Starting to Look Suspiciously like Almost-Spring

We have been getting little bits of snow every night that melt off in the daytime as the temperatures rise above freezing.  A couple of days ago, I took the chance that new snow cover would cancel out the ice on the trails at Lone Pine, so I grabbed my ice-walkers (just in case), my poles and hit the trail.

I was right.  There was 1 to 2 inches of fresh snow - just enough for my ice-walkers to grip and keep me upright.  I helped myself along with poles too, and felt confident enough to try the Cliff Trail - one of the steeper ways up to the top.  It was beautiful and the trail had had much less traffic, thus making it snow-packed but not slick.  The trail before me was soft and lovely and beckoned me upwards toward the top.  Below the snow, where the feet of other hikers had pushed aside the meager covering, I could see hard, black ice everywhere and I knew that once this freshest snow melted, the trails would be treacherous once more.  But for now, the walk was quiet and easy - except for that darn uphill part that made me huff and puff with exertion. 

I could see that some new foot traffic was beginning to pack the snow, so I turned off onto a side trail and was delighted to see that I was the first hiker of the day.  I thought I might see some deer, but they must have been hiding.  As I glanced around, I was astonished to see how bare the slopes were.  We have had a very dry winter and I despair for the summer when this trail will be thick with dust instead of snow. 

Another hiker and his dog finally met me just as I was beginning to see the mountains to the East.  It looked to be snowing toward Columbia Mountain and into Glacier Park.  At least if we get plenty of snow in the mountains, the fire danger will be less, even if it's dry as dust down here in the valley.

For now, however, I'll just hope that either warm weather comes soon, or the small snows continue to fall on the icy trails to help me out in my quest for exercise and enjoyment of the woods.  Each day is an adventure and I can't wait to see what lies in store.

As I write this post, the sun is shining brightly.  That's deceptive, however, because fifteen minutes ago, snow and rain were blowing furiously from the west.  I think I'll wait until we've had good weather for a solid hour, or I'll wait until tomorrow to see what it brings before I take my chances outdoors.

Where's the snow? Not in Herron Park.

The middle of February and hardly any snow.  Last year at this time Herron Park had a lot of snow to enjoy.  We snowshoed quite a bit, people cross-country skied and sledded on the great sledding hill there.

 A few hours ago, I went to Herron Park with my son, Eli, hoping that the trail wasn't as icy as the ones on Lone Pine.  Reports from Eli and my snowshoeing friend, Marylane, told me that the trails on Lone Pine were quite treacherous, very icy and packed down, making for some beyond-icewalker hiking.  No thanks.  I have been either going to the gym or walking downtown to get some exercise.  Today, however, the sun was shining and the temperature was hovering around freezing, so off we went.

From a distance you could tell that, although there was some snow, there wasn't nearly enough to ski or snowshoe. 

There were a lot of bare spots poking through the thin covering of snow and the hills didn't have that wintery look that I hoped it would have.  We set off on the icy trail, trying to avoid the parts that resembled skating rinks.  We met a walker with two standard poodles who didn't mind that there wasn't much snow.  They were just happy to be outside on a walk.  That's the way I began to feel, too.  The day was bright and lovely, I felt recovered from a bout of back pain from the previous week and my knees felt almost normal.  It's hell getting old.

We took the main trail/road up the side of the hill.  Eli never did put on his ice-walkers although I did at the parking lot.  I also had my poles - just in case I hit a slippery spot.  I hadn't done any uphill walking in a few weeks, so I took it easy and went slowly.  Eli was ahead of me the whole way, but that's nothing new.  He is young and strong and has a longer stride.  Ah, youth.

Pretty soon, I got hot and sweaty and stopped for a rest and a photo.  The hills around the park were pretty bare, but still a beautiful sight.  Just being outside in the fresh, cold air made me feel better than I had in a while.

In the distance, I could just make out the Swan range looking blue and snowy.  I found myself saying "Now, if I come up here and do this walk two or three times a week, I'll be in pretty good shape for Lone Pine when the ice is gone."  That is a great thought.  Maybe I'll actually try it.  I don't mind walking alone in Lone Pine - familiarity breeds courage.  I think I'd be alright in Herron Park alone, but somehow it seems better to have a companion in a bigger, farther away place.  I should just suck it up and stop being a baby.  Or beg my son to come with me.  Yeah, begging might work.

Anyway, I had a wonderful walk.  Peaceful, pretty and a good workout for an hour's work only a few miles from home.  There really isn't a good reason why I can't come up here more often.  After all, it's only the middle of February.  Spring is a long way off.