[Elvis]

Enjoyed the pleasant conditions today out on the Deer Creek Road with my buddy, 8Buck.

Our destination was Kelcema Lake, but we spent too much time taking breaks and talking about why we aren't in better shape.

We made it to just past the 3 mile mark before turning around.  It just so happens that today the 3 mile mark also was the location of a collapsed (or maybe just unfinished) igloo... a completed snowcave and a completed igloo.  Very cool stuff.

Weather was mostly cloudy with some sun breaks and just a touch of light rain on the return trip.

Mountain view were hit and miss.  Photos were mostly miss. 

Numerous people on the trail today, as expected.

We stopped and had a little lunch. 

Low avalanche risk along the road, but depending on what you're doing and where you're playing you still need to stay smart and be safe.

We heard many avalanches coming off Long Mountain and even witnessed a couple from across the valley.  It's amazing how much power those things unleash.

I used my new winter pack for the first time today (Opsrey Switch 36) and it gets    .  No complaints about it at all.  Pleased with my selection.

My Atlas 1225's did better on this trip (their second trip) than they did last month.  Mostly because this time I properly positioned my feet in the bindings. 

Round trip to igloos and back was about 6.1 miles and 1,120 feet of elevation gain.

Here are a couple pics of the MLH from today:

In March I might go check out conditions around Diablo and Ross Lakes, if Hwy 20 ever gets cleared east of Newhalem.  If you have beta about that area, please PM me.

~E

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Sedro-Woolley:  Where butter is a spice and gravy is a beverage.
"Ill habits gather unseen degrees, as brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas."  ~John Dryden
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