This started the same as an adventure from a couple of weeks prior. The road to the trailhead was still buried in snow, but the trucks that were stuck there had been rescued. We didn't try. Instead, we parked across the highway and crossed under I-90. Walking under a freeway is always disconcerting, but hasn't resulted in actual problems yet.

We followed the trail up to the old railroad grade and then followed east. The map showed a really sketchy trail that connected the heavily trafficked roadbed to old logging roads. Sure, we'll do that. Except we walked right past it. When we did find it, it was... sketch. Straight up. Loose. Nasty. But it went!

The logging roads were nothing special except they granted easy access. The snow was deep, much to our delight. When we intercepted a groomed ski road, we did SCIENCE!, decided there was no way we were going to our original destination, and looped back toward our starting point through the forest.

Good news: The snow in the trees was firmer and the trees were gorgeous.

Bad news: We (I) opted to return to our access trail (such as it was) by a slightly different route that would avoid the roadwalk. That meant we wound up on the wrong side of a creek that turned into a steep gully. My bad. It was actually easier to plunge step down the steep slope so snowshoes were stowed until we were back on easier terrain.

It feels like this might have been the last true winter adventure. That sucks. But it does mean the high country is going to open up soon. We just have to make it through the coming shoulder season.