Up Signal Mountain Road 1-22-12

 In winter GTNP closes the main park road from the Taggart Lake Parking area to the Jackson Lake Parking lot, this road is occasionally groomed and makes for a nice easy winter hike. We started out on this hike a few weeks ago and missed the Signal Mountain Road turn off by a few hundred yards. This trip however was not quite like our last attempt in that the trail we broke was kept up by fellow trail users and by this time had been quite decently packed, and we made it to Signal Mountain Road in no time at all. We took the left turn and headed up the hill. This tail was packed decently but recent snowfall had topped the trail and gave us a few inches to push down. Still fairly easy trail and completely desolate. we Hiked up Signal Mountain Road about a mile and stopped for lunch on the left hand side of the trail. Looking down the hill we saw what looked like the main trail. Kevin with his extreme inability to stay on any trail took the the sled down to the peculiar opening and discovered it indeed was the main road. So he invited us to all join him, the kids ran down the hill and Kevin met me half way down and we sledded the rest of the way together. This short cut saved us about 1.5 miles of hiking, which after last weeks hike we were very happy to get. Total hike 2.5 miles.

The day started out cloudy, and grey.

Better Trail this time.

Up Signal Mountain Road 

Emma found a Snow Spider

Time for a rest

Down through there is the main road

Tree Hugger