It probably should have been an omen when the Pass was closed repeatedly for avalanches and spin outs. It should have been an omen when the ski areas were actually operating. It should have been an omen when they lost power at the Pass and had to cancel night skiing. In fact, these all were omens, but we're not very good at paying attention.

Instead, we started the evening by digging out a Prius that had been snowed in. 24 hours and there was no way it was moving more than a few inches. Was this another omen? Just an omen of awesomeness!

We were nine snowshoers and a skier. (Remember crazy Weatherman Matt from a few days ago? He decided to ski it again.) Once again, crossing the creek was a chore, but in snowshoes it was much easier. (Sorry, Matt. It's true.)

Amazingly, there was a track ahead of us! Hurray! One of our big concerns was that we wouldn't make the lake because of the deep snow. Unfortunately, our luck ran out when we caught up with the trail breakers (more TNAB) a few minutes later. That's when the work for us began.

When breaking trail in snowshoes the leader has the hardest job. Each step requires lifting a snowshoe out of the snow and moving it forward. Then you sink back down. When the snow is a foot deep or less this isn't that bad. But when it's deeper it's virtually impossible for any length of time. Enter the peloton.

When the leader tired, preferably before the point of collapse, they step to the side and the next in line becomes the leader, breaking trail for the group. When the group had passed, the former leader steps back in the now-packed trench for some rest until it becomes their turn again. When done properly, nobody burns out and progress is consistent.

Unless the snow is out of control and waist deep. I was the leader when progress became impossible. The snow was too deep to get on top so I was just pushing through. We were still a mile from the lake and had been at it almost two hours. It was clear our best move was to turn back to a flat spot and party.

We stomped out a platform in the snow with a table for goodies in the middle. The snow continued to dump, but with puffies on and hot liquids consumed we weren't cold. Treen and Bear had pads to sit on so everyone was happy. Well, unless you took off your skis or snowshoes at which point you'd sink up to your crotch. An avalanche probe found the snow was 200cm deep. (I'm not sure what that is in a real unit of measurement, but probably something like 20 feet!)

When we had consumed enough we turned for the cars. Our speed was much improved and nobody even fell in the creek on the way out. None of our vehicles required dig-outs, but had we stayed a few more hours it would have been close.

Already this season we've had more snow than in all of last season. And the snow that's fallen has been perfectly fluffy and gorgeous. It's looking like it will be a great season with many more parties in the snow to come.