Four-mile flat hike--'girls' still work up a sweat and appetite
The morning drive was foggy and looked socked in, with a temperature under 10 degrees, promising a frosty hike with a breeze. However, by the time we arrived at the trailhead, the sun was shining and the sky a brilliant blue, so we were stripping layers before we had hiked a quarter mile. Susan commented that the way were were shedding clothes, we would all be naked by lunch. Instead, we had hot cocoa, courtesy of our leader Yvonne.
The hike was mostly flat, with a slight uphill on the way going with downhill on the way back. We hiked 4.4 miles with an elevation gain/loss of 500 feet, an easy hike, but we were all sweating. Still, Catherine's husband Ed found the energy to run up the side hills to get a better vantage point with which to take photos and burn a few more calories than the rest of us.
On the way home, we stopped in Choteau for soup, chili, burgers and pie at the Log Cabin Cafe, followed by a beautiful drive home. Car conversation dealt with AFM's, which Susan will ask Tom about later, current and former bizarre student behavior, Special Olympic kayaking and our own kids. On the drive, we saw antelope, deer and snow geese by Freeze Out Lake.
A big thanks to Kathy for driving and to our leaders, Yvonne and Casey, for such a wonderful day.
Who went: Kathy M, Katie, Mary, Gail, Susan and Gail's friend, Shelly. Catherine and her husband were also on the hike
Link to Katie's photos.