Slough Creek / Snowshoeing

This just has to be a contrast post. We've been to Slough Creek many times in our prior 5 years, to hike it, and especially for Bob to fish there. Here are some pictures from the past...













This is one of the many fishing trips we've made to Slough.











Looks peaceful and quiet right? Now on to the winter scene...









Here is a sample of about 1/3 of the road to get to Slough.








Before we left our cabin we checked the weather. It showed a high of 42 degrees and cloudy with a 50% chance of snow around 3:00pm. We had been told it is colder and snows more out in this easterly direction. We fixed sandwiches and headed out around 11:00am and got there around 12:00. The road is closed into Slough Creek for the winter but we could see where others had created a path where the road should be. We were out on the road leading to the corrals, camp ground and Creek by 12:15. Here I am showing off my snowshoes.


This is the view to our left or to the west as we head north.










In the summer the bison frequent this area and fisher-persons have to be careful around them as the bison are heading into the rut season. This lone bull slowly made his way thru 1'+ of snow to go up and over a hill to our right (or east). He knew something we didn't, that the weather was changing and coming from the west quickly.





And this is looking north. Some people had driven snow mobiles on the road and it looked deceptively easy to walk on. I found myself sinking 6" in soft snow several times, even with the snowshoes on. It's an easy task to turn your ankle in these conditions.






We walked 3/4 of a mile out, it was slow with soft snow testing the snow shoes along the way. We also had to watch for the bison. He made his way up and over the hill and disappeared. We walked until we were both starting to feel tired and turned around. The 3/4 of a mile took about 1 hour to accomplish.






In the west the dark clouds started coming in earlier than predicted which gave us another reason to turn back. We made it back a little faster but barely. Snowshoe walking is slow and arduous when the snow still gives out and lets you drop in a hole now and then.

Here you can see how dark it is getting to the west. It made me think of a quick thunderstorm coming up in Florida on a warm afternoon...but this wasn't warm, ha!








By now we're sure we will get caught in this snow shower, with it dark all around us we picked up the pace as much as possible.

Going out and playing in the snow is one thing, getting caught in a white out still 1/2 mile away from our truck is called motivation!





Scary and beautiful. This is not a black and white picture setting!

We made it back to the truck as it started to snow. Getting back on the road was easy enough but the nicely plowed road was now turning white. About half way back the snow flakes grew in size to beautiful, white, fluffy, windshield and road sticking flakes and we found ourselves in near white-out conditions for 25-30 minutes.




With a large 4-wheel drive truck and an awesome driver (Bob, not me, I'm too impatient!) we made it back to Gardiner just as the snow maker was passing on.

As an added bonus, we spotted this coyote carefully making his was across the snow. He was headed to the hill crest and tree line shown in the background. Even as light as he is, he continued to fall through the packed snow also.

Another fun, tiring day and mini but tough hike!