From Where I'm Standing: in search of snow

After several weeks of no outdoor fun, I decided to get out to the Cascade Mountains for a bit of cross-country skiing...something I've never tried before. While driving here, I was amazed at just how little snow there was on the ground. Spring break of last year (3 weeks later than the present) I passed through the same area to find about 5 feet of snow on both sides of the road. Today...nothing. El Nino definitely has a stronghold on us this year. I was actually a bit worried that we wouldn't even find any snow to ski on!

Luckily after getting to around 4000 feet of elevation we started to see snow coating the ground around us. We stopped off at Ray Benson Sno-Park in hopes of getting down to "Big Lake" where there are supposed to be great views of Mt. Washington in the background. Unfortunately, I was anxious to get on moving and only glanced at the map spotting a trail that I thought would lead toward the lake. I later found that this would not take us all the way there...a forest too dense for skis separated us from the water.

Although never setting eyes on big lake, I was not disappointed by the views. In between screaming while sliding down the bunny slopes and wiping out in the snow, I was amazed by out spectacular surroundings, sunshine, and 60 degree weather that surrounded us. Even in the absence of Big Lake, Mt. Washington proudly displayed himself with his jagged pinnacle towering for all to admire.