Cloudy day with highs in the mid-70s. Time to get out for a hike before the weather turns to winter starting Saturday afternoon.
Heading up to the Cardiff Mine today (Mill D South). The trail is 2.5 miles (one-way) with an elevation gain of 1600 feet. There's an extra mile or so because the road to the trail closed on Nov 1.
I roll up around 8:30am, gear up and start up the road.
The little creek the road crosses over is a bit high. Looks like a beaver has setup shop. Could be trouble....
I'm looking left towards the willows and the creek. I always look for moose and up until this year, I have never found one. This year, I've seen two!
I continue walking when I see a flash of white in the willows.
I stop and watch. It's a bull moose! And he's on the move out of the willows. I'm hoping he enters a meadow but he hangs a right and crosses the road.
Super cool! And an awesome start to the day!
I pass by the new trail to Donut Falls/Cardiff Mine trailheads as I like walking the road. Not much farther up the road, I see another bull moose coming out of the trees. Unlike the first moose which was far in the distance, this guy is maybe 50 feet away.
He eating (and watching me). He continues to take steps forward. I think it's time for me to move on. As I do, I hear him call. Awesome!
I continue on. I don't go more than 100-150 ft when I see bull moose #3! He's 10-20 feet off the road eating. He looks at me. And slowly starts to graze towards the road. I'm stuck. Can't move forward. And I have another moose behind me.
A car comes up the road and the moose freaks and runs from the road just a bit. He's still to close for me to pass him.
The new is not far behind me and head back and take the trail.
If 3 bull moose weren't enough, I hear movement in the forest again. No moose but 2 deer. Looks like a mom and young deer.
What a day!
Soon I reach the trailhead and start up. The creek is really low but still flowing.
Along the road next to the creek, there are spots that are icy but still passable. The creek has patches of ice - looks pretty cool.
Then it's up, up and soon I reach the meadow It's pretty but with no sun, it's a bit anti-climatic.
I continue on. Soon I reach the mine tailing. There's still water running here but no problem passing.
Then it's more uphill until the Cardiff mine comes into view.
The truck/ATV that passed me earlier are stopped there.
I stop and talk to one guy. He's an engineer up there with the home owner discussing ways of closing the mine.
I continue up pass the mine towards the mountains
and the glacier rocks.
I can continue up but this is my stopping point (just like the last time I was here).
I take a short rest and start down.
I get passed by another ATV/truck not far from my stopping point.
I see 2 folks at the mine, 3 ladies not far from the mine and a group of ladies at the mine tailing. And I get passed by another ATV/truck that are on the way up. Busy day on the trail.
Incredible day!
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