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.

Bear Love & Peace Enjoying the Snow

This is Bear's very first snow and he enjoyed it very much, he and Peace stayed out for almost 4 hours before they took their very first break and napped. His coat has thickened up alot and the cold we have had lately doesn't seem to effect him anyore. They played and tore up every bit of snow that was here and you couldn't find any sign if fresh snow after a couple of days and now it is gone and we are all waiting for it to Snow.

Peace is hunting for chipmunks under snow covered wood pile, this isn't her first experience with snow she got to play in it for a couple of weeks when she first came to Trinity and loved it then and loves it even more now that she's getting bigger everyday.

Peace & Bear looking in a hole for a ground squirrel that popped his head out of the hole in the snow, Peace first spotted it and Bear had to join in the hunt. They had such a great time playing and ripping up the snow and keep looking towards the mountains to see if they are beginning to turn white. LET IT SNOW!!!!!!

We found our Paradise in the beautiful Cascade Mountains, hope you find your too.

Signs in the Forest

Recently the Forest Service took out the sign in sheet at the Trinity TH for the summer and put in sign in sheets for Winter users of the TH, the put them in the box used in the summer and there is only one problem with that it will covered up with snow pretty quick since it is only 4' above the ground. The map in the tree is where the snow usually is after they groom in December and the scarfman is where the snow was when it started melting out. It's a great idea to know how many people use the TH in the winter but they will need to put it some place else to be used.

First Snow of 2007

This morning we got up and everything was white, not heavy white but white none the less, it is the first snow of the season. It's beautiful and white and continuing to come down mainly for today and tomorrow but then after that it should stop except higher up. We'll see what is happening. Get those snowmobiles and skis ready it is coming to your favorite place well my favorite place.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Hard Core Hikers

On Monday morning 8 PCT hikers left out from Trinity headed to Stehekin but first they had to get across Buck Creek Pass a 5900' pass to get to the PCT and back on course to make it to Canada, there was new snow down to about 5000' and they were hoping to make it there and headed down again before the day was over but they had to contend with the snow that had fallen and the clouds surrounding the mountains. It rained all day yesterday with the mountains only peeking out of the clouds for brief moments during the day. Yesterday afternoon while the rain had let up we went for a walk as the kids were getting restless and we came upon a couple of more hikers headed up to Buck Creek Pass but it was 4pm at that time. They had made the trip before but not with this much snow on the ground and more on the way with the snow level down to 4500' and then down to 3500' tonight and 3000' Thur which means all of the hikers will be doing most of their hiking in the snow, to me it didn't appear that they had the gear to get through much snow and the weather service shows that there is around 4-15 " at the elevations they are going to have to travel over. They are trying to beat the winter snows to Canada, this should be interesting for them this early in the year. We send them all Trinity vibes and best wishes for a safe journey to all of them on the trail.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

From Dry to Very Wet

As I have mentioned this past summer was a very dry summer and very dusty on the road to Trinity especially with all of the people that just like to drive around and make more dust, so we started getting light rains and snow in the upper elevations but couldn't see it Sat because clouds were very low and covering all of the mountains but Sunday got a glimpse of the snow on the mountains even heading south down the valley on either side but only the very top. We've gotten over 1.5" of rain since Sunday and we really needed it and looks like it will be here all week almost like Nov started out last year and we really could do without a repeat of that storm especially in Oct. The colors of the leaves are quickly changing from green to yellow and red it is quite spectacular to see. For all of those that have been waiting for the snow to arrive, it won't be long and you can get early views of it out here right now but bring a slicker as you might get wet, the nice thing today is there is no wind. I also want to apologize for not including photos with these little ditty's like I usually do and will upload them soon but due to technical difficulties like breaking my computer and having to put it in the shop 2 weeks ago and now just waiting for it to get fixed so at this time I can't add photos, I've taken quite a few I'd like to share with you. Think Snow!!!
We found out Paradise, hope you find your's too.

Real snow on the Mountains

This weekend we got some much needed rain and saw snow on the mountains down to about 5500' but most was above 6500'. Sat morning we saw a little snow on Chiwawa, Massie& Buck mountains but nothing else down the valley not on MT Maude or Carne of any of the others of the Chiwawa's it was like there was a line where it stopped. Sunday morning we woke up to very wet conditions and the clouds were basically sitting right at the tree line right out back and we couldn't see the mountains or the snow on them. Once or twice we got a glempse of little patches of snow but not much could be seen through the clouds/fog. I had seen 8 hikers on the road between Basalt campground & where the pavement stops when I was heading out to town, well yesterday evening one of the owners came and knocked at my door to let me know that we had 8 PCT hikers spending the night in the cabin. They had made it here and were heading up to Buck Creek Pass but turned back because of the snow that had fallen overnight, beside being very wet from the rain wasn't hard but lasted all day we got about .75" here and the temperature never got higher that 38 yesterday. It was the first time since I 've lived here that that many PCT hiker's have come through at one time or stayed overnight. They left this morning hoping to make it to the PCT this afternoon and over Buck Pass which is the highest point they will have to cross from now on. I wish them the best and safe and happy trails. I'm sure that we will be seeing more this week hurrying to finish and arrive safely in Canada before the snow sets in for winter.
Too all of my friends who have been waiting for the snow to arrive well it won't be long now, I'm going to be watching the clouds and mountains daily to see if we get more of it, or it disappears quickly. Get those skis and snowmobiles tuned up it's almost time, " LET IT SNOW".
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Cedar Street Block Party

This weekend Leavenworth was crowded with visitors because it was Autumn Leaf Festival with booths, art show games for kids and of course all of the stores enjoying the large group of visitors especially in the downtown area near the gazebo-- but a few blocks away on a usually quiet street there were barricades blocking the ends of Cedar Street for a couple of blocks and in the middle of that CLF Chumstick Liberation Front was set up getting ready to play for the crowd that had gathered. Aaron and friends & neighbors had gotten together and pulled off one of the best events I've attended in town with a few hundred neighbors and friends showing up from Leavenworth enjoying the food and drinks and getting to know new friends. Personally this is what I think of when I think of Leavenworth and would like to see it happen much more, it is a very close knit community which is why I like being a part of it even though I'm the furtherest Leavenworth resident well my mailbox is anyway. Many of the people that were there said they just happened upon it as it really wasn't advertised that I'm aware of Nat mentioned it to me at the grocery store as we were both getting ice cream, glad he did as I love live music and the venue was great, aeven the kids and dogs were welcome and no problems other than the music getting cut short because of sprinkles happening, even as the equipment was being pickled up an impromptu jam session with Sergio on accordion and Mike on drums along with several of us helping keep the beat, it was very enjoyable.
Before heading home for the evening we were making a pass through town just to see what was happening and to see if anymore live music was happening, well it was Paul Sweeny was playing at the Tumwater so I stopped in to see who was there, I only intended to stay long enough to drink a glass of tea, instead I ended up staying a couple of hours and several of us helped Paul sing the songs of our youth wasn't really planned but we just all jumped in right from our seats. Several of our friends wanted to see Peace & Bear so we went to take little walks with them , they don't meet strangers and everyone that meets them falls in love with both of them . Peace & Bear Love are both blessings to me, they have many aunt's & uncle's in town that like for them to come around and that makes my life much easier since they go everywhere I go, we are a family with very many extended members of that family that live in town. Life is great.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.