Not the holes you can see. Those are easy. I'm talking about the ones you can't see. I guess, technically they aren't holes. More like snow bridges. They often form when snow piles up on brush or the banks of a body of water. The snow sticks together and bridges the gaps between two sides or two supports. All it takes is an unwary traveler to fall straight in.

Later in the season, the snow will have consolidated so the bridges are stronger. Now, with lots of fresh and (surprising for us) dry snow, the bridges are barely supporting their own weight, let alone ours.

The boy found the first big hole when he tried to jump a little stream. The far side wasn't quite as stable as hoped. I found the next one when we were crossing what looked like a meadow, but was probably low lying vine maple. I'd like to say we traded off hole-finding duties, but he does have a tendency to float over the surface like an elf while I mine the depths like a dwarf.

And Tink? She did a little of both, but was far more adept at escaping than either of us.

Of course, we'll keep going out because it's so wonderful to be out there, but it's a great reminder to always be with a buddy.

📍On the lands of the Wenatchi people.