New Traditions

I think Jim and I have started a possible tradition between the two of us. After a most stressful week back in January and knowing that our big vacation was coming up anyways, I asked him if we could go to Lost River State Park again (we had gone about a year ago). We talked about going, but had almost decided against going because of the big vacation. That was until we both had stressful weeks. Bleh, work.

So to the cabin we went, paying no mind the two and a half feet of snow and cold temperatures. And as always, fun was had all around. We took the time to enjoy the fireplace, took a test at hiking through over two feet of snow without snowshoes, and rounded out things by walking down the plowed road.

Jim chopping wood from the gigantic wood box (his favorite part of the trip!).

We took a drive over the mountain that Lost River State Park is located on.  Phew - what a trip!  It was quite the eye opener to me for the few residents who actually live on the mountain year round.  We went into town and had some food, visited the grocery store, and found a cheap chainsaw chain at the local hardware store.

No trip is complete without lots of ashes in the fireplace!  And we certainly created our fair share and had a bit of pyro-fun in the meanwhile...  heehee  :) 

Our hike in the snow was short-lived.  The Park Ranger suggested this trail as the most level one, but he didn't think any of the other visitors had yet been brave enough to blaze any trails (he was right).  I'm sure they thought we were crazy, and maybe we are, but we decided to give it a go.  We did get farther than either one of us thought, but by about 75 feet in, Jim was exhausted and I could barely breathe.  We were both full of laughter and smiles, so it was apparently well worth the effort.

The snow and cold temperatures were prime icicle-growing conditions.  This was the main lodge (where the ranger office is) when we arrived late on the Friday night.  The next morning when we went to go back to take pictures in the light, the rangers had cut off the tips of the daggers; later that day they'd destroyed them to the gutters.  While pretty, they were huge and dangerous!  We had some pretty massive icicles on our cabin as well.

When we left we took our down-the-road hike under beautiful blue skies and lots of sunshine.  What stressful week?  :)