Toasty warm sunshine (10C), mostly dry dirt trails, not too much wind--what more could one ask for the first hike of the year? We enjoyed a West Bragg Creek loop consisting of Snagmore, Sugar Daddy, Strange Brew, Bobcat and Sugar Mamma trails, on a lovely day. It was calm and one degree at the trailhead in the morning, but the wind was starting to moan in the treetops as we climbed higher on Ranger Hill. Near the top of Sugar Daddy, we discovered a beautiful view lunch spot with the same stone seat construction as found at Baruch's Corner on the summit, so we stopped for a lovely lunch.

Lunch on the rocks on Sugar Daddy trail

We made a good decision as there were a lot of other hikers coming our way from the summit, and it was, as expected, rather windy at Baruch's Corner, where we posed for a summit group photo.


Summit group at Baruch's Corner

On the descent of Sugar Mamma (spelled this way and also Sugar Moma at the trail junction sign) we stopped for our afternoon basking-in-the-sun tea break above this beautiful grassy aspen slope.


Sunny aspen slope below Sugar Mamma trail

Basking in the sun, lounging on the warm, dry ground

There were some icy patches, but mostly with grit and pine needles ground into the track by mountain bike tires, providing some tractionl. Some used spikes but some did well without them. Back to the cars by 3, some of us stopped at the Cinnamon Spoon in Bragg Creek for coffee.

Participants: Joe,Peter,Douglas,Jennifer,Bob,Barb,Bruce,Emily and Carl, coordinator and scribe.

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