Post by Pat on Jan 3, 2017 10:30:06 GMT -5
12-31-16
7.0 miles
We started this hike north from Southwest Main Street Douglas and I would not recommend that as a starting point unless you are getting dropped off. My map showed parking but there really is not any. We pulled off the side of the road and left the car there. It was about 35 degrees, overcast and no wind. I kept hoping it would snow but it never did. The wide well marked trail had a half inch to an inch of hard crusted snow with some slippery icy spots but overall it is a flat, very easy hike. There was one interesting tall rock ledge formation that reminded me of Purgatory Chasm not too far east of there. Probably the same geologic history in the area produced that. We did see flowing water including a nice river view with floating ice. That was a welcome sight after the drought all summer and fall. The only people we saw were hunters including 4 we passed separately on the trail in full orange regalia with rifles. Apparently it was the last day of hunting season. Although fairly remote in the state forest we still saw no wildlife, which includes deer. Bug free winter hikes are the best though. When you emerge from the forest on northwest main street there are a lot of nice houses and yards. It's a long road walk with lots of traffic travelling very fast well into Sutton from there. We called for our pickup and got as far as Whittier Farms on Douglas Road in Sutton. Just before that we did see 6 or 7 mini mules/donkeys who followed us along the fence and then stared at us as much as we stared at them!