Four hardy women and four manly men joined forces to experience the flatness again. The snowshoes crunched over the frozen trail or sank slightly into 15" of granular snow.
We had little this winter, but it lasted us well. We expect a big spring dump, but who can tell?
Join us, if you'd be so kind on Monday just before nine.
Interpretive center parking lot. Bring snowshoes, snack, and hope it's not hot.
Waning winter
Now, where's that camera
Into the boulder field
Boulder field trudge
Dry spot
Yes, we have hardy hikers who keep going with bigger than normal shoes and willing, happy, spirits.
Dove Ranch and Rio Grande National Forest showed off gentle hills and lots of pinyons. Thanks to Carol Dove and Mr. Montoya for chairs, cocoa and cider, and huge cinnamon rolls. Thanks to the ten snowshoers for their persistence and good humor.
More snow next week? We'll probably go higher in elevation. Meet at 8:50 a.m. at South Fork Visitor Center. Bring a snack, water, sunscreen, snowshoes, and a warm heart.
--Doug Knudson
Doug led us up the hill, around the hill and then back down the hill
In the process we were shown how to get down and back up in deep snow by Maybelle, Wayne & Marty, valuable lessons indeed...........
With the fortification of some hot chocolate and cappuccino we were able to make our way to the vehicles and then to Doug & Judys house for our lunch.
It was a great outing, nobody got hurt, lost or even grumpy!!
Meet at the VCPL Monday at 9AM, bring your lunch, water and a friend.........
Dennis
We shoed into Dick Doves place, called The Cow Camp, warmed up for a while and then shoed up the creek a ways. We came back and ate our lunch, then shoed back to the truck against the wind. It was a "challenging" trip, the wind was kinda strong as you can tell by the picture of the flag...............
Everybody made it back to the truck, nobody got lost or hurt so that made it a good outing...........
Next Monday will be a new trip, meet at the VCPL at 9AM, bring a lunch, water and a friend.
Dennis
All the trails on Pool Table were groomed on Tuesday, Jan. 6 and Blow Out was groomed on Wednesday, Jan. 7.
George Powell
Harolena took these pictures while we were grooming. I sure needed Harry on Thursday, New Years Day when we groomed Blow Out. We had two big trees across the trail. All of Pool Table is groomed except 615 all the way down Agua Ramon. Alder is a little thin till you get to 611. The trail to Hansen Mill has been groomed. Hope every one has good snow mobiling.
Aren't we privileged to walk through this great National Forest and gaze out East, across 70 miles, and say "wow!"?. A little haze keeps the mystery of the Crestone cluster (5 fourteeners). It took the ten of us to find Lost Lake.
On December 1, we braved the big breeze on the rocky tor above the lake to take in the tremendous views. Then we went back to the lakeside to recline in the sun for a snack.
Most of us stood up through the snow covered slopes on the slightly-discernable trail.
The camera shook a bit the night before, recording Jupiter, Venus, and the moon grinning at this lovely place.
Next Monday, 9 a.m., South Fork Visitor Center. Probably a hike, not snowshoeing--but who knows?
--Doug Knudson
