On a grey and cold January day we parked at Lac du Bois, then followed a stomped-in track west around Lac du Bois.    We wore hiking boots with spikes attached.    The trail was in good shape to the upper end of Hanging Valley, then it was irregular and more difficult on the ankles, so we went along the treeline where there was less snow.    We hiked down the valley noting wildlife signs (tracks and feces), then we checked trail cam footage at our turn-around point.

Lac du Bois was quiet.    Much of the snow on top of the ice had disappeared during warmer spells.   Aspen trees lined the shoreline as we continued west.

From the start of Hanging Valley we curved out to the northern side treeline to avoid the deeper crusty snow and irregular footprints.   We joined an old double track through Douglas fir forests in the narrow parts of the valley,

We hiked to trail cams to service them and collect/swap data cards, then returned on the same route we went down.    Rime covered the trees on both sides of the valley.

Our hike down the valley, some time on side tracks, then back up was 7.4 km.    We spotted remnants of a cow carcass, some artifacts from horse logging days, scats and tracks of coyote, fox and wolf, and the trail cam clips confirmed the recent activity of these animals.   To see the videos, go to YouTube to a channel called Wildlife by Bean.

Image by Wildlife by Bean