nuclear_eggset
Member
Joined: 02 Jul 2006
Posts: 2206 | TRs | Pics
Location: Eastside |
I got lost! Well... I didn't know where the trail was, but I could see 410, so I knew where I was. 
I wanted to try out Naches Loop, and though Snotel told me there wasn't all that much snow out there, I tossed my snowshoes in the car just in case. Man, I'm glad I did! A veritable winter wonderland was out there. Which meant, especially since I'd never been there, that the trail wasn't visible under the powder.
I followed the existing tracks for a while, but there were many crisscrossing tracks all over the place, and sometime not too far after Chinook Pass, I think I followed a skiiers track, not the proper one. This was reinforced by seeing the only possible path head straight up the mountain - not looping it - and seeing carved paths down the hill towards the freeway near the end of it. It had been enough time into it that I opted to "smoosh" down the hill and follow the trail back from the pass. (This is my new word for those giant snowshoe steps where you still sink a foot into powder and 'smoosh' down the slope and towards the ground.)
 The hill that I smooshed my way down when I could no longer be confident of the hiking trail. The snow and ice had been collecting on the plant life all long, from strong wind. It must have been quite a storm to coat the tree trunks with snow as well, and it made for a storybook forest scene. The trail goes over Chinook Pass. The view over the lake, as a bit of fog has cleared. Rocks in the lake were capped with snow, making them look like golf balls, or mushrooms. An owl was spotted in a tree on the way back by another photographer. It was quite content to sit there and watch people tromp pass.
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I was there 4 weeks ago (for Naches Peak), and while I realize a lot can change in 4 weeks, it still surprised me to see such a drastic change.
