I hiked through the Middle Grasslands of Lac du Bois Protected Area on a sunny mid-December day.   I wore microspikes on my boots for traction on the snow and icy paths.   From a small parking area, I headed east through the open grasslands.    Clapperton Ridge stood above the grassland slopes to the north.   I followed a single track to the top of a hill/viewpoint.

From the hill viewpoint, I had views to Long Lake and a chain of small lakes extending north-south for 3.5 km.

The view to the north followed Long Lake toward the McQueen Creek drainage.   The North Batchelor Range rises above the trench to the east.

From the viewpoint I retraced my snowy footprints, then headed north to the shores of Island Lake.

contAt the north end of the lake is the Grasslands Esker, a glacial remnant.    An under-the-ice stream flowed from Lac du Bois to Long Lake and then down to the Thompson Valley.    After the Ice Ages a 1 km long esker stands as a sinuous ridge in the grasslands.

I hiked along the top of the esker enjoying the view of Island Lake and the surrounding hills.

I continued my hike along the west side of Island Lake, picking up a single track which led back to the area that I started.   This is a favorite hike in every season.     I will be back to hike it in spring.