Wheels rolling again ...

A warmer weekend meant some wheels got rolling. I was actually resigned to rolling them on the trainer in the basement Saturday as I had some work to do and didn't have ton of time to go play on the skis. I figured the city was a mess of soft snow. A Norwegian voice in my head (really text on a screen) suggested I go hit the pathway for an hour or two. Yeah. I should. And I did. I put the studded tires on the bike for the first time this year and headed out on the crazy snow and ice packed streets to hit the pathway. Ah, that felt good. The pathways were well ploughed and a soft grippy snowy surface was great to ride.

I only got to Crowchild on the pathway as the heavy equipment guys were working on manipulating the river after the flood damage. This is pretty much ongoing everywhere in Calgary these days. They haven't stopped fixing what Mother Nature destroyed, since the first day after the waters receded. As a frequent user of the river paths I'm happy about that. It will take a long time to repair and adjust the infrastructure but they're busy with it, steadily making progress.

It wasn't til I had to turn back at the closure that I realized my cruisy peaceful ride was partially due to the fairly strong wind (previously unnoticed) being at my back! A little more work heading west. I went back and headed up Home Road to the park overlooking the river. I found some great packed single track leading towards the drop into Bowmont. Pretty rough on the CX so I figured I'd go home and get a mountain bike and a Labrador and see what fun we could find in Bowmont together.

I wrongly assumed that the restricted park access right now would mean there'd be plenty of packed down foot trails through the park at that end. Ha! I had a great cruise down the double track and then hit powder. I figured I just had to get past some of the fenced areas and things would be more traveled. Hike a bike -- sometimes actually carrying the bike -- ensued. I did manage to get across to the open section of the paved pathway. I kept trying more single track but it wasn't great. Still fun with the pup though. We had a little adventure and I had a good sweat on!

Sunday was another day that included a little work that needed doing. I couldn't be gone all day despite the tempting invitations to go ski -- I really have to get out on the planks soon. Maybe. I went to Cadence and had coffee with the weekend warriors. Much debate went on about who who was going to go where and do what. The skiers were thinkin' the overnight low of +3C was going to make for shitty conditions. Everyone eventually divided and bugged out in different directions. I had no takers for a hike with Sante and I, so we went solo.

I pulled into the West Bragg parking lot and smiled. It was forecasted to go to +10C and it was already +5C and the place was crawling with people gearing up with skis. I was in hiking boots and a light jacket. As I crossed the ski track to hit the Ranger Summit trailhead it was clear people were going to be pretty miserable on skis. The winds have been so high with the warm temps that the snow was brown with pine needles and green with full boughs that had snapped off the trees. I often see people "over-geared" at West Bragg. You'll even see people gearing up with snowshoes on days when there's barely any snow on the ground but plenty of ice, mud and dirt.

The "trail."

I had my poles and nothing more. Not even gaiters. I did the southern flow loop we normally ride. It was definitely not rideable. Sections at the bottom were chewed up by foot traffic in soft snow, then as I got to the first view point, it was all drifted out and up to my knees. It was like that off and on the rest of the way pretty much. And there were easily 10 downed trees blocking the trail the whole way around. I did see some snowshoers near the top but otherwise didn't see anyone til I got to the bottom of Boundary. Who'd I see? Fat bikers! The bottom section on that side was rideable and I think they were making use of the double wide ski track otherwise. Which is a great idea and I'll have to get out and do that, especially while conditions are so shitty for the skiers. Somebody ought to be using those trails!

It took Sante and I 2.5 hours non-stop through the soft snow to do the loop. It felt awesome. Then it was home for a little work and a little rest before the hockey team dinner and a late night game. From the time we got into the rink at about 10pm til we left at midnight, about 3" of snow had fallen. Crazy! Not even forecasted. This is going to be some winter once it actually starts next week!

Um...?

Stealthy midnight shoveling.