I arrived at the empty Young Gulch lot to find I was the first visitor this morning.
There wasn't tons of snow, but there was a sort of snow
"fun factor" - with yesterday's rain most of the trail was frozen...
snow on top of ice made for interesting travels.
The stream that crosses Young Gulch was open in a few spots. In most spots
however I could just hear the water gurgling underneath the ice.
In a few spots I had to be really observant to even suspect I was
crossing the stream!
Young Gulch was quiet (except for the near-constant gurgling.) Every
once in a while I'd hear a calling Solitaire or Chickadee.
I made it a little over a mile in before I decided my fingers and toes
were about done for. I hightailed it about as fast as my snow boots
would let me on the way back.
Also enjoying the sub-zero weather today: Several Brown Creepers, Juncos,
an irritated-sounding Flicker, one Robin and some noisy
Clark's Nutcrackers. There were LOTS of great foot prints in the snow: Rabbits, rodents,
birds and one small cat or doggish print....bobcat?
Leaving at lunchtime....the still blissfully empty parking lot.
and on the way home....
I was thinking about Dippers on my way in this morning. Those Polar
Bear swimmers have NOTHING on these guys!
