[Ingunn]

Since our last trip to Paradise underwhelmed us with views such as this...

Visibility FAIL.

...we decided to take advantage of the weather on Saturday for another chance to go to Panorama Point. What a difference from two weeks ago! We drove up and out of the foggy lowlands and into a clear, sunny, WARM mountain Paradise. I immediately stripped down to the ever-fashionable thermal underwear/shorts combo and kicked myself for not bringing anything short-sleeved. We strapped on our snowshoes and headed up to Glacier Vista. JK and Carlos brought skis, so they put them on for a quick run while I ambled over to the hill up to Panorama Point. I figured they would catch up to me in no time, but apparently skis are heavy. I guess I've finally found the secret ingredient that makes me faster than them. I spent 20 minutes or so lazing around on a rock by Panorama Point until they made it up, then ate lunch while the boys (now topless) recovered.

Up the escalator

Looking down

Apparently even a t-shirt was to warm for Carlos

The weather was too good to turn around, so after lunch we moseyed upward. We toyed around with the idea of going to Camp Muir, but we would have needed an earlier start and less tooling around. Plus now we have an excuse to go back in the near future. Our high point for the day was a rocky knob that I can only assume is McClure Rock (it had a cairn and a summit marker, but I couldn't make out what it said).

*wheeze*

Boys with skis

JK posing in his new non-yellow pants

The Big Rock Candy Mountain

McClure Rock?

In awe of Adams

The guys started changing to skis for the descent and I ran down (so I could take photos) and promptly twisted my ankle. Lame. At least I could glissade most of the way back.

Whee!

About to drop down, leaving me in the dust

Into the blue

That afternoon light

Snowboarder

Someone who knows what he's doing

Lazin' on a sunny afternoon

JK and Carlos

Sun dog

I hobbled back to the parking lot and watched the beginning sunset and the resident fox while icing my ankle and letting the boys pack up. Even with the wee ankle snafu, I'm going to have to rate this as my best winter trip so far. It's hard to believe it's February!

Bushy tail, purdy eyes

A bit of alpenglow

Sunset on the way down

[GeoTom]

Hey, you wrote a TR! I'm not sure if I can tell the difference in visibility from your trip 2 weeks ago and this one though.

[bobbi]

what a beautiful day! thanks for sharing your trip....fantastic photos of course!

[Karen²]

Bravo, what beautiful photos! Sure wish I was there instead stuck in bed with the flu all weekend. Looks like you had a near perfect outing (all except for the ankle incident). That shot of the fox is awesome, makes me want to take the trip down just to get a pic of it!

[Hikingqueen]

I so want to see that fox sometime! Nice trip! This is my 2nd favorite area, Sunrise is my top pic!

[Hamster]

Love the fox shot!

[Layback]

Thanks for the TR. That fox shot is priceless.

[Sadie's Driver]

[Schmidt Alti-Babe]

Wow, that fox pic is very cool. Sorry to hear about the twisted ankle. Heal up!

[Go Jo]

[Gabigabs]

Awesome shots of gorgeous area. Sorry to hear about your injury. Hope it'll heal soon.

[dicey]

Beautiful shots. How long has that fox been hanging around the parking lot anyway - or is it a different fox year after year???

[Ingunn]

When we went two weeks ago we saw two different foxes (one was a little more red), so I think they're working in shifts.

[yukon222]

Fabulous pictures! Obvious it was well worth a return visit for you, even with a messed up ankle. (to the trip and pics, not your tweaked ankle )