Happy New Year!

1/1/2015

What better way to start 2015 than a snowy New Year’s Day hike with friends?  Roll call: Daybreaker, Goodness, 12-ounce, Nicola, and yours truly.

Trail to Snow Lake from Alpental Ski Area
Trail to Snow Lake from Alpental Ski Area

 

We planned on a nice little snowshoe in the Snoqualmie Pass area, and ended up going to Snow Lake, a very popular hike, but one none of us had ever done.  We got an early start to avoid the crowds, and by post New Years’s Eve standards, departing the parking lot at 10:30am is early.

It’s a fun little hike!  Just be sure to check avalanche conditions – it’s a potentially dangerous area.  The path was well beaten, so we never needed to put on our snowshoes.

Goodness
Goodness
Burning off Fondue Year's Eve.
Burning off Fondue Year’s Eve.
12 ounce on a switchback
12 ounce on a switchback
Alpine Lakes Wilderness!
Alpine Lakes Wilderness!

 

It was a decent climb (~1300′) up to the ridge and then a few hundred feet drop to Snow Lake.  It was lovely and peaceful there, but we didn’t linger too long.  It was also really cold. I had a gerbil tube (hose from a Cambelback type reservoir) sticking out of my pack for water.  It froze solid within the first 10 minutes of the hike.

Looking down at Snow Lake
Looking down at Snow Lake
Reusing someone else's Happy New Year message. on the lake.
Reusing someone else’s Happy New Year message. on the lake.
The South Fork of the Snoqualmie River valley
The South Fork of the Snoqualmie River valley

 

In the car on the way home, we all contributed to a shopping bag list of  goals for the year.  We’ve already got one checked off!  Here’s to a great 2015!

photo

 

One Comment to “Happy New Year!”

  1. Warren

    Great post. And I really like the list, just get out the sharpie and get busy dreaming. Now you gotta do them all so you can check the “check all boxes” box!

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