Elk tracks. Made within the last 20 to 30 minutes. Six or seven animals in a small herd.
Two to four inches of wet snow, made for tracking.
Soon the herd turns steeply uphill to the dense forest below Indian Point, close to 2,000 feet above me.
Once the elk begin climbing a steep, snow-covered talus slope, I return to the Gorge Trail and my hike – – – a nine-mile, out-and-back from Wyeth to Herman Creek.
Deer, several coyotes, a bobcat and another small herd of elk – – – all had left their tracks along the trail.
Is there a better time to be hiking?
Elk track
Small creek crossing the Trail
Huge boulder that had fallen from the high cliffs above
Snow-covered Trail crossing a talus slope
Deer track
Small creek crossing the Trail
Witches-hair Lichen
My daypack taking a break
My boot prints are the only sign of life
Wind Mountain across the Columbia River
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