[Slide Alder Slayer]

I knew the snow totals were low, but for my first hike of the season I didn’t expect levels to be this low. Forest service road 9030 was covered with just a few inches of compact snow all the way to the trailhead. From the trailhead to Talapus Lake there was no more than several inches of snow on the trail. Were it not for the twenty-degree weather, one would have thought it was late October or early November. Perhaps six inches maximum snowfall at Talapus Lake. I saw several parties out enjoying the cold windy weather. Light blowing snow in the afternoon. Saw one very small solid white weasel or martin.

[salish]

That's just too weird, since Talapus is over 3000'. And here is it January 16th!

[Karen]

The lack of snow is disturbing and .... not aesthetically pleasing either. We went snowshoeing Friday up toward the valley that leads to Lake arurL, started at Gold Creek Sno-park. Long story short, we carried snowshoes most of the way and you can HIKE to the Lake Lillian trailhead (without snowshoes). Vegetation is poking up out of the snow and it looks like late April, early May. And now according to the weather folks, rain is coming to wash away the little bit of snow we have. Karen

A friend takes snowshoes for a hike

[ActionBetty]