The main road is free of ice, sees very little traffic, has a shoulder when a car does pass, and the speed limit is 60km/hr. It's also 20km from the north gate to the south gate, so it's the perfect distance for ultra training.
Compared to the city, Elk Island is Shangri-la. There is no traffic drone, no aggressive drivers, no planes and helicopters overhead, no oblivious pedestrians, and no off-leash dogs. You can actually hear birds and squirrels going about their business in the roadside brush. There is other wildlife, too. Today I saw a Ruffed Grouse in the top of a sapling, a coyote hiding in the bushes hoping that it wasn't seen, and several bison. This small individual was up to its elbows digging for forage.
The park was uncommonly quiet today, which is not surprising given the frigid temperature - it did get up to -13C at one point but the windchill kept the realized temperature in the -20 to -29C range.
I stopped at the south gate for a snack and a picture and my pants froze solid! I still had 7km back to the car. I bet I'm not smiling under that mask.
Still, it was a good run and a great day for a run. I know I'm smiling in this picture!
Jeff! Those mittens made by the Mrs. are awesome! Looks like a nice day out...
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