Snow hiking in Big Horn National Park
The road parted before us, revealing a sprawling valley nestled between two towering mountains—a gateway to the rugged beauty of Big Horn National Park.
We pulled onto a wide shoulder, where the view of the majestic canyon demanded pause. Cameras in hand, we captured the grandeur and vivid landscape.
Far below, a river wove its way across the valley floor, obscured by a dense tangle of leafless trees, their branches skeletal against the winter light.
As we climbed higher up the mountain, the road twisted into sharp switchbacks, clinging to the mountain's edge. Eventually, we turned onto a muddy, unpaved spur—a humble beginning to to a memorable trail.
Our chosen path, the aptly named Crazy Woman Trail, promised a three-mile journey tracing the river's edge. But the landscape held an unexpected challenge: a thick blanket of snow still clung to the ground, undeterred late April sunshine. Undeterred ourselves, we laced up our sturdy hiking boots, slung on our backpacks, and slathered sunscreen under the brilliant sun, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead.
Warm sunlight punched through the heavy tree cover, and I quickly regretted my heavy parka as its weight became stifling.
The boys bounded ahead, untethered and rolling ecstatically in the hardened snow, their paws barely leaving a trace. We followed, the crunch of snow underfoot punctuating the quiet, broken only by the rushing creek beside us.
Half an hour into the trek, the snow deepened, and I suddenly found myself sinking knee-deep into its icy grip. Fatigue and frustration crept in, and the thought of turning back tempted me with each step. We stopped at a rare patch of dry ground near the creek to catch our breath. Sunlight sparkled on the rippling water, turning it into liquid crystal, and we lingered long enough to snap a few photos. Jeremy launched his drone, letting it skim low over the creek to capture its winding course from above.
Photo taken by Jeremy Widen
We packed up and ventured toward the bus, the forest's towering pines casting cool shadows on the unmarked snow. I felt my spirit soothed and re-energized for the next adventure.
