Today was one of those days that I decided that instead of being productive, I would spend my time going outside and enjoying the crisp weather. However, since this was a spur of the moment decision, I couldn't go far. I remembered that there was a small park outside of my neighborhood and decided to go for a walk. My mom had the day off and decided to tag along, which was great since I don't (and I do feel guilty about it) spend a lot of time together with her.
As a preface, MacTaggart Sanctuary is a privately owned park south of the 23rd ave Smith Bridge Crossing. The trails wind around the more Southern portion of Whitemud Creek. With a bit of frost on the ground, the trail was slipperier than I imagined. Luckily, both of us managed the terrain with minimal scrapes (mostly just me).
Someone decided to build a shelter out of logs
The trail was surprisingly vertical, with a variety of steep spots and cliffsides. Hiking boots are recommended
Near the middle of the circular trail, there's a fantastic spot that overlooks the creek.
The frozen creek meanders among the evergreens
Ice floes stagnate over the moving water
Near the end of the hike, there was a large clearing. The widened creek was frozen over and opened up the otherwise forested area.
Barely frozen over
The end is where we begin (kudos to those who get the song reference)
I was surprised to find such a beautiful area so close to home. With no one else on the trail during the winter, it's a great opportunity to leave the hustle and bustle of the growing city and just enjoy nature. I'll definitely be here again, just with better shoes and perhaps a change of seasons for some novelty.
Cheers,
Gary