trail season in ned is officially underway, not that it hasn't been for a month or so, but now, the real trails are prime. except, that is, above elevations of 10,000 feet, or northern-facing and or shady aspects.

caught the early ned bus this morning with mike, and proceeded to explore the large climb. asides from one pile of avalanche debris in the first twenty minutes, it was clear up until the last half mile or so. from then on, it was slipping along the thawing plateau. we were following a trail, that when not blocked by large drifts was really more of a stream in the first place.


all the water had frozen over night, but was loosened up by the sun, and left a thin sheet of ice covering the trail, really cool to look at, but cooler to ride over. descended the unconventional route having a really spectacular time and returned to ned around 10:30 or so.


with so much time left, we decided to make more of the day and traverse the freak to freak towards pennsylvania gulch. got to sunset and made a quick detour to get some potatoes. finished out in boulder at 12:30, cooked and tired but wanting more. twas a truely beautiful day.