Hanging in the Winter Woods - part 2 📷

Continued from part 1, we were able to explore further up stream past the canyon and along the ice. Some amazing ice channels, gaps, breather holes and other ice formations were found along the creek, which made for a really memorable hike. The area is near the end of the little cataract creek which flows into the much larger cataract river.

Click any photos to view larger versions.

Didn't capture a perfect focus, but the ice formations were pretty astounding here to explore along the creek. They just went on and on, in places like this, the overhangs of ice and gaps were 3feet deep, making some risky hops back and forth across the ice water below.

If you are wondering, we all had traction devices on our feet to safely walk the ice without cracking open our heads. They are the best thing in winter around here and I'd never hike without them in my pack.

Once we had explored as much of the creek and canyon as we could, we headed up the sidewalls to find a spot in the trees to hang out in our hammocks and enjoy a break for lunch. I'm in my own hammock taking this picture, but a typically kind of stop for lunch here, which saves us shovelling out the snow or sitting on the cold ground for a break. I'm sure you know already from my many posts, hammocking is my favorite way to camp and take a break in the wilderness!

After lunch, we heading back out from the upper sides along the creek and got to snap a few more sweet photos of the glistening sun and brilliant shadows in the ice and rocks below.

The photos hardly shows the scale here, but this is one BIG section of the creek with huge boldes at the sides and long ribs down inside the creek bottom. Nic eto see now from up above our route we entered as well.

Out to the left, you can just see the peak edge of the mountain back near the start of our hike, we will head back out to. A great day in the creek and ice, and none of us even fell in! Yet. lol. That happened at the last crossing luckily right back near our vehicle.

Back out at the final rapids/falls and near the confluence of the creek, one more snapshot of the beautiful icy waters and terrain.

Definitely a hike I'll remember with the tough terrain and wicket ice formations. I may to explore this in the summer again after all, as long as I can cross the river to get in this area, there is otherwise no access at all.