Created 21-Jan-24
12 photos
When I arrived at the Bragg West trailhead, the huge parking lot was already mostly full - a mild Saturday was proving to be popular for outdoor enthusiasts after the cold snap we've endured. There was also a fatbike race scheduled, adding to the energy at the trailhead.
I hiked West Crystal Line to Snowy Owl before leaving the trail and heading up an open meadow/cutblock. Knee-deep postholing combined with a bit of elevation gain and mild temperatures had me shedding layers quickly.
Shortly before the summit, I came across fresh wolf tracks. Sometimes when I think an off-season hike might be just "meh" or for exercise and fresh air only, something happens to make it special. I see something like wolf tracks or hear something like an elk bugle or smell something like an imminent thunderstorm. I took a short break at the top, enjoying the thought of such a majestic animal having been here last night.
Back on the trail, the mountain bike race was in full force, and I passed several course safety marshalls along the way. Everyone was really friendly and having raced in the past myself, I enjoyed the energy and adrenaline that I knew the riders were feeling. As the front-runners rode past, I cheered them on. Man, these guys had skills and were fast!
I hiked back along Snowy Owl to the trailhead. At this point, there was quite a festival atmosphere with music, a race announcer, cowbells and a beer tent. It was great to see so many folks getting out to enjoy a winter day.
I hiked West Crystal Line to Snowy Owl before leaving the trail and heading up an open meadow/cutblock. Knee-deep postholing combined with a bit of elevation gain and mild temperatures had me shedding layers quickly.
Shortly before the summit, I came across fresh wolf tracks. Sometimes when I think an off-season hike might be just "meh" or for exercise and fresh air only, something happens to make it special. I see something like wolf tracks or hear something like an elk bugle or smell something like an imminent thunderstorm. I took a short break at the top, enjoying the thought of such a majestic animal having been here last night.
Back on the trail, the mountain bike race was in full force, and I passed several course safety marshalls along the way. Everyone was really friendly and having raced in the past myself, I enjoyed the energy and adrenaline that I knew the riders were feeling. As the front-runners rode past, I cheered them on. Man, these guys had skills and were fast!
I hiked back along Snowy Owl to the trailhead. At this point, there was quite a festival atmosphere with music, a race announcer, cowbells and a beer tent. It was great to see so many folks getting out to enjoy a winter day.
© Peter Hudak