Needled

We parked at Elephant Hill, and all of us started down the trail to Chesler Park.  VSO made good progress but, with just one wing, she lacked the sure-footedness required for some of the steep icy sections.  Before dropping into Elephant Canyon, we turned her around.

When we cleared the ridge into Chesler, I asked EDO if she wanted to go back the way we had come, or try for a (longer) loop out toward Druid Arch and back through Elephant Canyon.  She, of course, picked the loop.  So we walked fast.  It was a long way, and the December days are short.  We wanted to be out of there by 4p and, at 3:50p, we slipped down the final ridge and into the Chev.