Every time I visit the mountain in December, it is different. It will be different today than yesterday because snow is falling again.
The snow was crisp and crunchy rather than the ideal soft fluffy white that makes snowshoeing fun. I parked at the hairpin turn and headed up trail 100, missing the start of the trail and crunching overland to meet it for the trek uphill to the upper parking lot. As I climbed, there was more frost on the trees, but no fresh snow. I passed a hiker with a dog who completed the same loop in reverse without snowshoes.
As I crossed the closed summit road, I picked up trail 131 to trail 130 which was nicely packed to Bald Knob Campground. Lots of folks use this to start their summit treks, including a man who was snowshoe-joring with his two large dogs. After the campground, the trail was less distinct in places, but I had no difficulty following it to the CCC Cabin where I paused for lunch by the fire. There were a couple of snowmobiles parked out front, their drivers chatting away.
After lunch, I headed down the Kit Carson Loop to saddle junction, where I picked up trail 140. The loop road was groomed for snowmobiles, but I only saw one which passed me twice. Trail 140 was more of a trace than a trail at the top. It was difficult all the way down, as it was icy and had not been packed down to snowshoe width. Near the top, I followed and avoided moose tracks for about a half mile. Closer to the bottom, I followed deer tracks which did not suck my snowshoes in like the big moose holes did. There was a tree down across the second switchback from the bottom, cutting across the trail twice.
At Smith Gap, I skipped the warming hut and headed down the Loop Road, as the day was short and my hike was long enough.
When I returned to the parking lot around 3:00, the park ranger was issuing tickets for those who did not display snow park permits. She was allowing drivers to buy permits rather than pay the fine. Be sure to buy and display your Snow Park Pass.
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