Once More up Powderface

We had a few hours to kill last Saturday, and the weather was certainly nice, so opted for one last dash up our best short hike, Powderface North Ridge. Leaving the house at 12:15 PM, and stopping for gas, we were in the top meadows by 1:45, and sitting on the top for snacks by 2.



It was yet another great day to be on the top of a mountain.

Our favourite find of the day were the animal tracks in the snow patches. There wasn't much snow around; it's been too warm. But in shady spots, there were large thin patches, and ther we found vole tracks, mice tracks, bird tracks, and this spot, where there was an obvious pitched battle between a bird -- likely an owl -- and a small rodent -- likely a vole or gopher.


And we saw a rabbit, or more precisely, a snowshoe hare. He popped out of the trees, dashed around a bit, then dove back into the trees.



And on our way down, Karen found the remnants of an owl's dinner -- pellets in a bush.


We left the top at 3:00 and walked into the house at 4:45, 4 1/2 hours after we left. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon.