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| Trail with a cute little snow person on a stick |
I sure didn't want to go this morning. The weather forecast was dismal, with rain and wind expected, and without any chance of sunshine, I knew it would be cold to boot. Since there were only eight of us today, I wasn't alone in my reluctance. But what would I write about if I didn't go?
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| Pretty much snow from here on |
When we started out, there was a little snow around, but not much. That first picture shows where we first ran into some snow, and then it just got heavier, with very little exposed dirt and plenty of ice under the snow, too. But since it wasn't raining yet, although the wind had just picked up, we kept on going. We took a short side trip to the overlook at Cedar Lake, but there wasn't much to see.
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| We could see Lookout Mountain |
When the day is fine, you can see Mt. Baker and more, but today we were lucky to see anything at all. After admiring the view (such as it was), we headed down to Cedar Lake. The boardwalks were covered with ice and snow patches, so we weren't going very fast. Every step needed to be tested.
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| Frozen Cedar Lake |
When we got to the lake, we found that it was frozen. I've seen it with ice on it before, but never like this. Usually Rich, who loves to take a dip in most water bodies, no matter what the time of year, wasn't at all interested. You have to remember that not only was it cold, but the wind was fierce as well. Nobody was surprised, although what a photo op it would have been. He wasn't persuaded.
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| Jim, Kirk, Ellen, Rich, Al, Victoria, Melanie (and me behind the camera) |
By the time this picture was taken, we were getting cold and decided to make our way to Pine Lake and then call it a day. But as we tried to navigate the trail, it was difficult to get any purchase on the downhills when you couldn't even dig a boot heel into the ice. We decided to turn back and head home.
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| Our lunch spot |
Kirk, who lives nearby, suggested that we just head on back to the cars and then join him at his home for a nice warm and dry lunch. But on the way back down, we found this lovely place out of the wind and decided to stop for a quick break. We were all getting hungry by then. Afterwards we packed up and went back down the steep trail to the cars.
It wasn't a very long trip in miles (5.5), but we went up and down around 2,000 feet of elevation, and we had to deal with all the snow and ice! But no rain. It didn't start to rain until we had almost reached the cars! Now it's blowing and raining like crazy out there, but I'm at home, writing this early blog post, and realizing that no matter how much I don't want to go out on a Thursday, I will probably be glad I went. And today is no different: I am exercised and got to be challenged a little, and here I am, none the worse for wear and maybe a little better than I was this morning. My mood is certainly much improved.
:-)
Great job under difficult conditions by the sound of it. Well done!
ReplyDeleteYay for persistence and fortitude. I am sorry that Rich wimped out. Quite understandable, but he should have realised that he would be disappointing blog readers world wide...
ReplyDeleteEverything I wrote disappeared. Google hates me on these posts.
ReplyDeleteHi DJan, Neat pictures of the snow up there. We had zero down here, at least zero accumulation. I think there were a few flakes mixed in with rain. Wishing you a fine New Year's weekend ahead!
ReplyDeleteHope you had on some sturdy boots.
ReplyDeleteTo challenge difficult conditions gets the adrenaline flowing. Adrenaline makes for a good day.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out there and stuck with it. It's good for you!
ReplyDeleteTreacherous footing with that much elevation gain and loss does sound like a daunting challenge. Glad you stayed safe while getting well exercised.
ReplyDeleteIt might have been cold and snowy but the trail sure looked beautiful. I never regret going on a hike.
ReplyDeleteYou are so brave and hardy! Kudos to you!
ReplyDeleteYou get the nature healing every time you are out and about...no matter the weather. :)
ReplyDeleteThe trail is beautiful even with snow! You are one hardy soul, DJan!
ReplyDeleteI envy your the snow but not the slickery stuff you had to deal with. The good thing about walking with a group is often you go not wanting to let the others down and end up enjoying it or at least the end results. Way to go.
ReplyDeleteI admire your fortitude, but I would not have gone on that hike.
ReplyDeleteI never tire of looking at your lovely mountain pictures that you take while on your hikes. I look at them often, even though I do not write comments. There is nothing like looking at the beauty of nature when one feels stressed.
ReplyDeleteYou have seen snow already. I don’t know if we’ll see any this year – usually if we see some it is in January or February but it has been two year without snow so far. I wish you much happiness and more lovely hikes in the New Year. Happy New Year!
It is hip breaking icy here, every step outside could be my last! Happy New Year !! I wish you the very best in 2017! :)
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