Snow Camp XXVII (2023). Cold, tired, but NOT hungry.

Yes, it is that time of year again for Snow Camp. This annual event has a long history. Going back an amazing 27 years with the same core group of hiking buddies.

Myself, Jon Wiseman and Pete Delyanis had the very 1st Snow Camp back in 1996. That was a very heavy snow year for Western Washington state. With full backpacks and sinking deep in snowshoes, the goal was to trek a couple of miles down a valley to a small mountain lake.

Instead, we got out of sight (and the safety) of the truck and set up our Hooverville near the shores of Bumping Lake in the central Cascades.

We built a snow cave and also set up a tent as a backup shelter. Both were used often and well. But we really didn’t realize the sadness and squaller of the situation.

We just sat under a starry night sky with temperatures hovering around ZERO. Passing back and forth a bottle of 100-proof peppermint schnapps. Who could have dreamed this would become an annual thing for over a quarter century?

For the first few years, we tried backpacking and snowshoeing. A lot of work and we couldn’t ever get that far with all the gear needed.

After that, I started towing the tent trailer around. Given I had my dad’s 1974 Power Wagon D100 4×4, we could now go anywhere. And the Jayco had forced air gas heat. Thus began the era of base snow camping.

The next phase was finding unique places to rent deep in snow country. Most of these were old US Forest Service cabins, and they provided a ton of fun.

Now that most of the attendees have matured out of their 20s to early 50s, the flavor has changed again. Currently, it’s all about finding a big VRBO. A couple of microbreweries. And with a little luck, some snow to slog upon to burn off (hopefully) more calories than we put on for the weekend.

When I get the chance, I will work up some posts for a couple of the most recent outings. They are all unique. Often with some different players in the mix. But enough of the history lesson. Let’s unpack No. 27.

The location this year is a summit of Snoqualmie Pass. Not very remote nor aesthetically known for anything other than massive traffic jams in the summertime. But it is very central for all participants this year. We have people coming from the Spokane area, the Tri-cities area, and also a group from the Southwest Washington coast. And we are pretty much guaranteed snow given how the storms have been flowing through the cascades this winter.

Nothing says road trip like three grown men stuffed into a truck. Now Jon has an odd way delimited the size of things. For most people, it’s small, medium, and large. But Jon likes to add in gender for some reason. So when he compares the size of his truck to those of other manufacturers, he always refers to it as a woman’s medium. Well, at least he hasn’t gone binary on me yet.

But I have to give Jon credit. He does know how to drive fast. The benefit was we beat everyone else to Snoqualmie Pass and had a little time for pre-hiking refreshments.

But we weren’t alone for long. Everyone who is a part of this group has remained pretty timely thru the years. Except for Folders. But every team needs a wildcard.

I’m sure we’ll have all those carb calories burned off the first mile on the trail. Prepping for a little hike into Gold Basin.

Most of the snowshoes at the Pass make use of seasonal forest roads. Which would be much easier to hike in the summertime.

Definingly going to be one of those sun/cloud cat-and-mouse days.

Still great to be getting outside time, even when it tries to snow on us a little.

Frozen over Heli Pond looking a little scary and daring during the dark months of winter.

Of course, that doesn’t stop the modern-day mountain men of the world. The guys consider this just another season for outdoor taking.

A little wind made it colder than it looks. We found an outlet bridge that is closed because of structural failure. I guess you could say the snow became a workable wintertime fix.

But wait. This is a full weekend event and we had one more day to go. And so the sun came up the following day. It added ZERO warmth, and as the hours ticked by it would eventually top out just under 20F.

This time we drive a couple of miles to Lake Easton State Park. Did several car camping trips there with the kids back in the day. Pretty level snowshoe, and we get to circumnavigate a great mountain lake.

Well, great mountain lake in the summertime. I guess it gets drained down to the tree stumps just under the waterline in the fall. You have to satisfy the thirsty denizens of Seattle. Go figure.

But of course, nothing goes as planned. About a quarter way around the water feature we come to an obstacle. An old railroad bridge that had been repurposed for hikers. With a gate across it. With a chain. And a padlock.

Of course, these are the men of Snow Camp. And most Federal and State employees. This means that rules and signs are by and far only suggestions.

Magic Mike first slipped thru the gate gap but came back over as an easy climb just to give confidence to the others who wanted to know all the options for safe passage.

Okay. Sometimes when it comes to a team effort, you need to make sure the entire team can meet the task at hand.

Now, I am NOT saying Joe was the largest common denominator, but he stepped up to give the potential OTHER denominators courage.

Now what you don’t see is the taunt gate chain riding higher than a Las Vegas stripper’s thong in what we will call Joe’s inseam. Alas, this is one of the few times that Texas Belt Buckle training actually pays off.

In the end, we had to call no joy and find another route. It did give me a chance to finally use a selfie stick for good. Like when you need to get nine guys at Snow Camp XXVII in one shot.

We find ourselves out at Frost Bite Toe Point (or something like that). A decent alternative destination. A nice terminus for the hike along an old railroad grade. And everyone pack a roadie beer so all was well. Cat and mouse sun.

Hard snow. Good company. At the end of the day, it is only the latter that really matters. Ah! That punny rhyme was an afterthought. Yet soooooooooooooo satisfying.

This is the point of the trip that just turns into sipping, cards, dominos, a heavy snowstorm (see window), eating, good drinking, finding the most horrible Korean movies that Netflix has to offer, and laughing at what I can only call Dumb and Dumber humor.

All and all, a good SK. Spirits, food, and friends. It didn’t matter who had been going for 20+ years or 2. Once in the fold, always in the fold. That kindred spirit kind of a thing.

And as I see all of these guys I’ve known for so many years start talking about the R word (retirement), I realized what a privilege it has been to be a part of their individual story arcs. Kind of Marvel-style. From origin story to epilogue. I guess now we are just getting deep into prequels.

GoatBoy out!