We wanted to go snowshoeing but decided to wait for a refresh of the snow before we do that. Instead, we chose to enjoy this "short and sweet hike" closer to home. I'm glad we did. We took a leisurely approach, both with a late start time (1:00) and the pace, which suited both of us just fine. There are plenty of small details to enjoy along with the nice views of the river and Russian Butte on the other side. We started at the second lot (toilets were in good condition) and chose a clockwise route for the loop. Considering that this was a holiday, there were surprisingly few people on the trail with us.
The early morning fog and the protected river valley kept temperatures in the mid 30's with pockets of frost alongside the trail, but generally good trail conditions. We detoured out to the river for a bit, where there was a bit of warm sunshine to enjoy, and unobstructed views to the mountains on the other side. Soon we arrived at the bridge across the outlet and saw a thin sheet of ice over the lake at that point. From there the trail heads gently uphill, skirting above the entirety of the U-shaped lake. Lots of nice viewpoints along the way and moss, lichen, and ferns in every direction. Occasional sunlight filtering through the forest provided backlighting that emphasized the beautiful moss on the trunks and branches.
There is a wonderful old cedar stump partway up the trail with trees growing on the top sending roots down along the surface of the stump. We kept our eyes peeled for hair ice but only found one decent example early on. With the cooling trend as the week progresses, I expect that there will be quite a bit more in a few days. I've seen it here before. Especially look for it on the fallen alder branches and logs.
2.2 miles, 90 feet gain. Quite the tame hike.
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