Now that our public lands are kind of open we can go out. Or rather, we must go out. Rain? Pfft. Snow? Pfffffft. Rain and snow? Pffffffffffffft! It doesn't mean it's going to be great, but it's going to be outside in the mountains and that is great.
The boy and I set out to check on my favorite part of the mountains. We were about a mile from the end of the road when snow made it impassible. I drove in reverse for a third of a mile to a slightly wider spot in the road to park.
The snow on the road was never more than a few feet deep and mostly firm. "Mostly" is the key word. Every so often we'd punch through for an extra bit of excitement. By the time we arrived at the trailhead we'd already had a ton of fun. But don't forget, this is spring in the Pacific Northwest so there was more than just snow to cause trouble.
This route usually passes through a tunnel of slide alder. In summer it's sometimes wet, but in spring the heavy snow weighs down the supple trees turning the trail into a tangled mess with a creek running down the middle. Tinkham easily wound her way through. Mr.HOS and I had less luck.
Once we were past the bushwhack we were in a mixture of snow and bare ground. In the deep forest where the snow had not been as deep it had melted off. Where it was open, the snow was feet deep. As we climbed higher, it of course got deeper. At the lake it was more than three meters deep.
There's an peninsula in the middle of the lake. Every time I've visited, the weather has been terrible making photographs difficult. This time was no different. Each shot had water spots or a blur or something not quite right.
Getting out of the basin full of wet, loose snow was enough of a pain that we donned snowshoes. While I was bending down tightening mine, the boy dropped a ball of snow down my neck. I was none too pleased until I saw he was standing 15 feet away. He'd done it by flinging snow from his trekking pole's basket. Well done, boy. (Of course, his action initiated a running battle up the hill with each of us trying to claim the high ground.)
Our trip down was quicker than up. No surprise, right? Except this time it was due to glissading.
As awesome as I know I am, I know I'll never be as cool and stylish as the boy.
We got another dose of the healing outdoors and saw no people along the way. The only one unhappy with the way the day played out was Tinkham. She outright refused to return to the truck for the drive out. Our adventure was extended by about 15 minutes before we lured her back to the car with a crinkly candy bar wrapper. Hopefully we'll start wearing her out a little more and she'll be glad to get into the truck. Until then... Hershey's for the win.
