Sat, Dec 5 2009 - Devon Trails (View Original Event Details)
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"Descretion is the better part of Valour". One little snowstorm on Friday and everything falls apart! By the day of the event, more than half of the people had dropped out. Friday night's blizzard continued into Saturday morning, with heavy snow, high winds and terrible roads. Nontheless, 10 hardy soulls managed to turn out for the event. Access to the meeting spot for the carpool at the West Ed overflow lot was snowed in and access was blocked of by a stuck semi. We managed to gather most of the group together at the Mall lot instead, but decided that (1) we were crazy for being out there at all under those conditions, and (2) it was more sensible to choose a shorter and perhaps easier hike in town rather than drive all the way out to Devon. Our new Event B, it was decided, would take place at the Buena Vista off-leash area, and we carpooled down to the Valley Zoo parking lot. Our two missing participants caught up with us there, and we trudged for perhaps five kilometers through foot-deep snow down the river valley and back. Our pace was fairly fast, but snowshoes would have been more appropriate for the conditions. Lessons learned for next time: Snow + high winds = cold, Expect to go slower and not as far under winter conditions, Snowshoes are a good idea for deep snow, Leave more time to get to events in winter. Thanks to everyone for coming out! We'll see you on the snowshoe trips coming up! Peter McC
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Mark G at photos@edmontonoutdoorclub.com. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to thirty of your favourites (only) for a day event, or up to sixty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.