I took a long shot on the forecast of a Chinook on Friday but the weather paid off for us in spades, giving us calm and sunny conditions and a temperature of 6 degrees, after a morning start at minus 9.

The Boundary Ridge trail was beautifully packed by fat tire bikes, and there was no ice anywhere. We all wore spikes but I am sure they were not even needed in the soft pack. Fat tire bicyclists were the only people we saw all day. Along the trail we saw two mule deer.

We arrived at the high point for lunch with a spectacular view and not a breath of wind.

Comfortable lunch on spacious log on Boundary Ridge summit

Doug, Joe, Bart, Carolyn, Tom, Lenard, Moh on the summit

We carried on down the south end of the ridge and returned to our lunch spot via the horse trail, which was a little tougher going through drifted snow, to enjoy the year's first afternoon "basking in the sun tea break." It was also the first hike this year where it was warm enough for me to shed jacket, touque and gloves after lunch. Taking the packed main trail back to the parking lot, we arrived at 2:20.

Participants: Joe,Carl,coordinator and scribe, Mohsen,Carolyn,Douglas,Lenard,Bart,Tom.