Week 3: Day 1

Today was a snowshoeing adventure with Veronique, her friend Liz, Little Bull and Byrdie. After a few U-turns and stops on the way in, we managed to find the road to the East Portal trailhead and the James Peak Wilderness. When we left the trailhead the wind was up and the clouds were threatening precipitation. Luckily, the trail began in a thick wooded area so we were protected from the wind and cold temps. Over the course of the first hour, the front moved through rather quickly and left us with warmth and clear blue skies. We weren't sure if we had found the right trailhead because the lakes we planned to hike to were never listed on the trail signs, but the scenery was gorgeous and we really didn't care where we were heading.

Liz had knee surgery in the fall and is just now starting to increase her strenuous exercise. The trail was steep and as the trail website suggests, determined so we took it easy but hiked for about 1.5 hours up the mountain before turning back. We never reached a lake, but we did go beyond the junction listed in the trail guide, so we probably hiked about 2.5-3 miles in and 5-6 miles round trip.

I would consider this day a bit of a rest day, and that's OK. The day was meant for more than just activity and we all left the hike more than content. I have some gorgeous photos that I'll post in my other space soon. I need to remember this hike when spring arrives and the wildflowers are blooming.

Total:
Snowshoeing: 150 minutes