FreightTrain
New member
The group decided to finish what we started last month, our trip up to Garfield. The trail was much different than a month ago, but snowshoes still made the walking a little easier. The trail was packed in good allowing my eyes to wander rather than looking for the next place to step. There were a couple of blow downs, but alternate routes around were already established. We came to a section where the moose were "playing" and their tracks crossed the path several times. A few yards further and I saw moose get up from laying down and head down and away from the trail. What a day it was turning out to be. The warm weather caused me to cuss at my deep claws on the snowshoes. The snow was sticking and added a few pounds to some steps. No matter how many times you do a trail, I think it always seems longer than you originally thought. The section just before the junction with the Garfield ridge trail was blown in pretty good. I had to search for the blue blaze in a couple of places just to make sure I was still on the trail. I guess I also forgot just how steep the short section between the junction and the summit is. Now I praised those deep claws in their ability to bite into the slope and keep me from sliding back down. You could hear the wind swirling up on the summit so a quick stop to put on the fleece and wind gear was taken. I'm sure glad I did that below the summit. It was a steady wind but swirling and coming from multiple directions. The views were good, but the clouds were already forming and hiding the peaks int he distance. It was a short stay and then back down. A little frozen rain for a minute or so at several points on the way down. It was good to get back to camp and sit down. A few sprinkles that night, but not the rain I was expecting. All in all a good trip, except for the fact that some one attempted to break into our car saturday night while it was parked at the trailhead. I have heard stories of breakins, but this was a first for us.
