Mesa Butte - Curley Sand loop + bonus hill Trail hike on 14-Apr-2019

We started out under cloudy skies with a strong wind and a brisk +3C temperature. Once in the shelter of the trees and climbing steadily on Curley Sand trail we warmed up. Coming out of the trees at the top of the climb the expectation was that we would be re-exposed to the wind, but it was only a light breeze there:

We continued along the ridge and then bushwhacked down through the forest before steeply climbing a bare south-facing slope back to the trail. The next dip down had the only icy section on the trip:

Then it was the climb to the summit:

There were nice views to the west where it looked rather blustery in Kananaskis. We had a leisurely lunch in the shelter of the trees using the picnic table and available logs. There was a low snow cover on the trail through the trees on the top of the Butte, but the descent off the northeast end was fairly clear, although a few participants donned microspikes for more traction. The road from the bottom also had snow cover mixed in with muddy spots. Eight of us chose to do the bonus hill and were rewarded with more views:

As we descended the southerly slopes of this hill we started to see more and more evidence that spring is on the way:

The return was uneventful, although somewhat muddy in spots.

Thanks to a fun group of participants: Bill (crocus photo), Barbara, Linda, Robert, Brenda, Aldis, Cornelis, David, Sue, Ralph and Turid for joining me, Ron C/S/P, on this early season hike.