I don't expect anything exciting since it's the middle of Fall. Just wanting to get out for some good exercise and fresh air (well sort of fresh air - there's a haze in the valley).
Heading up the canyon, the leaves have all dropped (except of course for the Oaks; they like keeping them longer). Everything is pretty much brown. But there is still some snow on the shadier south side of the road. Oops, I probably should have brought my YakTrak today. :(
I arrive at the trail head - it's near 60 in the valley but on 50 here. I put a fleece on and start up the trail. And it's packed snow right at the start but thankfully, it clears up back to dirt.
I start up the trail. Although over 90% of the trail is clear, the rest is snow packed and/or icy. It's not bad on the way up but I'm curious how the way down will go.
Nothing much going on during the uphill; couldn't even find even one flower left.
I stop for a view of Grandeur Peak
before continuing around the corner for the view of the valley. (So love the smog!)
On the way down, the ice got me twice; only once with an "almost" fall as I caught myself by falling in mud on the uphill wall - squish! Now with two hands covered in mud, I get to finish the hike.
Oh, on the way down, I hear what sounded like a bat hitting a tree. I turn to look but see nothing. But I am suspicious that there is a bull moose around because the last two times I heard that noise, there was a bull moose nearby. And not far from where I hear the noise, I see a moose track. A fresh one! (With all the human passing by, this one is on top - I missed him.)
Good day!
