The road ahead

The snowy path that would lead toward our resting place for the night ... OR TO OUR DOOM! (evil laugh)

Mountains through the trees

Looking southeast from the canyon wall west of Spaulding Lake. Pretty certain that the round peak in the background is Black Mountain, south of I-80.

Snowmobiles!

Loud, stinky, disruptive, an environmental nightmare. What's not to like?

We're walkin', we're walkin' ...

Roaminrob as we stride toward the ridge. The ridge OF DESTINY!

View from the bridge

A scenic view of the outlet stream from Lake Spaulding.

Snow smiley!

Postholes and trekking pole stabbage combine to create art.

View from the ridge [1 of 2]

This road is a pretty epic drive during the summer. Sheer cliffs, no guardrails, a several hundred foot drop, and a few poorly marked sharp turns.

View from the ridge [2 of 2]

Panoramic continuation of previous shot. The straight line cutting across the opposite slope is an aqueduct. (Highway 20 is hidden behind the first rdge.)

"I wanna go climb THAT!"

Rob stares at a dramatic peak to the east. Back home with the maps, that's probably Signal Peak/Red Mountain, JNO I-80. [EDITED TO ADD: More likely that the dramatic white peak in the center is Brady, and Red is the background right ridge.]

Mornings are cold

Well, they are! Especially when it's snowing outside your tent.

Screw safety

We'll boil water inside our tent vestibule if we damn well want to. (SAFETY NOTE: Don't try this, kids. Unless you're cold, desperate, and stupid like us.)

Hello, snow

"I could have sworn we went to sleep in a bare, brown field."

Snowy river

So THAT'S the water sound we were hearing all night.

Pooosthooole!

Bax runs from the GIANT SNOW FACE trying to eat him. And sinks up to his waist.

Decked out for winter

Point and laugh while you can, snow boy. The tent will have the last laugh. You will see.

Mutant snow angel

Made by a mutant snow. Wait, no.

Drifts

It was pretty powdery out there. And us without snowshoes.

Sword in the Snow!

Bax attempts to become King of Snowy England.

Success!

No mere snow can stop me from claiming my birthright!

A tracker is me

Hmm. Fresh tracks. I bet I can figure who made these. In fact, I bet I can catch up to him pretty quickly.