free to be able to rate and comment on reports (as well as access 1:25000 mapping).
Seeking another hike in the foothills close to home I remembered that when I hiked Prairie Mountain at the end of January this year I met a guy who was doing a nice circuit. So I set off to West Bragg on highway 22 then took highway 66 right through to the winter gate where I parked by the side of the road. I was surprised to see dozens of cars there before remembering it's Easter Monday.. ...then I realised that this will become the norm as the weather improves
It's just a few hundred yards along the closed road to the trail head that drops down to the right beside Prairie Creek and (today at least) begins with a snow covered trail running beside the creek.
after a while I came across a bridge over the creek guarded by a fine snowman, I wish I'd had something to write with/on so I could have put a sign against him saying "None shall pass" alas I had no such equipment
it had been a level wander until crossing the creek where the trail takes an immediate ascent against an impressive little ridge, the south facing slope had virtually cleared of snow though in shaded areas there is some wicked ice remaining
the trail continues to climb at a very comfortable steady pace along the sun cleared slope, it's a lovely hike taking little effort to this point and allowing a nice steady warm up, something that seems quite rare around these parts
the trail swings in a long loop around the side of the valley before descending a little and popping out onto a flat viewpoint looking back down the valley. To give you some idea of distances, the hill directly in front of me here that seems to be blocking the valley is where the first section of ascent took place today
from here there's more descent, still winding along the side of the valley wall in young aspen trees that are yet to take on the first bloom of spring
soon all of the previous ascent is lost and I am back in the valley bottom walking beside the creek, but the trail is still easy going and I'm enjoying the hike, the temperature is in single figures and the sun is shining, perfect hiking conditions
it's not long before I'm ascending again, back into the aspens along the valley ridge, this turns out to be a pattern with this trail and ascent is gained and lost for the entire route until the turning point 7km along the valley
back down to the valley floor and a wide open meadow, the third such space I have passed so far. There must be an abundance of mountain flowers here once the melt is complete
from the valley I ascend again a little way before hitting a long level section with some views out toward the distant peaks
dropping back to the valley floor I see a bridge across the creek that represents the link I have been seeking, for a moment I consider continuing further but conditions will be better for that when the spring flowers are out...I'll have to come back
there is even a glimpse of water here downstream of the bridge, its nice to see the melt in action and the beautiful clear mountain water
once over the bridge there is a good slab of level ground with a healthy coating of snow, but it's well trodden and I can continue without snowshoes toward the hills ahead
as expected on the north facing slope the ascent path has very deep snow and the well trodden section is now very narrow. It's interesting to see the regeneration here where most of the trees are blackened from a previous forest fire but are spring green at their tops
crossing one of the few open spaces on these north facing slopes I consider putting on the snowshoes just to run around in the untrodden snow...I know Sarah would if she was with me.
once across the hilltops the trail falls again into a lovely little open valley where I see a nice dry fallen tree on which to sit for lunch, with my gaze on the tree and thoughts of lunch in my head both of my feet go up in the air and I take a good slam down onto the ice hidden below a thin coat of snow, I get to my feet laughing...I then stop for lunch on the fallen tree and find that just one banana goes a very long way when it's in your rucksack and you fall on it
scraping banana off everything I enjoy my lunch of pasta salad before heading across the valley to a three way junction where the left fork is needed to follow powderface creek back to the start point, I suspect this valley may be very wet when the melt occurs
there is a well trodden trail and the sun is beating down as I am once again onto a south facing slope
as the valley tightens I come across this beautiful scene, I'm not sure what these are, from a distance I thought they were dogwoods but close up they are not (not like dogwoods at home anyway) but whatever they are the new growth certainly adds a great splash of colour to the scene
there is a clear demarcation line along the south facing slope where the sun can't yet reach....it is agonisingly close to the trail which is still constructed of deep packed snow
then high up the bank I see my first butterfly of spring and it really adds to the day and the overall feeling that winter is almost over, yes there will be more snow yet but the sun is winning the overall battle and just a few short weeks from now these slopes will be snow free
the final rise and fall is made on a snow covered trail beside a steep drop off down toward Powderface Creek
crossing the creek lower down the trail finally comes out at the Powderface day use car park (currently closed)
from here it is back onto the closed section of highway 66 and a nice walk beside the Elbow river back to the truck, I did consider exploring Elbow Falls as I still felt fresh after the hike but on getting to the access road I saw about a hundred people milling around the car park and trail head...I left it for another (non Easter) day
this was a really enjoyable hike (but aren't they all) I think when the melt is over I will return here and do the full extension that will double the distance and take in the vast mountain meadows further along where marmots and bears graze with deer and moose.....I can hardly wait.
