XC Ski - Mtn Loop Hwy, Silverton, WA

After much fun up North in Bellingham I returned to Silverton on Sunday evening with a new foot of freshy on ground, oh YEah!

So Monday the 18th felt more like a weekend to me.  I mostly read, slept, stoked the fire, and cleaned up and outside the cabin.  In the late afternoon I kicked myself in the butt and suited up for a XC ski up the hwy.  If I haven't shared before, the Mtn Loop Hwy is closed just one mile up (East) from Silverton.  With the massive amounts of snow we receive it is too much for the county to keep it all plowed, and that we're the last year around residents that need the service.  So a gate exists so that make the area also a Winter refuge for showshoe hikers, snowmobiles, xc skiing, and who ever else comes for a visit.  (By the way No trail pass is needed up here in the Winter only once the road is open again.)  So I headed out and up the highway past the Big Four Mtn and Ice Caves trail up to the Deer Creek parking area, for a good 12 mile round trip.  It felt great and once past all the messy snowmobile tracks  it was great to break fresh trails and just glide back on the return.

Yesterday, on Tuesday I did much the same only headed out just after noon so that I could get in a bit more distance.  I even came across a group of three that made it back quite a ways and seemed to be having the time of their lives.  I continued to venture further and further East and finally turned around just before Barlow Pass, for I was aware a storm was coming and the signs of the wind picking up hinted to me I'd better pickup some speed on the return.  I made good time with being out for about 4.5 hours with what I'm guessing was about 18 or so miles.  It was a much clearer day then the day previous and so from a distance you could witness an avalanche here and there and capture the ominous roar of the thunder as it crashed down the mountain side.  Not to worry being on the highway you are quite safe but have a great view of the Big Four Mtn and Hall Peak.

Hope to see you out here on the highway sometime soon!  And if you're about stop by the cabin for a hot cocoa, tea, or coffee I'd love to see you and always welcome visitors...