This has been the worst TNAB season on record for weather. We're more than half way through and we've had two (count them, two) good weather trips. Otherwise it's been snowing, raining, or something in between. I know, I know. It's colder in the mountains. I ain't buying it. This. Just. Sucks.
Rather than sit at home playing Farmville we decided we would brave the elements. Not for Wright Mountain, as was scheduled, because that'd be stupid. No, we'd go part of the way to Snow Lake and set up camp for a relaxing party. In the rain.
But wait! What's that? Could it be our savior? I look up and I see blue! Blue! BLUE!
Yup. I look up and I see our blue tarp stretched between two trees, held up with poles, tied down with pickets. We have become Blue Tarp Campers even if we didn't stay the night. With a little shoveling of snow and some creative twine usage we were all set to watch as the rain blew through. Well, by "through" I meant in waves. It never really left.
The tarp I brought has seen better days so we had a few leaks, but nothing terrible. Treen wouldn't climb on my lap as I sat on a sleeping pad so I had to give it up to her so she wasn't sitting in the snow. I'm a giver, that way.
When the hot toddies were gone we packed up and started the climb out of the Snow Lake basin. The rain had mostly stopped and we were once again left to heat up too quickly. At the ridge top there were slides, arrests, and somersaults. It might have been related to the toddies. We were back at the cars before headlights were needed. Probably about the time we would have arrived at Wright if we'd tried.
Totals: About 4.5 miles and 1,500 feet.
