There is nothing like snowshoeing in Glacier National Park on a crisp winter day with sunshine glistening off the snow to force all the gunk out of your lungs and make your muscles feel fantastic.

I've been sick for a couple of days, just a cold I think but I felt pretty good yesterday (the cold medicine helped) and decided to get out and do a little snowshoeing. It felt amazing! My lungs weren't up to going a great distance but the trail we completed was wonderful: great snow, beautiful sunshine, awesome lake and a yummy lunch of homemade pizza as a reward.

My one lesson from yesterday, when you have an open blister on your heel, be careful how you hop into a hot shower - wow, that hurt like hell!

Oooh baby, it's cold outside...

Woo hoo! Over the weekend we got snow. And more snow. And even more snow. It's not too deep in town but the drive to the office Christmas party of Friday night was interesting and the snow kept on a coming. You know what that means, right? Hehe, it's time for snowshoeing in Glacier Park, woo hoo!

Any outside activity right now requires lots of layers because as you can see by that little temperature gauge down to the right - go ahead and look, I'll wait - it is DAMN cold! Still I am so excited that it's finally snowshoeing time.

Grab your gear, grab your thermos full of hot chocolate and Brandy and let's go!!
☮

Why is it among the most glacial mountain peaks I find the greatest warmth?

Another beautiful weekend spent in Glacier Park. Moose and I drove up to stay at the cabin we rented at Stanton Creek Lodge. After a long drive we were both eager to stay in a cabin surrounded by snow and wilderness and just have some time to relax. Imagine our surprise when we arrived to see this...


The lodge was completed snowed in. Nothing had been plowed, there was no way in and over 2 feet of undisturbed snow rested on the roof of each cabin. There wasn't even a place to park the car other than the side of the road. We decided to drive back to West Glacier where we had cell service and call the National Park Service reservation desk. The kind ladies informed us that the owners of the lodge were in Florida. It was so considerate of someone to inform us that we wouldn't be able to stay at the place where we had confirmed reservations.

Undaunted by this predicament we pressed on and the park service managed to reserve us other accommodations - at the Super 8 in Columbia Falls. Not exactly the cabin we'd had in mind with access to snowshoeing right outside the door but oh well, it was warm and dry.

The next day was spent snowshoeing in Glacier Park. The snow was clean and white, the sun was bright and it turned out to be a beautiful day.


Before we left Glacier we walked down to Lake McDonald for some photo ops and trail lunch.


Our last day began early with a drive to Missoula so Moose could get inked.


There were a few minor set backs and a few disappointments but the good definitely out weighed the bad and overall we had a great time.

Let's go!

Uuuggghhh....

fever, chills, sore throat, cough. Nooooooo!

This is not the week to be sick. Wednesday Moose will be here and Thursday starts the snowshoeing trip to Glacier. I can't be sick this week.

Airborne, Tylenol, Chloraseptic. Yaaaaaaaay!

We are getting hit with a big snow storm today. Our high temp. is only supposed to be -12. What fun! It is going to drop a ton of good snowshoeing snow and the temps should be back up to normal by Friday.

I can hardly wait for the weekend! Want to come snowshoeing?

Interesting day so far...

I couldn't sleep last night so I took a sleeping pill. Then slept through my alarm this morning.

I knew I was going to be a couple minutes late to work.

Ran around the house looking for clothes to wear (shut up for those of you who've seen my closet). Decided to hell with it and threw on sweats and a long-sleeved t-shirt - good enough!

Thought I had better stop at the store on my way and grab some breakfast stuffs, bananas, yogurt etc. Easy, peasey, lemon squeezy.

My car absolutely refused to start upon leaving the store. It started just fine this morning when I left the house but suddenly refused to fire up. I ended up sitting in Van's parking lot for 15 minutes. Now I really was late for work.

Finally get to the office and get a little grief from the boss man ("suuuuuuure the car wouldn't start, uh huh") with a wink, wink.

The phone in my office rings. "Is this Rachel Z__?" (uh oh). "Yes it is." "Did your last name used to be I__?" (uh oh.) "Yes it did." "Oh good, this is so and so with the class reunion committee (shit!!) and we need to get some information from you...."

Oh goodie!

On the really good side I found an article in Women In The Outdoors magazine that says snowshoeing is better for you than running - sweet! I'm going snowshoeing again this Saturday so that is awesome news.

Have good days kiddies! ;)

What a great weekend! The snow was fabulous. That white, soft, fluffy stuff that drifts down as you hike and blankets everything in silence. I don't know how many times I just stood still and listened to - nothing.


I want to bottle the feeling and take it with me.

(Thanks for the photos!)

Snowed In

But wow! It is beautiful.

It has been snowing since yesterday and the forecast for the week is more of the same.

I'm kind of enjoying it although I was planning a trip to Glacier this weekend for some snowshoeing. Its possible that I won't be wanting to make that trip come Friday and that's disappointing.

I'm keeping an eye on the sky and the weather channel.

If this keeps up I might not have to go to Glacier to get some snowshoeing. Although, if this keeps up it might be a good weekend to spend with some hot chocolate and Baileys and The Shining.

♪"You say it's your birthday..."♪

Ya like my birthday present to myself?

I went snowshoeing up in Glacier over the weekend and
had such a good time I decided to buy a set.
I discovered that snowshoes tend to
make your feet stop while the rest of your
body keeps moving though - but I fell only once.

I'm going snowshoeing again this weekend plus I am
thinking of taking them back up to Glacier for my birthday
in two weeks.  I have the day off from work and snowshoeing
in the park would be a great way to spend it.