Merry Christmas From Trinity

This is another Christmas time at Trinity and again it has definitely been different, it is nice not feeling like I have to get out, but am hoping everything will work out so that I can go out for New Year's eve, not that I know of anything happening but it is always nice to hear from and see my friends. It is very white around here today but we got no new snow last night so hopefully what we have will settle down a bit making it easier to get around here.
Everyday is a new day and Peace, Bear Love, Gizmo & I hope that everyone has a wonderfully blessed holiday time and realize that there is more to it than seeing how much we can spend but how much of ourself we can give to others. Enjoy every moment of everyday, it just makes life great.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too.

The Week Before Christmas

This has been an unusually different winter this year. We got small amounts of snow early in the season but not what anyone expected but now it is trying to make up for the lack of early season snow with alot all at once. Everyday the landscape around here has looked different and some days can't see beyond the trees, then others blue skies with clouds of varying colors a little over 2 weeks ago we hardly had 1 1/2' of snow and today we are almost at the 10' mark on the gauge but some of that is because if drifting snow not actual we are more around the 8-8.5' mark.
We haven't seen very many snowmobilers out this year which is totally surprising for this time of year but at the same time awhen they only keep the lower parts of the trail system groomed consistantly because according to the forest service personell no one really comes out this far just to snowmobile. I have a favor to ask of all of you who like to ski, snowmobile, anything that has to do wth being outdoors in the snow that enjoy coming out to Trinity and Phelps Creek TH if you would please send comments ato me or to the forest service and parks system and let them know how you feel about not having access to all parts of the park just because of the way they choose to groom, they say it is for the recreationist but I'd like to hear from those of you that actually use the trails and off trails around here. Thse are just a few of the scenes around here this past week.\

We found our PAradise, Hope you find your's too.

BOY is it Snowing here

This morning we woke up to almost 6.5' of snow on the gauge, we got almost 16 " yesterday total and another 10" today so far and it is still coming down. Jimmy tried to head out on the snowmobile and it is so powdery and fine with no bottom that my sled just wanted to plow through it, not enough machine to get out. So if there are any of you out there thinking about making a run to Trinity we would appreciate it if trail was broke he could get out but right now just get stuck. Just let me know either by email or just come on out would definitely appreciate it otherwise we just have to hunker down and wait it out until they groom or it firms up wither of those choices would work for us. If you are coming out this direction to find POW this is definitely the place, just be prepared it is Very fluffy. It is beautiful though and we love it. Bear & Peace just plow through what they can but usually get buried in the powdery snow they play in. Thanks for any help getting Jim out would be appreciated.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too.

Can you tell that Peace & Bear Love are happy to be home, they went out about 7am and are still playing outside checking everything out since they got home. After being very restricted in what they could do in town except for when they are at the farm our second home away from home, where they are part of the pack. They keep me laughing at their antics in the snow, they just love to be out there playing running the excess energy off. Yesterday PEace had her very first encounter with a snomobiler face to face as she was running home but once she saw the snowmobile drive up she went into charging and jumping around but she wsn't going to let them pass and he wasn't sure if he wanted to try while she was there until I got her to sit with me and watch them go by. There is no place like home and we are so glad to be home, no place like it, we like visiting our friends and having them visit us here.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Glad to finally be back home

It took 4 hours to change 2 of the rubber tracks on my Ranger Thur night in anticipation of trying to get out on Friday but it was going to depend on whether or not the road got groomed. I needed to get my truck out which was 13 miles inside of the barricades @ Fish Lake sno-park, not a good place for it with all of the snow we got, but I also had to get Jim who had been waiting to start work at Steven's Pass for 2 weeks and now was a day late, we thought we could make it in 2-3 hours. Well we started out @ 5:30 am and even though it was groomed it was still very soft, not what I was hoping for. We got to the truck and had to dig it out and then ended up towing it 11 of the 13 miles it had to get out and ended up taking us 7.5 hours and the worst part is that from the barricade to the garage the road had been plowed and scraped down to the pavement which didn't excite me at all not after spending the time to change the tracks the night before, the reason I had to change the tracks is because they had stretched and got cut up on icy pavement last year taking big chunks of rubber out of the tracks.
Because of the road condition I decided to stay out for a couple of days waiting for the next snow to arrive and cushion my ride and saving my tracks, it was supposed to snow Sun night, and that didn't happen, then it was supposed to snow Tues night and it did leave a dusting, just enough to make the roads slick.
I was getting restless not seeing home and what was happening here plus we didn't plan to be gone but 1 day which turned into 5.5 days. It was nice getting to spend time with some friends I haven't seen in a while, and had a great visit at the farm, but by Monday I was ready to be home. We left out this morning with white roads coming in but not enough to really help so we drove very slow until we got to the Sno-Park then we made pretty good time got home before 2pm just as the snow started falling. Bear & Peace had fun seeing everyone and meeting new people while they were in town but once we got home they really got happy, especially since the snow is firm enough for them to run across and not drop into like it was before leaving. They both ran home the last 1.5 miles down the road just to get here.
We were very surprised to see so much snow that hadn't been shredded like normal once the park is open especially with all of the snowmobile tracks coming out this way, very few boon dockers mostly trail riders. There is plenty of snow from the barricades @ Fish Lake to travel to Trinity or anywhere else out here. I also want to thank the groomers for grooming again after I pulled my truck out leaving some serious ruts in soft snow, so even though they groomed to Trinity Thur night, they came back to Basalt and filled in the ruts we made getting out, I'm sure the snowmobilers appreciated it too.
Even though we live in the middle of nowhere as most people think because we are surrounded by mountains and 23 miles in a snow park, there's No Place like HOME....
We found our Paradise, hope you find your's too.

It's Groomed to Trinity

Well after lots of snow last weekend and not able to get very far because of the fluffy powdered snow just under 7' then rains for 2 days helped to settle it down to just above 4' pf pillowy snow. Ths has caused some anxiety on my part because my truck was still 13 miles from Fish Lake but after the groomers coming out Thur night and grooming I finally headed out yesterday morning, planning to get my truck out and Jim to Steven's Pass for work, he was a couple of days late since we couldn't get out. Well it was an ordeal to say the least but my truck isn't buried for tne next 6 months but is free again so we can go to more places than we could without it.
I apologize to all the sledders that come upon my ruts but it couldn't be helped and it won't happen again not by me anyway. There is snow on the mountains and the road is groomed so I will pepobably be seeing many sledders soon, which will take care of the quietness.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Got what we wanted, SNOW

The past week plus a few days we've had some very cold temperatures but didn't see much snow around. Then we got 9" and went to move the Blazer and there wasn't any snow down where it was parked so I left it there even stayed in Leavenworth to see how much snow we got in the latest storm, well Leavenworth got 1.5-2" we only had about 1" but it did arrive just in time for Leavenworth to be on national TV GMA was there at 4am as were about 1500 locals. On Nov 30 we had about 20" total snow, then on Sat afternoon it started snowing and by yesterday morning we had about 3.5' of snow and it was 17 degrees so the snow was very dry powder and continued to snow all day, the dam froze up with all of the slush in the water from the cold snow so we had to rely on the furnace for warmth which isn't a problem. Since we had no power I couldn't see just how much snow we had gotten overnight 31" of more powder with no bottom to it. It took almost an hour just to make trails to the powerhouse this morning and then I almost couldn't get the Ranger out of the powerhouse because of the very deep snow. I then spent the next 1.5 hours trying to go 150' but it was more trouble than it was worth and then the rains showed up and it rained all day.


This is how last year started out only in reverse the rains came first 14.5" in under 50 hours then lots of very dry cold snow 4.5' in 6 days. We've been looking for this for a while but sure hadn't figured on getting this much this weekend. Well after this rain it should help to have a nice base to build upon. The pictures of the gauge are from 12/2 & 12/3 the bottom photo showsalmost 7' just in case you can't tell. So far it has packed the snow about 16" so far and it hasn't stopped yet we'll see what happens tomorrow. At least we got warm enough for the dam to clear the ice especially with the water flowing in the creek now. Definitely have to watch for slides in the next day or two, could be interesting. Peace & Bear are having fun in the snow but today found it very difficult to get around except for the tracks I made to the powerhouse. With all the rain lots of snow is falling of the roofs of the houses so when Bear is outside I have to really keep him away from the buidings otherwise he could get buried in the falling snow.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Saturday Night @ the Tumwater

This is part of the usual Sat night crowd at the Tumwater in Leavenworth, they show up to watch our friend and local music legend Paul Sweeny perform original & cover requested songs, it's always a good time.

I need to apologize to the person pictured here his name is Paul Sweeny and every Sat. night in Leavenworth he performs live music, most by request but some new stuff he wants to learn, or maybe requested earlier. Paul is very talented and I thought I had blogged about this before but guess I didn't so here it is. The other person is John the bartender/guitarist who likes to jump in when it's not too busy, normally he's hopping pretty good behind the bar most of the time. If you haven't heard Paul perform, you are missing out..
There are many friends that show up almost every week and it's a fun time, there are quite a few songs where everyone is encouraged to join in.

I enjoy it because most of it is the music I grew up to, if I really ever grew up. I still feel very young in the way I enjoy life and I believe that if I can't be a kid then I must be dead and since I'm still breathing and living life to the fullest, I'm not dead. I will take the time to smell the roses and enjoy everything around me with things turning white albeit slowly, very slow this year, I'm grateful that there is snow none the less.

Well for all the snowmobilers and lovers of everything winter related it's time to stop thinking about the summer and concentrate our thoughts about "SNOW". With the very cold temps we've been having the snow is very dry and if it had a 1-2' base would be what most of the skiers I know are looking for. Hopefully with the varying weather reports coming out we will se some wetter snow which would be very nice but we definitely don't need the rain they are talking about getting after the rain. Keep it real THINK LIVE & ENJOY LIFE "SNOW"
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Are You Really Thinking SNOW?

I came home yesterday after going out on Wed to move my truck because I had been told by the FS that they got 6" at the lake and we were supposed to be getting a good dose Wed night and didn't want to get my truck stuck in here and not able to get it out. We had gotten 9" but it was all like baby powder and if I was skiing I would love it but since I'd like to build a nice base before getting lots of very dry powder. The first photo of gauge was taken on Tues after gettin 9" on top of 1' we had before.

The next picture is of Peace & Bear Love playing in the snow which they both love to do, no need for additional coats for them they like to play and don't want anything to interfere with having fun. They are truely mountain dogs but they enjoy visiting town and seeing friends especially the stores that always have treats, thanks to Aunt Suzie, Gaby, Rhode and all of the others that always have something good to eat and of course all of our friends at Uncle Uli's where pets are allowed and everyone knows your name... We were even there yesterday when GMA came to Leavenworth and I was totally surprised byu the great turnout of people hoping to be on TV, I was just waiting for it to get light enough to drive home with my sunglasses which was all I had with me since I left my other glasses in the Ranger, we were hoping to get a nice overnight snow so I would know where to park my truck so I could still get out. Leavenworth got about 1.5-2" of snow but it couldn't have been scripted better for the snow, problem is they got more snow there than I got out here, actually it was just enough so that when I made tracks I couldn't see asphalt but my Ranger only had .75" on it when we got to it and at home I got 1.25" of baby powder.


This is what we have today after not getting the snow everyone anticipated.
So I believe that eveyone wanting to see snow needs to Think SNOW!!! We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

9" of POWDER

This morning we woke up to 9" of very dry Powder, it was nice to see finally, maybe this will be the beginning of the SNOW season for the year, it started yesterday afternoon. Today though we only got a 1/4" of new snow and tonight we have clear skies, so we will see what happens.
Peace & Bear just ran around like crazy several times Bear just disappeared in the new snow, there are many trails where they ran and several places that have been laid down by them wrestling with each other. Peace is quite the marathon runner, she runs to the dam when I take the Ranger up there, it's a little over 3 miles one way and almost 800' higher she seem to love running which she constantly does, when we go for walks she can be right next to us or 500 yds away chasing smells or tracks of the critters running in the snow.


Peace and Bear are quite the pair they have become true mountain dogs, they would rather be playing in the snow or on the hunt for something than being inside where it is warm, but then so would I, it is so very beautiful with the snow in the trees, changing the landscape, the snow & ice dams in the creek from the very cold temps. The other day while Peace & Bear were out playing around the river around here they came home with an old beaver skull, totally clean with a litle dirt but very big front teeth, I was surprised it was in such good shape, not sure where they found it but my guess is that the old beaver we have had problems with finally died and they found it. Maybe tomorrow we'll have to go look for the rest of it or maybe just have to go move my truck further out due to the recent snows we've had, which I will gladly do to have it a sno-park from Fish Lake. It's time to get those snowmobiles tuned up and ready to play, get those skis and snowboards waxed and ready to tackle the slopes, especially the backcountry lovers and whatever you do Think SNOW, Live LIFE to the Max, and enjoy every minute.
We found our Paradise, hope you find your too.

Maybe this Time will work

Well after a week of some very cold temps we finally got some new snow today. With the cold temp though instead of being a wet snow it is very dry and powdery and we had about 4" in about 5 hours earlier in the afternoon and it's still snowing tonight so it will be interesting to see how much we get overnight. Actually we need the snow so that it can insulate the dam and aqua duct from freezing. The pictures are from up at the dam when the temperatures stayed very cold the last 2 days, I had to go and break up the ice that was forming so that it wouldn't shut down the powerplant like it has done previously.
This is what most of my friends have been looking for the beautiful fluffy white stuff, SNOW!!! Yeah! I know many snomobilers and skiers that have been watching the sky for this great time of year to finally arrive, I know those working at Steven's Pass have been waiting impatiently for this snow to get here. This could be the beginning of a wonderful time of the year, my favorite time of year in fact.
Peace & Bear Love love the snow too and once they get out playing in it they don't want to come in no matter how late it is but I can also relate because when it snows I just want to get out in it feel it on my face and see it in the headlights. I'm very glad that I've groomed all the way up to the dam and that the snow we got earlier has formed a very nice base but I will need to stay on top of it so that I can go to the dam until the first slide over on the dam road then it can be the last time I get to go until the melt out, I hope to keep it open all winter, well that is my intention anyway.
To Ivan, Bob, Eric, Michelle, Don, Jim, Jim Jack, David M, Dave W, and everyone waiting for snow, keep those thoughts coming and we'll all be riding it soon, Think SNOW :)
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

The Day Before Thanksgiving

It's Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we don't have much snow this year but the temps have been chilly each morning. Yesterday this is how the mountains looked as the sun was coming up, absolutely gorgeous . The last picture was taken yeserday afternoon with the early moonrise and Old Gibb still in the sunshine. Living at Trinity everyday is Thanksgiving and a holiday to me because I'm grateful to live in such a beautiful place.
Have a great Thanksgiving and remember to enjoy everyday.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

What a Strange start to Snow season

Today is the Monday before Thanksgiving and we only have 1' of snow on the ground, 5' less than we had last year at this time.
When we got the first snow back on Oct 16th I really thought that we were going to have an early snow season but then that melted and the mist/rain started and it took almost 3.5 weeks before seeing snow here again and at the beginning of last week we had 1' on the ground then the rains started again and by Friday we were down to 7" and it rained most of the weekend, however the temps stayed cold and we got the 4-5" of snow back so we have 1' again but last year at this time we already had over 5' and over 8' by Thanksgiving day. It is supposed to be really cold at nights this early part of the week but not much snow expected and snow levels climbing to over 5000' by the weekend.
So for all of those snowmobilers & skiers out there looking for more of the white stuff "Think SNOW" . I have to admit that this will be the first year that I've lived here that we are actually starting out with a 1' base which normally has started out with 3-5' of fluff and no bottom so at least it is starting out right this year. Will keep you informed as to the conditions here.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Have a Wonderful Day from Trinity

It's Finally Here, SNOW that is

Well yesterday morning we woke up and couldn't see anything beyond the trees because of all of the clouds surrounding the mountains, but here in the valley it was white, we got about 8" total. It was supposed to get to the high temp by noon then start downward again then warm again tomorrow but it is supposed to get down to 20 tonight and that could actually give us a nice base which is something we haven't really had the last couple of years.

Bear and Peace are really enjoyng the snow, they are really mountain dogs and don't want to come in very much and when they do they are soaked. Peace is having a blast just running through the snow and checking out all the different smells, Bear does his very best to keep up with her but his short legs make it a little harder but he has found his own style of getting through the snow and even with the short coat he has he just doesn't want to come in. When he does he likes to lay in front of one of the heaters and nap for a while, then he's ready to go out again and play. He is growing very quickly now and has one Big appetite for a little pup but with the way they both play in the snow they should both have good appetites and do.


So for those of you that have been looking to the sky and for the pretty white flakes look no further, it's here so get those skis waxed and snowmobiles tuned up and get ready to have some wonderful winter fun. Think Snow
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.