Hell’s Crossing Snowshoe event. “Joanne Holloman and I were the only event participants on Feb 16.   The skies were sunny, the air relatively warm, and the snow was crunchy.  Rain the previous day made the snow conditions unsuitable for XC-skiing, so we snow shoed.  We took the trail at Hells Crossing and followed the American River for a couple of miles.   We turned around when we encountered a creek that was going to be more difficult to cross than I was prepared for.  The American River was quite scenic outlined by the trees and snow.  The trail included a number of tracks that I a first thought was a very large dog, but maybe was something wild.  I have looked on the internet and cannot figure it out.  No wild animal sighting on the wilderness trail, but one coyote and several bald eagles were seen on the drive home.  The coyote jumped into the road ahead us and we followed it for maybe 100 yards until it found a way over the snow bank to the other side.  The eagles were mostly standing in the snow fields some quite close to the road.” – Dennis Trimble