Snowshoe Overnight Trip to Snow Bowl on 3-24, 25, 26, 2014

On Monday, I took a trip up to Snow Bowl at the Mt. Tahoma Trails.  I had planned to meet my friends, John and Sharon there.  It was a beautiful, sunny day.   A great day to be out in the woods. Ted could not come on this one as he has had some foot problems.

I thought I would start early as I wanted to enjoy every part of this beautiful day.   I had got my backpack ready the night before, so off I went.  I got to the trail head abut 10:00 a.m., took my 25 lb. pack and IPod and off I went.  It is a steep 3 1/2 miles up to Snow Bowl.

It was great when I finally got up there.   There was a couple already there with their 3 year old son.   He was adorable!   They were getting ready to go skiing and they had a little chariot with skis to take their son in.   Off they went, and I had the hut to myself, temporarily.   I got all settled in.

The Mt. Tahoma Trails have three huts and a yurt.  A person can make reservations to stay in them.  People can hike, snowshoe or ski up to the huts or yurt for the day and if someone wants to spend the night, then a reservation can be made.   They are $15.00 per night.  Each hut allows a certain number of people who can stay there.  At Snow Bowl, ten people can be accommodated.  Availability can be checked on the internet.    Snow Bowl was full for Monday night, but me and my friends, were the only ones staying Tuesday night.

Early that afternoon, Jerry and Mary showed up.  They had snowshoed up to High Hut for the day.  It was so nice chatting with them.  They love to  hike and snowshoe.  They are amazing for a couple in their 80's!  I love seeing people in their 80's out hiking and snowshoeing for long distances.  It helps me think that I can be doing what I love to do at their age.

The couple with their 3 year old returned and I enjoyed talking with them.  They have an organic farm and since I buy organic foods, I learned more about organic farming.

My friends, John and Sharon did not show up until after 7:00 p.m.  John had a painting job to finish.  But another couple who were spending the night showed up just before my friends did.  Really liked them also.  We named them the Navy couple as they both were in the Navy.  We all had a great time getting to know one another as we made dinner.  It was a beautiful afternoon and great company.


The upstairs part of the hut is for sleeping.   There are a couple bunk beds and thick mats to sleep on.   Very comfortable.   Nine and 1/2 (the 3 year old) of us slept up there on Monday night.  The snoring wasn't too bad, ha!  On Tuesday night, me and my friends had the hut all to ourselves!

On Tuesday morning, it was a different day and different weather.  It was cloudy, and snowing lightly.  But we decided to snowshoe up to High Hut after breakfast.   John did not want to go, he wanted to stay and rest.   So Sharon and I put on our rain gear and took off.   It was snowing lightly, but not bad.  On the way up, we ran into the people who had stayed the night at High Hut, coming down.   Then a couple of snow boarders startled us as they were coming down, and fast.   We did not know which way to go, but they missed us!  It would have been very unpleasant if they would have hit us!   When we got up to High Hut, it was windy and snowing.  It was nice coming into a nice warm hut and we had it all to ourselves.   I got the tea kettle going and Sharon and I got our lunches out as we watched the snow and wind outside.   We were surprised to see John  show up.  He was worried about us.  After lunch, John and I played cards while Sharon took a nap.   It was so nice there.  The Navy couple showed up, as they planned to spend the night there.  They would have the hut all to themselves, very romantic!  We left the hut about 3:00 p.m.

 When we got back to Snow Bowl, we were wet on the outside, but dry under.   So we put our wet gear on nice racks they had available.   Everyone else who had been there, left.   We made dinner and watched the snow and the wind.   John and I played cards while Sharon read, then it was bed time.   We had the whole upstairs to ourselves.   I chose to sleep on one of the bunk beds.    After a good nights sleep, we got up and made breakfast.   It was still snowing slightly, but not bad.   We got all of our gear together to head out for home.   We had a wonderful time and met some really nice people and look forward to our next stay here.   Would highly recommend staying at the huts, they are soooo nice.

So good to see the hut!  So beautiful!  Could not wait to take off my pack also.

We get our water by filling white buckets with snow and putting snow into the

stainless steel pots and the propane stove melts the snow.   This is used for washing. 

There is a water filter for drinking water. 

View of Mt. Rainier from the living room of the hut.

Beautiful kitchen with stove and oven, water filter.   The kitchen is fully equipped.

Large room upstairs where we all sleep.  

Beautiful Mt. Rainier on a beautiful Monday, March 24th.

By measurements, 4 1/2 feet of snow.  Can also see High Hut at the 

upper left, top of the hill.   We snowshoed up there on Tuesday.

Back of Snow Bowl Hut and the restroom, or outhouse.  It is pretty nice inside

just seems far when one has to get up in the middle of the night to go.

Friends, John and Sharon snowshoeing up to the hut.

Sharon preparing dinner and her husband, John.

Sharon, snowshoeing up to High Hut on Tuesday.  Weather was cloudy, and snowing.

Looking out the window from High Hut.  Windy and snowing out, but nice and warm inside.

Me, getting the tea pot ready for some hot cocoa.

A little glimpse of clearing from High Hut.

Me and Sharon, getting ready to go home.   What a great three days in a beautiful

place with great friends!!  Another adventure!

Snowshoe Hike to Panorama Point and Pebble Creek

Had a great day today with snowshoers, Carol, John, Sharon, Jay and Josephine to Panorama Point and Pebble Creek.

This is a challenging snowshoe hike as it starts off steep and gets even steeper going up to Panorama Point.  Then more steepness going to Pebble Creek!

A really good workout as some of us are getting in some conditioning to climb Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier and going on some extensive backpacks this year.

It was like a summer day, really warm and beautiful!

Another awesome day with awesome people enjoying God's awesomeness!

Carol, John, Jay, Josephine and Sharon

Carol snowshoeing up the trail, Goat Rocks in the background.

Me and my favorite Mt. Rainier.

Snowshoers and Skiers heading up the very steep hill.

Sharon, John, Jospehine and Jay enjoying lunch with amazing views.

Views of Goat Rocks, Mt. Adams on left, Mt. St. Helens on the right.

Carol coming down  the steep hill.

Me and Carol going down the steep hill.   Wow!  we came up that!

Beautiful Mt. Rainier on a beautiful day!

Me posing with a Mickey Mouse snowman.  Soo cute!

Light Boot Hiker, Hike to Pack Forest, in Eatonville 3/15/14

Had a great day today hiking with Ted, Carol, Betty, Al, and their grandchildren, Tanner and Mason.  We also met up with Bronka and Wally, who got a later start, but met up with us.  And of course, our happy doggies, Polly and Buster!

We started off by the Administration bldgs. at Pack Forest and hiked the trail to Hugo Peak.    We had not seen one another for a while and had fun catching up.  The forest was beautiful.  The tall trees and the sunlight coming through made everything look so beautiful!  The trail had some muddy places, but not too bad.  It was a little steep in places, but the views of the valley were great!

We got up to Hugo Peak and ate our lunch there.  I think the boys' favorite part of the hike!  ha!  Of course I brought treats for Polly and Buster.

After an amazing lunch and lots of fun conversation, we started heading back.   As we were going down to Kirkland Pass, we ran into Bronka and Wally.   We chatted with them a little and headed down the three mile trail to the parking lot.   The boys found a salamander and a snake.  Now I would never have found them, but I guess that is a boy thing.

After hiking over 5 miles, we got to the parking lot.  We all had a wonderful time.  So appreciative of good friends and being out doing the things we love the most to do!

Ted, Carol, Betty, Tanner, Al, Mason and doggies, Buster and Polly
The doggies do not cooperate for picture taking.

Al, Betty and Tanner on trail up to Hugo Peak.

Yum!  Lunch time! At Hugo Peak.  Betty made the boys a great lunch.
She is the best grandma!  She is the one in the middle.
Carol on the right, has triplet grandchildren.

Mason and Polly at Hugo Peak

Me and hubby, Ted and Buster at Hugo Peak
My favorite hiking buddies!

Polly, not happy about being tied up.   But tried to run off the last time we were up there.
She wanted to do her own exploring.

Oh, what a great day!!!   So happy!
Buster's most favorite place to hike.

Ted and Al solving all of the problems of the world!

Tanner and Mason, posing at Hugo Peak
They are great kids, really enjoyed them on this hike.

Salamander the boys found.  Icky!

Hey, Bronka and Wally hiking up the trail!

Good to see Wally and Bronka and chatted with them a little, before
they hiked up to Hugo Peak.

Betty, Tanner and Mason hiking down the trail.

Snake the boys found.  I don't like them.  

Mason showing better view of snake.

Short rest before coming to parking lot.  Great hike with great people!!!
And great doggies!

Snowshoe Hike from Narada Falls to Reflection Lakes on March 8, 2014

On Saturday, March 8, 2014, I went on a snowshoe hike with John, Sharon, Chip, Cindy and Jeff.  It was a cloudy day, but not really cold.   We were hoping to beat the rain, as it was supposed to come in the afternoon.   I was hoping late afternoon.  This was Cindy and her brother, Jeff's, first snowshoe hike.  We started off from Narada  Falls and snowshoed up a short hill to the trail going to Reflection Lakes.  John and Sharon led the way to the frozen  lakes.   We were the only snowshoe hikers going to Reflection  Lakes that way as we did not see any other tracks.   Most others went up Mazama Ridge.   We went the adventurous route and crossed a very steep slope.   Cindy did great as she is not too fond of heights.  We could look down and see Narada Falls and our vehicle in the parking lot.   It looked like a little dot.  When we started getting close to the lakes, the rain/snow started to fall.    We had all built up a little appetite and Sharon found a nice place under the trees where we could get a bite to eat without being out in the rain/snow.    We had a quick bite and off we went!  We passed a few snowshoe hikers on the way up Mazama Ridge.   And then it was down hill from there!   On the way down we ran into a group of youths who were headed to Reflection Lakes to camp out.  Brrrrrr!  They were going to have a very wet day and night.  I did not envy them.  When we got back to Narada Falls, there is a restroom located in a large heated room with benches.   It is really nice.  A good place to take off  our wet clothing and snowshoes and visit with one another.   We all agreed, although a little wet, we had a wonderful day!!!

Jeff and his sister, Cindy. 

Chip and John coming up to top of the hill.

My buddy, Sharon, just posing!  ha!

Sharon and John blazing a trail to Reflection Lakes

Still happy faces after crossing very steep slope.   Cindy, Jeff and Chip

Having a quick bite under the trees.  Cindy and Jeff.

Big smile from Chip.

My camera was foggy.  But nice heated room we came to after our snowshoe hike.
 Cindy and Chip in background.
End to a great day, with great people!

Narada Falls in foreground.  We can see our vehicle way down there in the parking lot.
We are really way up there!