Participants: Leslie, Jane, Barbara, Patty, Marianne, Deborah, Christine

After meeting at the nordic centre parking lot, 2 loaded cars headed up the badly pot-holed and rocky road to the goat creek parking lot. We set off up the trail at about 11am and very soon when the slope steepened, stopped to put on our grippers. The lower part of the trail was a mixture of ice and snow with rare mud patches. As we climbed higher the trail became just packed snow. It was a pleasant climb with views of the spray valley and intermittent sun. After a few stops for clothing adjustments (first to strip a layer or two and later near the top to add layers back on), and a short break at the halfway lookout, we reached a point just above the true col. By now it was cold and windy, so not very enticing to continue on to the peak of Ha Ling, plus it looked like the slabs on the upper section were snow covered. Being careful to stay back from the cornices, we looked at the view towards Calgary, then descended to the true col for views of Canmore. As both spots were too cold and windy to enjoy staying for lunch, we made our way carefully down, either on or beside the sets of stairs, and stopped beside the trail in a sheltered spot for lunch. As we descended again, it became warmer and some of us shed our extra layers again and the trail became mushy in places and the ice softened. Stats: 7.5km, 687m

Thanks to everyone who joined me on this early season warmup hike.

Ramblers on the col below Ha Ling peak

Ramblers heading down beside the snow covered stairs

Ramblers getting ready to settle down for lunch in a sheltered spot along the trail on the way down.