But since this is the last 50 day for a little while as rain/snow and a cold front is coming in tomorrow, I must take advantage of it. I'm heading into the mountains and up to Willow Lake. It's been months since I've been there and it'll be the first time I've even been there in the winter; it'll be fun!
The drive up the canyon is boringly brown - brown grass, brown bare trees, etc. Sure the tops of the mountains have snow but it looks more like late Fall or late Spring then mid-Winter. Things get a bit better the higher I go but even at 7900ft (my trail head), I can still see brown! And is 53 degrees - crazy! The sun is out but fighting to shine through the high (and ever thickening) clouds.
The trail is snow packed and icy as I head up the steep hill. There's snow on the ground but there are patchy open spots
And even where the snow is the deepest, the tall grasses/plants are still towering over the snow.
But it's nice, quiet walk, not even birds singing.
I'm not seeing any moose or deer tracks on the trail or in the snow -- but lots of human footprints in the snow - even a snow angel!
Soon I complete the climb and the trail flattens. Views south are the Solitude Ski resort.
The trail then turns north and before I know it I reach the meadow.
Always beautiful but missing the "true" winter vibe. Other than the snow, in spots, still has that flaky appearance.
I continue on to Willow Lake on a trail someone has cut through the aspens. I arrive at the snow covered lake hoping for a moose or deer as always but no luck today. I work my way clock-wise around the lake. The trail is not the normal trail which is covered in about 1.5 feet of snow but a man made one that crosses the outer edge of the lake. I reach the other side
and continue around
before entering the forest.
No tracks in the forest either but I do find a wooden shelter that someone has made.
I soon exit the forest and make my way back to the meadow
before heading down.
Nice day!
