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Made this short hike last sunday but only just got around to the post......it's been a busy (and snowy) week.
Sarah wanted to go for a walk in the mountains this weekend but she was out on Friday night until late and 'resting' on Saturday as a result. She didn't have a hangover (according to her) she just needed to drink 20 times more fluid than normal and ingest copious quantities of headache pills throughout the day.
So we couldn't get out until Sunday and it was something of a shock to get up Sunday morning to a good covering of snow and low clouds. Sarah still insisted that she wanted to go out to the mountains so we made our way along the Powderface trail to the roadside parking spot that gives access to Jumpingpound Ridge.
The low snow clouds had broken by the time we arrived and we were greeted by beautiful blue skies as we got our winter boots on for the gentle hike to the ridge.
Though there had been a few vehicles along the road none had stopped here so we were the first along the well marked trail and into the forest.
There was a little less snow in the forest but the path was still covered and the trees really did have the look of winter about them, and there were animal tracks everywhere.
it's not too long before Sarah lets me know that it's warmer than she thought (as usual) and she unzips her jacket and dumps her gloves in my rucksack but while doing so she hears the rustle of sweet packaging. Dammit, my treasure trove is uncovered, a large pack of wine gums that I carry in the rucksack for an occasional sweet treat along the trail.
I can only stand and watch the carnage that follows as she scoffs all the good colours in the next 5 minutes, I didn't get a look in as my stash was devoured......I got the packet with a few yellow jellies left in the bottom a short time later.
'Operation squirrel watch' seemed to be a success, at least that is what Sarah claimed to be doing with each of the frequent stops as we ascended through the forest. Personally I think she weighed herself down with all my sweets.
As we arrive on the ridge the snow clouds roll back in again and a few flurries blow by. We turn left and explore the ridge for a while heading west toward Jumpingpound Mountain
Walking out into the open ground below the mountain the temperature took a real nose dive though a couple of gaps appeared in the clouds giving a peek toward the east and a small window to the mountains.
The mountains actually looked stunning through the small window and it was great to stand and watch the clouds roll across the horizon changing the scene in front of us.
As we headed back into the forest to find a warm spot for lunch we stopped to look at this tree, heavily laden with pine cones, covered in snow and absolutely frozen, it looked like a christmas tree you might buy in the store.
Back in the relative warmth of the forest I found a nice large flat rock close to a trail map and wiped most of the snow off it before making a butt saver from my waterproof jacket and my down jacket combined. This time I even managed to get a sandwich and some tea.....Sarah must still be full of sweets.
from here we retraced our steps back to the truck, stopping to talk to a couple of women hiking in as we reached the trailhead. I drove home via the Elbow Valley where we saw a moose, several Rocky Mountain sheep and had to stop whilst a few young stags wandered across the road in front of us, then once home we had a lovely winter stew for dinner, the perfect end to a perfect day.
It has been below freezing (around -4 to -7) all week since this hike and with light snow falling every day it will be interesting to see what the mountains look like next week.