On a cool mid-December day we chose to hike the Paul Lake Trail, starting at the west end of Paul Lake.   The lake was not frozen yet and a few ducks were still dabbling on the lake.    Some of the trail was bare dirt and gravel, but much of it was well-trodden snow and ice.    We used our traction devices (microspikes) to hike the trails safely.    This was especially helpful (and safer) on the steep Gibraltar Rock Trail.   The first two kilometers of the trail were fairly level, winding along the lakeshore to the bluff.

We wound up the steeper trail to the north side of Gibraltar Rock, glad to have our microspikes on our hiking boots.

The trees and shrubs on upper slopes were all covered in frost (rime), especially on the witch’s hair lichen on the branches.

From the top area we had views back down to the lake looking west showing the route we hiked.

From another viewpoint on Gibraltar Rock, we had views looking east toward the end of the lake.

Fog wreathed the upper slopes of both Rockface and Harper Mountain to the south.

We returned the way we came, coming down the steep sections carefully.   The entire hike was about two hours, covering 7 km.

This is a trail that is well-used in the drier and warmer seasons, but with good boots and microspikes, it is a good hike in late fall too.   We were delighted by the frost-covered trees near the top. but the whole route is a pleasant hiking trail, to be done each year.