Monday, February 6, 2012

Sunny day on showshoes

Al sent around an email to the Senior Trailblazers last week suggesting that we might take advantage of the incredible weather we've been having here in the Pacific Northwest and get out for a snowshoe adventure. The snow fell more than a week ago, and every day the avalanche danger has been less, so today, Monday, five of us took him up on his offer and drove from Bellingham to the parking lot at the far end of the ski area to start up to Huntoon Point, a place I've visited a few times before. In the picture above, you can see the end of the road to Artist Point, with a stop sign and a little bit of snow. Nowhere to go from here, take my word for it, except to strap on skis or snowshoes and head into the wilderness. So that's what we did.
This is Amy, the other woman on today's trip, all decked out and warm as we headed up Cardiac Hill. We've all been up this way before and know that we know we will cover a fair amount of elevation in a short distance. The day was perfect, a light breeze and sunshine that just wouldn't stop. I had slathered on the sunscreen and Mike frantically pawed through his pack looking for his sunglasses, which he apparently left at home. Fortunately, Amy had an extra pair, and we were just fine after that little glitch. Cardiac Hill goes straight up for quite awhile, but we all managed pretty well. Here's a picture of Steve leaving the rest of us in the dust.
That tiny black dot, that's Steve following a well-traveled snowshoe track up to Huntoon Point, where we would have lunch. The day was so perfect that we decided to spend a bit of time exploring around the area and checked out some snow pits that must have been created by a class, teaching people how to survive if they end up in the wilderness unexpectedly.
On the way to the point, Al took this picture of me in the foreground and Mt. Shuksan in the background. It's one of the most beautiful mountains around here (I've taken many pictures over the years), but I wanted to show how incredibly SUNNY and bright the day was. My new transition lenses worked perfectly, BTW. We met a few others on the way, but I'm sure the numbers are way down from the weekend. The only thing we had to deal with was plenty of snowshoe, snowboard, and ski tracks from people who were in this beautiful place before us.
My new camera caught this picture of Mike with the sun behind him, lighting up his hat and pretty red pompom during our lunch stop. We are at Huntoon Point and the only disappointment was that Mike hoped that the grey jays would visit us so we could take picture of us feeding them from our hands. He brought the bird seed and was waving his hands in hopes of enticing them to join us for lunch. But it was not to be. We did see some ravens circling and playing in the wind currents, but they didn't care to join us. It wouldn't have been the same, anyway.
When we headed back to our car and our journey home, I got this picture of Amy and Al, with Shuksan behind them, not to mention the continuing beautiful blue perfect skies. We didn't cover much distance, considering, a little less than five miles on snowshoes, but it seemed much farther. We did ascend and descend around 1,800 feet of elevation in those miles, which helped to make the day into a good workout. With the sunshine, the company, and the delight we had in being outdoors on such a beautiful day, I'm definitely not complaining.
:-)

30 comments:

  1. That looks wonderful! I am not much for snow sports and have never been snowshoeing, but if I lived in Bellingham I just might have to take it up. So glad you took advantage of the glorious weather.

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  2. Fantastic! I think I need to invest in snowshoes for the Pixie Household. We can amp up the snowy fun!

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  3. "Cardiac" Hill --looks like an apt name for it, but how funny. What a beautiful day it was for you all. I've never been on snowshoes, but then we've never really had much snow where I've lived. It looks like fun.

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  4. There is enough snow up there..looks like a beautiful day:)

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  5. wow seriously i am just in awe of some of your adventures...this being one of them...gorgeous shots....

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  6. Is Mike the one who wears shorts on your hikes? Or is he a different Mike? Lol. Just wondering why he wasn't wearing shorts today.

    Too strenuous for me, but I love your photos. Mahalo, DJan.

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  7. Wow! What a day! That sun can give you snow blindness so sunglasses would be very helpful, that's for sure. I would have loved to feed the ravens, myself. They are so smart! Just love them. Great pictures, Djan!

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  8. Oh. How incredible. Snowshoes - the stuff of novels. I loved Mike's hat (now there is a man who is comfortable in his skin). Grey jays are a whole new bird for me so I am hoping you see them soon. Fabulous post. Thank you.

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  9. What a gorgeous day to be out, the air looks so incredibly clear. I like the name Cardiac Hill, sounds like a good workout.

    If you can spare a little could you send some of that sunshine over our way. We have been fogged in for days.

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  10. You must have felt all Aired Out when you got finished there! What a beautiful place, but yes, I sure wouldn't have wanted to be out there without sunglasses!

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  11. What a strenuous workout that was, especially at those elevations with limited oxygen. The scenery and great weather would have made it worthwhile. I would have been a coward looking at Cardiac Hill. Downhill skiing was enough work for me. I don't have the energy for cross country skis or snowshoes.

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  12. Love the photos in this post and love to be out and about on snowshoes. We have a golf course, where we go cross country skiing and on snowshoes as well. Its very large and quite hilly, so lots of fun and challenges, but nary a "Cardiac Hill". Beautiful day for different adventure and lunch to boot.
    Thanks DJan

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  13. We've had very little snow here in Minnesota this year and I actually miss it. The contrast with blue skies is always so beautiful. And when it's warm enough to be out in it life feels so good, as evidenced in this post!

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  14. I don't know how you do it all. That looks like so much fun - tiring, but fun. That sky is stunning. What a pretty contrast between those brilliant blues and snow white colors.

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  15. How beautiful DJan! I wanted to try snowshoeing this year, but some pesky new asthma has stopped me from really pushing for it.
    I'm wondering how much harder it is that plain hiking - I tend to overestimate my abilities sometimes. Thanks for sharing your fabulous day!

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  16. Wow! What an amazing outing! Gorgeous day, gorgeous views... SNOW!!! :o)

    I've never even tried on a pair of snowshoes... is it difficult getting around on them?

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  17. Dear DJan,
    I am so grateful that you take all of us with you on your hikes--whether on snowshoe tracks on mountains or on foot trails in forests. I'm learning so much about the state of Washington. And I'm finding nature there so beautiful.

    The thing that always amazes me is how you blithely mention that you've hiked five miles. Eight. Ten.

    I walk for ten minutes and am tired. You are inspiring me. Now I just need for the pain in the foot to go away so that I can get out there and start with, "I walked a quarter of a mile!"

    Peace.

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  18. I love to snowshoe. It has been years. I'd love to try it again. You had a perfect day for such an adventure.

    For some reason, I really loved the photo of Mike. The red pompom on his hat made his figure seem almost three dimensional in the photo. Nice work.

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  19. You really captured that sunshine, and I must say it's welcome here. Even digital sunlight is better than none at all!!!

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  20. snow shoes would give you a good workout. Super snow and area. Awesome photos.

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  21. Such beauty! I love reading about your outings, Djan....it makes me feel like I can live a little adventure through you. Like Rubye, I noted the name of the Hill and smiled. It certainly gets the heart pumping? :)

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  22. Wow what a beautiful spot. I'm envious of the scenery... just not of the snow. ;)

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  23. DJan, you amaze me, girl!! I wish I had some of that energy and physical fitness...I'm exhausted just thinking of it all! Beautiful photos, BTW...

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  24. Beautiful scenery, gorgeous weather...such a perfect day. And wondrous, I'm sure, peace of mind!!

    WALKING IN SUNSHINE is my Wednesday Link.

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  25. The mountain and blue skies are indeed gorgeous. I miss cross country but had to give it up when my left knee went bery bad and falling I needed my sons to get me back on my feet. Of course, unbelievably we haven't had hardly any snow this winter anyways... :)

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  26. Wow! Your new camera is doing a fabulous job! What amazing views you had. I was exhausted just reading your post imagining how tiring it would be to walk in snowshoes.

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  27. Anything called "Cardiac Hill" would have been a deal-breaker for me, but oh my! What a glorious day you had. Your photo are gorgeous.
    xo jj

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  28. I'm laughing at the name "Cardiac Hill." It was obviously a beautiful day. It looks like you're getting used to your camera-the photos are great!

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  29. Yikes. Cardiac Hill?? Who named that place??I have palpitations just seeing these pics and reading the post. Nicely done, Djan!

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