Overnight Snowshoe Trip 2011

Ever since last year’s overnight snowshoe trip I’ve been looking forward to this one.  And it did not disappoint.

This year there were only four of us.

Plus one if you count the 75 year-old guide who joined us for the first half of the ascent – just long enough to get us pointed in the right direction. 

That first half was the easiest part, by the way.  Yeah, we had to watch out for the yellow signs marking the trail, but at least it wasn’t snowing too much . . . yet.

There were some pretty cool snow monsters watching us along the way.  As long as we didn’t get too close then they’d leave us alone. 

The first half of the hike is sort of at an oblique angle to the slope and mostly shielded by the trees.  The second half is straight up a ravine (read wind tunnel) with little to no protection from the elements.  We sometimes struggled just to stay on our feet.

 

No snow monsters anymore.  Only ice monsters now.  Whole different species altogether.  Near constant horizontal winds.  Thankfully the wind was at our backs most of the time, but it still didn’t help too much with visibility. 

Once at the top of the ravine, the cabin is about 100 yards to the right.  Only problem is knowing when to turn to the right (just don’t go left over the edge).  Fortunately we did know, but even then we had to be careful to not miss the cabin.  The wind was swirling the snow so much that we didn’t actually see the cabin until it was right in front of us.

Once inside we did not hesitate to get the kerosene stove running.  There was a Japanese guy set up there already (it looked like he’d been there for a while judging by all the gear laid out on his side of the cabin) and he helped us get it started.  Last year we were able to go back outside after a while and do a moonlit hike.  This year there was no way.  We just talked and ate and talked and ate (and played a weird card game) and ate some more (Jon brought too much food and we didn’t want him to have to carry it back down the mountain).  Then everyone claimed a bunk and went to bed.  There were three levels; mine was the middle one (in the picture).  Yes, it felt as hard as wood because that’s all it was.  But I was grateful nonetheless.  Sure beats sleeping outside.

There’s our Japanese roommate.  He never spoke a word.  But he helped dig us out of the cabin in the morning.

In the morning I spent some time walking around the cabin taking snapshots of the snow monsters.  

One word: otherworldly.

Cabin half buried in snow. 

Met the abominable snowman.  Nice guy.

Just about to leave the cabin.  Couldn’t see anything without goggles on. 

Looking back up the ravine toward the top.  Wind hadn’t changed direction so now it was blowing straight in our faces.

Finally got out of the blizzard winds and the sun starting peeking through the clouds, revealing a serene landscape. 

 

Self-portrait.

Deceiving, but the snow is at least 12 feet deep here.

Hangman’s tree.

In keeping with tradition, here’s a look back at the mountain from the trailhead.  That’s a Torii gate buried in the snow.  In the summer I can drive my van under it.

Hope you enjoyed this little sample of winter.  Next time maybe one of you can come with me.

Rob