No Wind, Bluebirds, Sunny Views Punctuate Climb of Mount Helena
We had a bluebird day along with a bluebird on our car that started our hike off on the right track (we saw several other bluebirds along the trail too). Nine of the GiG went up the Prospect Shafts Trail, stopping along the way to read about musician Fred Kuphal, for whom a grove of trees is named after. Read More We also stopped for photos of the frittilary, pasque, shooting stars and phlox flowers along the way. The biscuitroot, buckwheat and arrow-leaf balsam root were just starting. Also on the way up, we stopped for a rest at the lime kiln (read more), when an 86-year old woman passed us up, giving some of us motivation to make the top. She said to us as she passed that she was 30-years older than we were and that she climbed Mount Helena once a week. We all did make it to the top and found that there was no wind and no people, a surprise for this trail, which is similar to our River's Edge Trail for popularity. On the way down, we chose the 1906 trail so we made a loop around the mountain. We stopped by Devil's kitchen, a small cave in the limestone cliff on this side. We did hit some snow on this side as the trees keep the trail in the shade. On the trail, the snow had been packed down to ice so we had to watch our step. After our hike, we had built up an appetite for our brunch at the Mediterranean Grill. We all loved both the lentil and rice/tomato/basil as well as the knaffe dessert. Who went: Susan, Doris, Bonnie, Toni, Randi, Catherine, Brenda, Kuntz, Katie |