Despite clear skies it was just above freezing in the shade of the mountains at the trailhead. But not to worry, the steady climb soon warmed us up. After an hour, at the col we had a good look at Moose Mountain which had a light dusting of snow from Saturday's precipitation:
Snow dusted Moose Mtn to the north
Along the traverse through the forest we heard a persistant tap-tap-tap and were able to spot a three-toed woodpecker having brunch on a trail-side tree:
Male Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) on a trailside tree
On attaining the ridge we were pleasantly surprised by the almost complete lack of wind, so we went to the high point where we ate lunch while basking in the warm sun and enjoying the panorama to the west. Bill was able to zero in on a camera shot of a distant Opal Range peak that looked snowier than the summits closer to us:
telephoto of distant Mount Blane in the Opal Range
After taking a group photo we moved on along the ridge:
The group photo at the top, looking west
Heading south on the ridge walk
Concerns about snow on the rocks or the possibility of slimy lichens on scree on this offtrail/bushwack section turned out to be unfounded as there was little snow to speak of:
easy bushwack along the ridge
At the point for turning off the ridge there were some fortuitously placed flat rocks which served well as a break point:
Rest rocks, Nihahi Ridge and clearcuts beyond
On the descent back to the main trail it appears that a number of trail options have materialized, we ended up on one that none of us had been down before but which worked out okay:
The grassy descent back to Powderface trail
There was a cloud layer on the western horizon when we left the ridge and by the time we were back at the cars it was completely overcast, so our timing for the trip was excellent.
Thanks to participants: Bill (photos), Barbara, Douglas, Aldis, Nardi, Barb, Clifton, Teresa (photos), Rob, Deborah and Keith for joining me, Ron C/S/P for a fine fall day in the mountains.
fauna report: on the drive to the trailhead there were a number of deer and a few elk near Redwood Meadows. On the trail, besides the woodpecker there were the usual raven sightings, a Canada Jay and a large flock of small birds (guess: gray-crowned rosy-finches). One hawk flew by:
Possible hawk heading south?
On the drive home there were a bunch of bighorns on the hill to Rainy Pass, both on the road and beside it:
