We Felt Like 'Revenant' Extras on Winter Trails Day
Four of the GiG broke trail at Silvercrest before our volunteer day at National Winters Trail Day at Silvercrest. Both days were breezy, but once we got out of the parking lot and into the trees, it wasn't bad at all. However, the few times we were in the open, the snow kicked up into our faces, making us feel like a scene from the hugely popular Revenant film that is getting all of the Oscar buzz this year.
Winter Trails Day started out with us asking ourselves why Katie volunteered us to lead hikes; if we had'n't been counted upon, we probably would have turned around as it was driving rain in Great Falls when we left at 8 a.m., turned to sleet by Armington junction and blowing blizzard by Neihart with whiteout conditions. We just kept thinking that NOAA predicted partly sunny.
Well, the saying of always go to the trail head proved true as right before the first hike started, the blue skies poked out as the wind blew the clouds away. But the wind didn't stop but it was tolerable with 40 degree weather and sun.
Katie/Toni and Gail/Cathy each led two snowshoe hikes around the trails, with a break in between for a bite to eat: chili dogs, fresh fruit, followed by Great Harvest cookies and Chai tea and hot cocoa and coffee.
We ran into many people we knew among them our own Bonnie who brought a friend to try snowshoeing.
Overall, the day was fun and great way for us to give back, since we once were the beginners on the trails ourselves.
Who went: Friday--Gail, Katie, Randi and Doris; Saturday--Cathy, Gail, Toni and Katie