On a mild winter day I hiked off and on trail on the West Ridges on the edge of Kenna Cartwright Park.   For the fits half of the hike, the route was off-trail, traversing the hills.

The hills were open sagebrush grassland slopes, moderate off trail hiking.

At the far northwest end of the ridges, the slopes descended down to the valley below, but I looped back on steep sidehills to Kenna Cartwright Park.  

I picked up the trails and followed them as they wound through the hills.   I continued a loop route back toward the start.  

Although there was a chance of rain predicted, the weather cleared and the last part of the hike was on dry trails, unusual for this time of the year.  

Shoulder season hiking provides opportunities for exploration in the hills and in this mild winter, there will be more days of off-trail hiking.