(no subject)
I've been really busy at work all week, more overtime again..
Last Friday we rented some x-country ski boots and C even found a great price on a pair of NEW x-country ski boots down from $170 to $30 bucks, holy crap REI must have crazy mark up!?
On Saturday morning (2/24) it was pouring down rain here which meant the snow was piling up fast in the Mountains. I-90 was later closed for a bit for avalanche control, so I was glad we drove up north, over to the low lands of Darrington, WA to "the Big Four/Ice Caves area". It rained all the way there, I was worried we would not have snow, then it changed to the point I was a worried driving on winding roads in the slushy snow. Soon it was all snow and I mean ALL kinds of snow! It was really pretty out there. The first thing you notice is all the downed trees from the December wind storm. Huge A$$ monster trees that had fallen across the road and are buried in snow so you can trek over them easily but that will be a huge project to reopen that road come summer..
The ski "trail" up there is actually the Mountain Loop Highway, which is barricaded and snowed in and the barricade location moves based on weather. All ya need is your own gear and a snopark pass. You just ski or hike right on the road along side the Stillaguamish river to the area where the ice caves grow. (Beware of severe danger of violent avalanches in this area, and don't leave the protection of the trees.)
I put on my boots and then tried over and over to lock my boots into the x-country skis to no avail.. Then I realized DOh! the stupid kid at REI gave me the wrong style of boot for the x-country ski so it did not fit! (I use backcountry ski's not the other nordic kind and it sucks that there are two styles of clips to lock into for those 2 types of x-country ski's. Ugh- I had asked for and needed the NNN's.)
I did not let that stop the trip. I saw that this trail was flat unlike most other x-country trails; so I went on a brisk snow hike in order to keep up with C and Scott on skis. Whew! Good lil workout and others were hiking along this trail too. We stopped for lunch and a Guiness we each packed in and then headed back before dark. It was a fun lil trip.
The Big Four area is very popular with skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers, and winter hikers; take the Mountain Loop Hwy, and don't expect to be here alone but don't go off course. There were at least 4 snow mobiles we passed which kinda ruin the peaceful moments out here. It was fine, I did not think it was that busy and there was no way we could have went up the pass anyway, so this was the best we were going to get!! Allow 3-5 hours round-trip; great for beginning skiers and snow hikers.
This past weekend we have been low-key as C is on call and keeps getting called in to work for equipment repairs.
So watched some movies and have been working on the upstairs bathroom light project. I'm finally getting rid of the floresent bar light that is annoying and replacing it with cute silver and white lamp style bar over the mirror. Of course the lighting was wired behind wood trim so this project requires woodwork and painting in the bathroom again. Nothing is ever just a simple project ;) At least this one is just cosmetic and one that we want to take on, not like the usual emergency-type projects we usually have.
Have a good Sunday!
Last Friday we rented some x-country ski boots and C even found a great price on a pair of NEW x-country ski boots down from $170 to $30 bucks, holy crap REI must have crazy mark up!?
On Saturday morning (2/24) it was pouring down rain here which meant the snow was piling up fast in the Mountains. I-90 was later closed for a bit for avalanche control, so I was glad we drove up north, over to the low lands of Darrington, WA to "the Big Four/Ice Caves area". It rained all the way there, I was worried we would not have snow, then it changed to the point I was a worried driving on winding roads in the slushy snow. Soon it was all snow and I mean ALL kinds of snow! It was really pretty out there. The first thing you notice is all the downed trees from the December wind storm. Huge A$$ monster trees that had fallen across the road and are buried in snow so you can trek over them easily but that will be a huge project to reopen that road come summer..
The ski "trail" up there is actually the Mountain Loop Highway, which is barricaded and snowed in and the barricade location moves based on weather. All ya need is your own gear and a snopark pass. You just ski or hike right on the road along side the Stillaguamish river to the area where the ice caves grow. (Beware of severe danger of violent avalanches in this area, and don't leave the protection of the trees.)
I put on my boots and then tried over and over to lock my boots into the x-country skis to no avail.. Then I realized DOh! the stupid kid at REI gave me the wrong style of boot for the x-country ski so it did not fit! (I use backcountry ski's not the other nordic kind and it sucks that there are two styles of clips to lock into for those 2 types of x-country ski's. Ugh- I had asked for and needed the NNN's.)
I did not let that stop the trip. I saw that this trail was flat unlike most other x-country trails; so I went on a brisk snow hike in order to keep up with C and Scott on skis. Whew! Good lil workout and others were hiking along this trail too. We stopped for lunch and a Guiness we each packed in and then headed back before dark. It was a fun lil trip.
The Big Four area is very popular with skiers, snowshoers, snowmobilers, and winter hikers; take the Mountain Loop Hwy, and don't expect to be here alone but don't go off course. There were at least 4 snow mobiles we passed which kinda ruin the peaceful moments out here. It was fine, I did not think it was that busy and there was no way we could have went up the pass anyway, so this was the best we were going to get!! Allow 3-5 hours round-trip; great for beginning skiers and snow hikers.
This past weekend we have been low-key as C is on call and keeps getting called in to work for equipment repairs.
So watched some movies and have been working on the upstairs bathroom light project. I'm finally getting rid of the floresent bar light that is annoying and replacing it with cute silver and white lamp style bar over the mirror. Of course the lighting was wired behind wood trim so this project requires woodwork and painting in the bathroom again. Nothing is ever just a simple project ;) At least this one is just cosmetic and one that we want to take on, not like the usual emergency-type projects we usually have.
Have a good Sunday!