Palgrave is just barely snowy enough to rock-ski so we drove 30 minutes north to Dufferin Forest where we could play in 15 cm of snow.
We did some twisty single track then switched to double track to avoid any surprises to 'Bent's knee. For the same reason, I did most of the trail breaking which was slo-o-o-ow going on my waxless rock skis (which I didn't need in such good conditions but that's what I'd brought). It was a great workout anyway - like a NordicTrack with the resistance turned way up. Unlike last weekend, this felt like actual skiing. Yay, winter is here!!
It was quiet but near Airport Road we saw a couple of hunters with crossbows. 'Tis the season (deer) until the end of December.
We found a wonderful, quiet single track trail with a small sign that said, "Ken's Trail 1966-2010". I'm wondering if this is the same Ken who was the manager of Mansfield Outdoor Centre. I worked with him a couple of years ago to put on our mountain bike orienteering event there and I also talked with his wife who was the Dufferin County Forester for the adjacent public land. Whoever Ken's Trail is for, it must be a sad story since the man was only 44. Does anyone know about this?
When we got back to the nearly deserted parking lot, another vehicle was arriving. Turns out it was a couple of our Caledon friends, Rocky and Slowrunner heading out for a snowshoe. Nice surprise!