Snow Overload

I didn't expect to go on another snowshoe so soon after last week's adventure, but I'm going gangbusters now that I finally have a decent set of snowshoes! (Thank you, Debbie :)) And poor overworked Heidi was pleading for a day in the mountains, so how could I say no?

Artist Point is kind of the go to in these parts, but having already done it several times, I was campaigning for something new. The snowshoe internet searches brought me to "Grace Lakes" which sounded like a perfect fit. A simple 4 mile round trip up and back - easy peasy, right? Well, I can tell you the first thing that wasn't easy about this plan is finding parking at Steven's Pass on a weekend. None of us wanted to navigate the new reservation system, and we foolishly thought that "lot four" (where the trail starts) wouldn't be full if we got there at 8:30 am. Plus it seemed that maybe the winter storm advisory warning would keep some folks away?

 That would be a no, and another no. Cars everywhere...in the ditch...spun out and blocking lanes...backed up for miles. Well, until we got over the pass, and then it looked like this...

Eek! But Heidi's trusty Ms Frizzle didn't falter and we found a spot in the lower lot that is about 10 minutes down the mountain. The bus shuttle got us back up to the main lot, where we needed to meander our way through the hordes of snowboarders and skiers to the start of the trail; adding a good two miles total to our day. 

Lone snowshoers in a sea of skiers

Once we officially started the trail we found it was decently packed down as it brings you up to some very cute cabins that can be rented out. But as soon as we left those behind, the snow got deep fast.

Easy peasy so far! Especially for free loader Sammy

Still okay

Getting difficult

We were following someone's tracks (never saw who) but the further we went, the deeper the snow got. There were places I sank in to my thighs! Falling down felt like I was being swallowed up. But we kept trying, until eventually these mystery tracks went straight up into the woods -- clearly away from the actual trail.

Help!

It only took a few feet of breaking trail in the close to two feet of new powder to realize that we wouldn't be seeing Grace Lakes this day. I don't even think we were a mile in! But it was time to wave the white flag - a beer at the lodge's Pacific Cantina was calling our names.

We done

Consolation Prize

But it's a good thing we called it quits early because the traffic going back on Hwy 2 is a nightmare that only gets worse the later it gets. So much for easy peasy. 

Ugh

But it was all worth it to hang out with good friends. Happy "a little more than you bargained for" trails.

 

Thanksgiving Sufferfest on the Crater Lake Rim

I have hosted Thanksgiving and cooked a turkey for close to 25 years. This year I needed a break. My husband agreed we should go on a little road trip for the four day holiday, but when I suggested snow backpacking in 14 degree weather, he only made a grunting noise...so I took that as a no.

But here's the thing; Ken knows how to suffer probably better than anyone I know. And though alpine climbing was never his thing, he did attempt a Rainier summit in his teens where he got stuck in a tent for three days during a snow storm. (One of many near death experiences...the best one you can read about here) Even so, I was pretty certain near freezing in a tent was most likely a situation he didn't want to live through more than once. 

They disintegrated when he put them on the heater!

But low and behold, I found he had dug out his old boots from the attic. And though clearly they were not going to work, he told me he had gone ahead and bought some new boots. So it was a "yes" after all! Crater Lake here we come!!

Sammy can't wait! But he has fur ;)

I knew it was the forecast that had finally sold it - having the opportunity to visit this National Park on two bluebird days is a rarity. With several feet of fresh snow, there was just enough of a break in the weather to plow the road to Rim Village; except we still had to snowshoe there just the same because the rule is you must park your car at the ranger station where you obtain your permit. 

No worries, it's just about an extra mile on the Raven Trail. So after checking out the cute visitor center, using the restrooms, filling out the self issued permit and getting our gear all sorted out we were finally on our way at 2 pm.

A 600 foot gain in a mile and a third isn't too bad in normal situations, but after a full hour of up and up in the snow I was EXHAUSTED. Thankfully the gift shop was open, so we could take a little break in their second floor heated observation room. 

Don't make me leave!

Another full hour went by WAY too fast, and suddenly we had an employee coming up to tell us they were closed. "Can't we just get our sleeping bags out up here?" I jokingly asked...but no, of course not. We had to snowshoe another hour and find a spot to set up our tent.

 

Can you see the UFO? (Ha ha, though Crater Lake has it's stories!)

After finding the start of the Discovery Point trail and getting our snowshoes on with frozen fingers, it was obvious the temperature was going down fast, along with the sun. The snow kept it light enough for us not to need headlamps until we made it the short mile further, but it was definitely getting dark when we stopped to make camp.

5:02 pm...we need that tent up!

I did read the rule that said to put up your tent where it couldn't be seen from the trail. We appreciated that the park wants to keep a unobstructed nature feel for the other snowshoers, but damn that hill to get up out of sight looked REALLY steep. Figuring there would be no snowshoers to see us, we opted to be naughty. Sorry, not sorry because it was SO COLD and we needed to get in the tent ASAP.

FYI, getting a Durston non free standing tent up in the snow is not easy. Honestly, I was starting to panic a little. Thank God for Ken who kept a cool head and was able to get those stakes packed in enough to hold. But the tent was wonky for sure, and felt much smaller than usual. When we finally crawled in our bags, we couldn't even think about eating or doing anything except trying to warm up. Thank God I bought ALL the warmers...hand, body, foot, toe...and we used every one. 

I've had better pitches, for sure

After a LONG night, we saw some light in the sky. WE SURVIVED! Surprised to find cell reception, I sent out this snap. Maybe 6 degrees isn't totally accurate, but Ken did have ice on his bag. I suggest investing in something rated warmer than 23 if you want to attempt this, unless you know how to suffer like Ken.

Sammy says, "I'll keep you warm"

We know we're bad...sue us

As expected, we did not see a soul until we were nearly back to Rim Village. This is when we ran into a young man we had spoken with briefly the day before. We exchanged stories and IG handles (his is eliastcobb if you want to check out his amazing photography) and then we complained about how we still had another mile to get down to our car. "I'll give you a ride!" was his reply and "Hell yes!" was our answer. We needed to hurry and get to Odell Lodge to make our snowmobile appointment at 2 pm. 

My first time! We highly recommend Odell Lodge

The rest of our road trip had zero suffering save a bit more driving than we would prefer. But we broke it up with a stop at Smith Rock State Park where Ken could relive some of his glory days. How fun to find where he had broken off a piece of rock while bouldering there decades earlier. 

Ken says he kept the piece for years...maybe we'll still find it.

"A bunch of us climbers were hanging out here under this overhang to get out of the rain while taking turns solving some problems. I was going to do a fancy move when the rock broke and I got launched backwards down this hill - right in front of Allan Watts!" I may not know the big names of climbers, but I knew Ken got to experience Smith Rock in it's infancy. It's sad those days are over, but I believe Ken and I still have adventures left in us...just probably not ones that will need a zero degree bag. Happy "worth it once it's over" trails!

Ken took me on his last trip there...1988? We just slept right on the ground back then; tents were for sissies! ;)

I even did some climbing! I wasn't half bad...but Ken was exceptional.

 

Read the earlier link to his other near death experience; it's really good and explains more about his climbing days.