Jolly Mountain — Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024

I had a few afternoon hours free so I drove up from Roslyn Sunday afternoon about 15 miles to the giant Snopark area just before Salmon la Sac (on the right)  and snowshoed up the Jolly Mt Road for 48 minutes to the first great viewpoint you get on the Jolly Mt Rd This was a 700 foot elevation gain in a mile and a half or so. This road is a “voluntary” machine-free area. Apparently, there weren’t many volunteers volunteering to respect the concept, as there were lots of snowmobile tracks all over the road. This made the tread uneven, but still much easier than breaking trail through the 8 inches of new powder. I usually avoid this area on weekends, but decided, with limited time, to do it. The views from this spot are awesome to the west and north and include the mountains Red, Lemah, Chimney, Cone, Daniel, Davis, and more. There were a few clouds covering the view through the Cooper Gap to Lemah, but all the others were out and a big relief to see after over a month of consistent gray fog and clouds around home. I saw no others except two snowmobiles descending super fast (unusual, normally they slow down and we exchange greetings) as I was slogging up the road. There were lots of snowmobile rigs and trailers up and down the road at the standard parking places and even the winter aroma of spent gas lingering here and there in the brisk winter air. Surprisingly, I did not hear them often.

I would like to mention that I often see snowmobilers in my winter wanderings and generally find them to be pleasant to talk to and respectful of me, an old septuagenarian mountain wanderer, just doing my thing. I enjoy the meetings and know they are just out there like me, having fun outside.