Today I went on an amazing winter walk on Cougar Mtn from Sky Country TH. This was Cougar Mtn at it winters best! The snow laden trees made it a winter wonderland. I arrived just after 10:00AM and it was 24 degrees. The roads getting to Sky Country TH on Cougar Mtn are bare and wet except the right turn off Cougar Mtn Way to /Sky Country TH. It had compact snow easily drivable with AWD vehicles. I made a 5.5 mile clockwise loop following these trails: Clay Pit, Coyote Creek, Klondike Swamp, Lost Beagle, Million Dollar View, Shangri La, Tibbett’s Marsh, Harvey Manning, Cougar Pass, Clay Pit Road, East Fork Trail, Fred’s Railroad, By Pass Trail, Cave Hole and Old Man’s Trail back to Sky Country TH. Not too many folks have ventured out on the trails yet - Some of the time I followed XC ski tracks, others snowshoe tracks and other just foot steps. On two shorter sections of trails I had to break trail which was a little more challenging. The snow was the heaviest near the Million Dollar View Pagoda and the Shangri La trail. The trees are so laden with snow in places that both trees and shrubbery touched the ground. I would estimate I had to bend over 40+ times to scoot under low branches and easily step over or walk around 10+ downed trees. I just tallied that up to the fun of walking in the snow. More wildlife sightings than usual today - juncos, wrens, towhees, chickadees and a Douglas squirrel.
Dressing in layers was the right way to go for me. I wore smart wool long johns under fleece lined leggings, gaiters and 2 fleece lined tops under a puff vest. I actually had to unzip layers a couple times. I also had foot and hand hotties so neither ever got cold.
It was 26 degrees and 1:00PM when I arrived back at the TH. Another fabulous day to be out in nature.
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