Time to play in the snow- PCT

What a difference a month can make. Once again I went a short distance on the Pacific Crest Trail heading north from Snoqualmie Pass. I am still a child at heart, it seems like some magic trick when familiar things change in such dramatic ways. I walked into a rock at one point. All I saw was a slight soft, round bump in the snow, but my feet discovered it was something entirely different. That's what delights me; that curiosity about what has changed or is hidden. It seems like November has brought winter this year and I was excited when it started snowing in the Pass. I went up Thursday after work with Coal and played in the snow in the dark, but today I got to spend quality time.



The difference from last time I hiked this trail was truly striking. The trailhead parking lot was full of snow and people. I had to hike in from the ski area and after letting Coal play with some other dogs I started down the trail. Before I was looking at the berried and fall color, this time I was looking at trees and snow. I really need snow shoes (I've been saying this for several years now!). We didn't cover anywhere near as much ground as Coal would have liked, which if you've ever walked a long walks in the snow you'll understand. I also let myself stop to take pictures, listen to the snow, catch snowflakes and watch the snow fall off the trees in a dense white shower. Once I'd moved away from the parking lot I left the people behind and there was that hush that comes with a heavy snow.



It amazes me how the plants can survive. I saw berry bushes and small trees covered in snow and it seems they should be flattened. I even saw some Bunch Berry still green and vibrant, protected by a log. I took a picture of the end of a log that I had taken on the last trip when it had been deeply green with moss.





I couldn't ignore the beauty of the trees. The rich colors and delicate intricacy is always there and the snow emphasizes this. These giants, often lost in the background, are given a chance to drape themselves in finery and parade their grace.