Supposed to be sunny and low 30s today but we're also in an inversion with yellow air quality so getting into the mountains (even a little) will be cleaner air to breathe.
I get to the gate and once again it is closed. So I try to find the alternate entrances.
There's a pull-out just down the road, there are cars parked by the building and since its listed as an entrance from the research I did, I pull-off. I didn't get out but I'm just not sure how these people are getting across the creek, so I continue to the next possible entrance.
I find the small parking area; just one car parked. I get out and see the trail (which is pretty steep grade as it needs to get to the bottom of the canyon) is pretty snow- packed. I asked the guy (the owner of the only other car around) if I'm going to need snowshoes and he comments that it pretty packed. Yea -- I didn't bring the snowshoes! So I put my boots on and I'm off for some snow hiking!!
Its pretty steep to get down to the trail -- probably would've been easier to go down on my butt. I've always wondered where this trail went --- see it every time I've been on the main trail and have never taken it. It was re-done sometime in the summer and made wider (and easier to see). So now I actually know where it goes.
The sun down on the trail is blocked by the mountains to south - and the mountain base is really close. Still a good amount of snow down here. I decide to go left towards the old building. Its not that far since I've driven along most of the trail.
Since there are no leaves on the trees and the trail is so close to the road, I hear lots of cars heading up towards the ski resorts. There is also so bird chirps here-n-there; and of course the sound of the creek. Up in this section the water is flowing.
I take a side trail to get close to the creek. The views are nice but there are lots of branches in the way. So I move through mid-calf deep snow to try and get better views downstream. But it doesn't really help much.
Back on the main trail again, I get to one of my favorite creek viewpoints. Its down some rocks to bigger rock -- its tricky without the snow but someone with snowshoes has already went part way down so I follow but I try to get one step further and end up to my hip (almost) in snow -- (Oops) The view was still good.
I continue upwards to another side trail, this one leading to a small bridge that crosses the creek to the old building. Noticed this bridge in the fall (newly built). The view from the middle of the bridge upstream and downstream was pretty awesome - little waterfalls, ice-capped rocks,
snow covered logs and very large icicles hanging of branches near the water. And of course, the view of the old building.
Time to turnaround and check out the right side of the trail.
The sun is up over the mt tops now but just in one section of the trail.
The trees are all covered in this heavy-duty frost. Its looks so pretty.
The frost is everywhere covering plants and entire small bushes.
I get to the waterwheel which is obviously is not turning. There is a circle of open water near the wheel and some interesting icicles. The ice-shard snow is here as well.
After I cross the bridge, I can see the sunny mountains to the north. A nice change from just trees.
I come to the 1st parking area -- there are voices across the stream --- I still don't know how folks are getting across.
I continue downhill but the trail is much less used here. I do see some moose tracks but its time to turn around and head back uphill to my car.
Along the way I notice 2 men walking up the creek near that 1st parking area. I also meet another couple, they tell me the creek is really a "step-over" at that point --- hmmm, maybe next time.
On the way back I notice these little snow crystals hanging by a "thread"-like material off a branch. Reminds me of the inch-worms that hang from trees in the summer -- maybe its frozen ones?!
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