As is usual this time of year, the Station Flats parking lot was covered with ice. This prompted most of the group to don tractions devices before starting out. It was a good thing, since much of the trail was also covered with solid ice.

Icy Trail

With temperature of around 5 and no wind, we had a pleasant hike up to the top of the ridge where we could enjoy the view to the east while eating lunch. Even after many lunches at this spot, I had never realized before that what were were seeing to the east was the entire ridge that was circumnavigated by the Telephone Loop Trail at West Bragg with the Long Distance trail following along the ridge line.

After lunch at the top of the ridge

Once we had descended off the ridge, 8 people opted to continue on the Ridgeback #2 trail while the others opted to return on the Tom Snow Trail (thus saving 1.4 km and 100 m of elevation gain). This latter group got back to the cars about 2:45 PM, while the other got back about 3:15 PM.
Thanks to Sim, Francisco, June, Linda, Robert, Peter, Leslie, Enrique, Janet, Sonja ,Lenard, and David for joining me for this pleasant hike. Brian C/S/P

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