The date of April 30 notwithstanding, it is still winter in the foothills. You see the first small patches of snow in the ditches on Highway 22, then at Bragg Creek, deep snow banks. The front ranges of the Rockies, crowned by Moose Mountain, are still looking positively Himalayan.
Moose Mountain looking very Himalayan
The trail conditions were appalling--slushy boot deep snow on most of the Long Distance Trail, with some north-facing pitches knee deep. The return on Telephone Loop was mostly slush, mud and standing or flowing water. There are absolutely no flowers. It will be at least a month until we see any spring in the foothills. Conditions are looking very seriously similar to those of 2013, so watch out if we get a big upslope rain storm in June on top of the 7 feet of snow still reported at Sunshine Village.
The weather was nice, though, and we had lunch on the escarpment above the Telephone Loop with good views.
Leslie, Timber, Cristina, Corey, Barb on ridge
The Long Distance Trail is a very nice ridge walk with great views from the Calgary skyline to Moose Mountain. We saw just two people and two dogs the whole day. Wildlife sightings: a deer (plus two along the highway), two grouse, and the drumming of an amorous grouse.
Deer in the woods on the Long Distance ridge
We were back to the cars by 3:15, having hiked 15 km and about 320 metres of ascent. Participants: Leslie, our friendly shaggy dog mascot, Timber. (a Malamute, Husky cross), Corey, Barb, Cristina, (deer photographer) and Carl, coordinator and scribe.
