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| Linda and Ward in front of the Big Stump |
Only seven Trailblazers showed up for today's hike up Anderson Mountain. I'm not sure why, because the skies were clear when we met at the Center. They didn't stay that way for long, though. We started the hike at the Alger Road entrance, since a gate closed off the road we have taken sometimes to the Big Stump to begin the hike. This adds another two miles, but because we knew we would be dealing with quite a bit of snow at the top, we were glad to have more of the trek at a lower elevation. We ran into about a foot of fresh snow almost immediately, once we left the old logging road.
Although the rest of the country is experiencing much warmer than normal temperatures, we are still locked into a wet and snowy (at higher elevations) weather pattern. This is the most snow we have encountered on Anderson Mountain at this time of year. As we climbed, we also noticed that our pretty blue skies were beginning to change in character. By the time we reached the clearcut area, we weren't sure we would escape today without needing to don our raincoats.
This is taken in the clearcut area, which is beginning to slowly recover. You can see that the sun is shining in the far distance, but not where we were. The snow also made it difficult to hike, as we began to break through a hard crust at times, requiring quite a bit more energy to go forward, almost as much as one spends hiking in sand. Finally, though, the skies lifted and we got this great view of Lake Whatcom.
Although it looks quite warm, it wasn't, and a light breeze took even more of our body warmth from us. We had only hiked for just under four miles when we decided to stop for lunch. We reached a part of the trail that is covered with downed trees, and with as much snow as we had to navigate, forward travel became treacherous as we would fall in up to our knees. Al is perched on a log as we ate a quick lunch before heading back down.
I'm hoping that these pictures will make those of you who are already using your air conditioners feel a bit cooler. We didn't spend much time here. However, once we got back out of the snow and hit the old logging road, that ornery old sunshine came out in force. We were all much more comfortable on the return trip to the cars. The weather forecast for today gave us a 60% change of precipitation, but we didn't even have a drop. Lately, we've been pretty lucky with our Thursday hikes.
By the time we finished, we had hiked up and down around 2,000 feet and covered a little less than eight of our planned ten-mile hike. We decided, however, that the difficulty of hiking in all that snow meant I should be able to add at least two more miles! Walking in more than a foot of heavy snow is definitely a challenge, and I'm tired and happy to have had another excellent day in the outdoors with my good friends.
:-)
wow its like in the 80s here...so seeing that snow is kinda a nice cool down...smiles...lovely views as well....
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jan!
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to see that we had as good a time as we thought. You always manage to capture the true essence of our hikes. L&W
It is a pleasant 81 degrees indoors at 1 pm and we don't need the a/c. I don't think I could hike in snow, either. Glad you had a good time, nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteI thought that when the logging companies did a clear cut that they were supposed to replant it with a lot of baby trees to replace the forest? Sure doesn't look like they do.
ReplyDeleteTrying to climb over those downed trees looked dangerous. I'm glad you turned around after that. You really do hike through all kinds of weather--from hot sun, to rain, to snow--in a few hours. That must be part of the mystique of the mountains. :)
Glad you had a good day. I love it when you get lots of pictures!! :):)
it sounds incredibly exhilarating as well as exhausting! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of Al sitting in all that snow eating his lunch so nonchalantly...he looks right at home!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, just beautiful. You will sleep fulfilled tonight. Not a lot of people get to do that.
ReplyDeleteYou always have such great adventures. That view of Lake Whatcom (does it rhyme with .com?) ;) looks amazing.
ReplyDeleteWhat magnificent country shown here in your photos DJan. Funny when the rest of the country is so warm that you guys are still having snow.
ReplyDeleteWow, that view of Lake Whatcom was definitely worth the trek through the snow. Walking through all the snow gave you a good work out for sure. I'm glad you had a good day.
ReplyDeleteThere was a Wintery Advisory out for the foothills of our Blue Mountains last night and sure enough we woke up to snow this morning. By late afternoon it warmed up enough that most of it was gone. The newspaper headline said "March Lion Finally Roars".
I think with coming upon all that white stuff, I would've turned around and went shopping somewhere. LOLOL
ReplyDeleteBeautiful country tho...what a glorious stormy skyscape in that one near the clear-cut!! Wow.
What a trek you took us on this time. I think my legs will hurt tomorrow.
The rest of the hikers listened to a different weather forecaster. Glad you dodged most of the bad weather. What a beautiful Lake Whatcom photo.
ReplyDeleteOh my darlin' ya'll did yourselves proud!!! I is much harder walkin' in the snow and yes...your pics gave me a chill or two.
ReplyDeleteMy hat's off to ya for your physical capabilities there sweetie. No rockin' chair for you..heehehehhee!
The pictures are wonderful!
Have an awesomely blessed weekend sweetie!!! :o)
You're right. Walking in deep snow takes tremendous energy. Snowshoes prevent you from breaking through the snow but still take effort. You still had a great day.
ReplyDeleteDear DJan, . . . the photograph of the lake was quite lovely. Thank you. Here the weather has been rainy for several days. When that happens, I find myself getting a little melancholy. Then I have to take myself by the scruff of the neck and remember just how wonderful my life is. And yours is wonderful too with those hikes and the fellowship you experience. Peace.
ReplyDeleteUnbelievable seeing your snow and feeling our heat here. The weather is really topsy turvy this Spring.
ReplyDeleteWe woke to snow and a two hour late start yesterday, though not as much as you hiked through!
ReplyDeleteLove those pictures. I like the feel of the one with just the rays of sun in the distance. You are a brave, intrepid soul, and I'm grateful to live vicariously through your adventures!
Gee, after all the high temps we have been having here, it's kinda nice to see all that white snow, but I think just this once, I'll let you keep it.
ReplyDeleteYou have once again capture the beauty of Nature at its finest. I love the view of the lake and laughed at Al nesting with his lunch on the log in the snow. Now, that looks like something I WOULD DO IF WE HAD SNOW :)
It's in the 80s here and seeing all that snow - really did cool me off for a few minutes!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like we'll have snow all summer in some higher elevations. I expect a cool and wet spring. But I can hope I'm wrong.
ReplyDeletethat's the most snow I've seen all winter
ReplyDeletebeautiful views up there
Walking in a foot of snow does not sound like a good time. Not for me anyway. I like snow but not trudging in it. Things here have changed so quickly. I watched the grass turn green in one day. Plants are blooming and bulbs are shooting up quickly. This just isn't right. We are supposed to have more snow here. I now wonder if there will more winter weather or if the small amount of winter weather here this year was all we get. Oh, Mother Nature, what are you doing to us.
ReplyDeleteAnother great hike. The view is fantastic. Walking in snow is not easy job..but you guys are in such great shape! :)
ReplyDelete