More often than not, the mountains of the Pacific Northwest are often mired in grey clouds under gloomy skies. But when the never-ending miserable weather does break, the mountains transform into a winter wonderland; acres of conifers laced with fresh snow stand guard like winter sentinels, smothered by the occasional fog drifting up the steep slopes of the Cascades, while high above, snow-capped peaks glint in the warm morning light under bluebird skies.
I trudged through fresh snowdrifts on one such recent outing under such conditions, the terrain transforming from featureless shade to fresh glinting snow in the early hours. My snowshoes sank a foot or more in heavenly powder, while the eerie silence of the forest made me forget that I was right across from one of the more popular ski areas of Washington. Despite being alone, I felt connected to the forest, the snow, the mountains, the wind and the silence. But by the time I returned however, that peace had given away to large groups of families and kids playing around in the winter wonderland.
Have you experienced that connection?
Mt Baker Snoqualmie National Forest
WA USA