on trail beyond 1st mile, so these couldn't be dog tracks. They went on trail for about 1/2 mile before veering into the forest.
It was probably a female with a young. But what kind of cat? Comparing to my boot prints, the larger track was about 3.25'' wide - smaller than I'd expect for cougar but too big for a bobcat. But then, the stride was only about 26-28''... Hard to tell.
At the bottom edge of this pic, the larger track fit perfectly into my heel print, which is just under 3.5'' wide.
Screenshot from online Montana DNR brochure, telling difference between cougar, bobcat, and lynx tracks.
- click to enlarge
. Either way, pretty exciting to be so close to actual encounter.(edited for typos)
