New Year Cheer & freezing temperatues

This past New Years I went on my first legitimate winter camping expedition. I'm discounting the one I had in college where they gave us 15 year old 0 degree rated bags that were really 20 degree bags... and the low went down to -10 that night. It was a pretty negative introduction to winter camping. Oh, did I mention we didn't have tents? anyway. I'm moving on from that day in college and choosing this past New Years as my first legitimate trip into snowy winter nights.

We set-out on the trail at about 9:30 am after re-packing bags with the temperature hovering in the low teens. We spent the next 5 or so hours battling alders, washed out trails, downed trees, waterfalls and heavy packs before reaching our destination. A mere 2500 feet above where we parked our cars, but we were probably about 5 or so miles in. We camped on a beautiful outcropping that had views to the North, South & East. The mountains around us glistened with snow as the temperatures dropped below 10 degrees. Night fell at 5pm and we celebrated New Years at 6pm and again at 7pm. We retired before 8pm due to exhaustion and knowing that our sleeping bags would be warmer then sitting around the fire.

Celebrating New Years around the fire. yeah!!!

Our home in the snow for two nights.

The next morning we skinned to the top of this ridge line that overlooked the twin sisters & Whitehorse. It was an amazing blue bird day with beautiful views of puget Sound, the Cascades and the sun (a rare sight in the winter).

We skied from 11 until 3pm and had amazing runs all day long. The snow was perfect and all you could ever do was smile!

Slash!

Views for days!

The next morning we got up and did it all over again. I ended up leaving before everyone else to give myself a head start... which really resulted in me having the ability to stop a lot and take pictures, which was a ton of fun. The snow crystals were beautiful that morning and being able to travel through the winter wilderness solo was such an amazing experience. Everything around you is silent and all you can hear is your own breath and the crunch of the snow beneath you.

The group skinning to a new peak in the distance. Untouched snow for days and days and days.

watching the sun come up through the tree's on my solo skin

We got back to camp that evening, packed up and headed out to the car to meet up with my two favorite people ever: Gary Schillhammer and his sidekick Blaze (the dog). Gary came prepared with 6 beers so all of us could have one. It was a great three days out in the woods in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no sign of anyone else. I can't wait for more camping trips!