We had planned to have breakfast with Dan, Jenn, and Bella at the pancake place at the Pass, but a semi rolled over and closed the road so we ate at Gordy's instead. Add great breakfast to the list of things Gordy's does great. The best restaurant in the upper valley without doubt.

Full, we headed up through the rain toward the waiting snow at the Pass. As we got within a few miles the rain became sleet and that became snow. It never really got to blizzard status, but close. We got off the freeway and drove up to the northern trailhead for the PCT. We had a little bit of a traction issue getting up the hill to the trailhead, but managed to park out of the way of all the others who were showing up.

Once Clara was dressed I slipped on her latest set of boots (that I had snow-sealed the previous night) and strapped on her new snowshoes. Atlas, my brand of choice, doesn't make a kids snowshoe, but Red Feather does. They're called Snow Paws because they look like great big, blue bear paws with bright green straps. I'm not sure they'd have a lot of traction for a steep traverse, but Clara's probably not going to be accompanying me on any of my stupid-class adventures.

Clara started off in her new snowshoes stepping on her "feet" each time. However, in no time she was declaring herself a "big monster" and was taking monster steps through the snow. Amy reclaimed her snowshoes from Jenn (who was trying them on) and I donned my battered pair as well. We tromped about in the two-foot deep, powdery snow before it was time to head home.

This might not have been an adventure in the usual sense of the word, but it certainly seems like it's a good start to the winter. Clara loves her snowshoes and Amy's impressed by hers. We'll definitely be back for something a little closer to stupid-class, though I might save the true stupidity for Dan.