I had every intention of doing the 3-2-1, but woke up with that scratchy throat that you get at the onset of a cold. Why is it in a house of 5, I'm always the last to get the bug.

Anyway, feeling that minor ache and fatigue you get when experienceing a cold was exacerbated by the ice covered trail, so I was done by Sawmill. Should have left the snowshoes in the car.

I did wear microspikes the entire day and I was early enough on the trail to avoid most of the slush by the afternoon. I reached the car by noon and still had half the day to rest.

On a side note, I've been trying to learn a new skill and the wonderful cairn on Sawmill had me inspired.  I stopped at Home Depot on the way home for some steel bar stock. I cut and ground and later today, welded a mini steel cairn. I think it's pretty cool.