February Snowstorm II

We have about 16 inches in these pictures.

February Snowstorm

We have about 11 inches of snow in these pictures.

Golden Gate Canyon - Winter

    Last weekend, I attempted to go snowshoeing with Nick and a few friends. We went to Golden Gate Canyon State Park, which is a little outside of Golden, CO. We have gotten very little snow this year, so we did not need the snowshoes. It was a very windy day, but the sky was perfectly blue, and the sun kept us warm. We climbed up most of the way up Windy Peak. It got pretty chilly towards the top. The trail disappeared as the snow deepened, so we turned around. On days like this, I really think winter hiking may be my favorite.

Christmas Day - Squaw Mountain

On Christmas Day, Dad took me up to Squaw Mountain. It is just southwest of Evergreen and on the way to Echo Mountain Ski Resort. We parked on the side of the road and ventured up a service road that is closed for the winter. He cross country skied. I snow shoed. I have been a snowboarder for 10 years, so I don't do well on skis. The snow shoes are extremely helpful and prevent from sinking deep into the snow. I find it much more challenging than hiking because the snow adds resistance. We climbed the service road for about an hour and a half. It was pretty steep towards the top, and I found myself needing a few short breaks to catch my breath. There was about 2 feet of fresh of powder. The sky was a pristine blue, and it was rather warm in the sun.

The following Wednesday, I returned with Nick. This time we were both on snowshoes. It was still pretty warm but very gusty that day. A great deal of snow had melted even in the two days since I had been there. However, it was still a very enjoyable day.