As another couple cross-country skied past my sweetheart and I last week, they remarked how it was a “perfect day” to be out enjoying the outdoors.

And it was.

The snow was awesome, the temperatures were great and the weather was mostly sunny. I couldn’t think of anything to add to make it much better — except maybe seeing a few more critters.

I asked my sweetheart, Julie, if she wanted to go skiing on the Brimstone Trails west of Ponds Lodge in the Island Park Reservoir area. “How is the snow?” she asked, “I don’t want to go if it’s going to be all icy.” (She’s kind of a perfectionist like that). So we did a bit of online research and discovered that the area had received at least 6 inches of new snow in the past few days.

“OK, I’ll go,” she said.

There are two main ways to start these trails. You can take the road across the Island Park Reservoir dam and park on the west side of the dam at trailheads there, or you can park at a plowed-out area just south of Ponds Lodge on the north side of the highway bridge that crosses the Buffalo River.

We started skiing from the Ponds Lodge trailhead. This trail goes west between a row of cabins and the Buffalo River. It almost feels like you’re skiing through someone’s backyard as you begin, but you quickly leave the cabins behind.

After a few hundred yards, the trail crosses a small stream on a footbridge that flows from the north into the Buffalo River. If you do this loop clockwise, the trail leaves the river for about a quarter of a mile before winding back south to follow along the river for about a mile. This section of the trail is the most scenic and worth every minute.

Along the river, you often see swans and other waterfowl. The last time we were on this trail, we saw a cow and calf moose who were reluctant to leave the packed trail for the waist-deep powder — so we skied around them.

Near where the Buffalo River joins the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, the trail turns north.

After a hundred yards or so, the trail forks. If you continue north, the trail turns across the Island Park Reservoir Dam and connects into three loop trails: The Eagle Trail, Thurman Ridge Trail and Boggy Springs. Farther south, the trail goes into Box Canyon and eventually connects into the Brimstone Trail.

If you turn right (east), the trail goes through forest for at least a mile before connecting back to the beginning of the loop.

The Brimstone Trail is a 10.8-mile one-way connection from Ponds Lodge to Harriman State Park. This trail can be a big day and requires some route finding if the trail hasn’t been groomed lately.

The Thurman Ridge loop has some big ups and downs and is not suited for novice cross-country skiers.

The other trails are fun and scenic for most skiers.

Because these trails are Park N’ Ski trails, you can find short descriptions of each, plus simple maps, online at the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation website under the East Idaho Park N’ Ski section. There are also descriptions and maps in the local guidebook, “Eastern Idaho Sweet Spots.”

On our ski last Saturday, the only wildlife we saw were birds. We did see a grouse near the trail who ignored us. It was intent on eating buds from a tiny tree. I’m always impressed with those critters who stick around all winter and don’t hibernate or migrate (too far). Those chickadees, crows, rodents, foxes, coyotes, etc., are just amazingly tough.

—————

This weekend — Saturday, Sunday and Monday — Harriman State Park is joining the 27th annual Backyard Bird Count.

On Saturday, bird lovers can join a snowshoe walk along the John Muir Trail to count swans, ducks and other fowl. Meet at 10 a.m. at the visitors center ready to go.

The park will also have birding activities in the Jones House from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Besides several different kinds of ducks and swans, I have seen bald eagles and blue herons at Harriman State Park.