Happy weekend!

As we transition into Spring, it is sad to see the snow start to disappear, but great to see the flowers emerging. This is one of my all time favorite photos Cameron took of me snowshoeing up at Snoqualmie Pass. We have been up there so many times, we know that place like the back of our hand. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful playground all to ourselves.

Snowfall

Between traveling, illness and lack of snow we have not made it up to the mountains very many times this Winter. Last weekend, we remedied this with a jaunt through some powder and the feeling we were being followed around with a sieve filled with powder sugar.

Happy weekend!!

Whatever you find yourself doing this weekend, enjoy to the fullest. Over here, we plan on continuing birthday celebrations all weekend long.

Backcountry

We headed up to the mountains late in the day. The sun was beginning to sink below the jagged peaks and there was an ice blue cast everywhere we looked. Clear, cold weather has meant not a lot of new snow as of late. We enjoyed the beauty of the mountains, but the snow was a tad disappointing. As much as we tire of the rain, it usually means we can expect phenomenal powder up in the mountains.

Enjoying the outdoors together is one of our favorite ways to spend time with one another.

Making tracks down the mountain.

Winter solace

We were seeking solace this Christmas and found it amongst snow covered rooflines, snow laden trees and frozen ponds.

Up to our knees

Oftentimes, I feel as though snowshoeing is the forgotten sport. I am certain there is enough snowshoeing occurring to warrant a section at REI, but time after time I am astounded by how few people are out taking advantage of this great spot. I know many people are big fans of skiing and snowboarding, but there is no way to enjoy an ice covered branch or the tiniest snowflake which landes on your glove while you fly down a hill. Snowshoeing is often perceived as a tame, almost boring walk in the woods, but I am here to state snowshoeing can be as dangerous, adventurous and as much of a bun burner as you can endure. We like to snowshoe straight up and oftentimes run straight down. We have been known to be up to our knees and even our waists in fresh powder. The best word to describe snowshoeing is SPECTACULAR! If you have never tried it I encourage you to strap on a pair and head to the hills.

Inaugural snowshoeing adventure

The mountains are our respite. The only thing we focus on while we are there is breathing deep, snapping a few photos and pinching ourselves that this as our playground.

A walk through the woods

The mountains are the perfect place to silence the world, to get away from it all and just be. The snow clumps resting atop the lichen of the trees, the perfect snowflakes which land in the palm of my gloved hand, the continuous snowflake which makes us feel as though we are being followed around by a snow machine. All these beautiful things occur whether or not we take the time to notice and enjoy them.

Every turn is photo worthy.

We hiked up this mountainside and made "thrones" right next to a waterfall. We decided a throne is the perfect accompaniment to a waterfall. We enjoyed our snack as we looked down upon our "kingdom", such a beautiful part of the country we live in we concurred.

A little bun burner heading up.

The clouds nestled into the valley.

A king and his throne.

 A walk through a snowy wilderness is a beautiful way to spend the day.

When the rain starts to gets us down, we can always think about how much snow it is producing up in the mountains and then we get excited about our next adventure.

It isn't a cake walk

As of late, the mountains have been hammered with endless amounts of awesome powder. We have been doing our duty to enjoy this windfall of good fortune by snow shoeing on the weekends. The best part about nature is even if you went everyday things change so rapidly it feels like a different place each time you venture out.

When people think of snowshoeing, I believe images of slow walks through forests are conjured up in their mind. We like to take snowshoeing to another level and whenever possible head straight up. Since there was an abundance of fresh powder, we had to forge our way up the mountain. At some points, we were almost up to our thighs in snow. If you want a good leg workout I suggest climbing up the side of a mountain for starters.

We encountered a large group who mentioned they were turning around because the trail ended. I guess they did not realize where the trail ends the fun really begins. Like I mentioned, it is not only a good work out, but exhilarating making new tracks in fresh snow.

Our cheeks were a little wind chapped, but it was another great day up in the mountains.

Something new, something old, something borrowed, something blue

By nature we are prepared and organized people. We rarely leave the house without what we need plus a few extra items, but one particular weekend this was not the case. Almost up to Snoqualmie Pass we realized we had forgotten our snowshoes. Trying to figure out the best alternative to going all the way back home we stopped at REI. We already love REI, but now we love it even more for saving us that fateful forgetful day. I was able to rent a pair of snowshoes and Cameron finally broke down and purchased a much needed new pair. The entire day snowshoeing I was constantly reminded how grateful I was for my own gear, but even more grateful that when we forget REI is there to save the day.

Enjoying over a foot of fresh powder.

The snow kept dumping, swirling and falling the entire time we were there. On the way back down, we were heading straight into the wind. My face burned with each passing gust and it gave me even more respect for all those hard core mountaineers out there.

A snow covered pack.

Our snow gauge shot.

The birthday boy

He likes sleeping in, taking it easy, making people laugh, being impulsive, high adventure, pushing himself, and spending time with me. Together we enjoyed his day of birth high up in the mountains without any sort of birthday fanfare. He also likes to lay low and have lots of fun doing it.

I never grow tired of this view as we come down the mountain and into this bowl.

 The clouds kept flirting with the idea of trying to part, but in the end this was as clear as it got.

If we had one mantra it would be: happy to be, happy to be together. It reminds me of few weeks ago at church Cameron was up at the pulpit giving a talk. The woman sitting behind me leaned in and said how wonderful she thinks Cameron is, then she mentioned how I had really won. I had never really thought of it like that, but I have really chosen the best.

After snowshoeing, we went out to an early dinner and called it a day. I am sure glad he was born!