The boy and I started early to get a spot in the parking lot. The actual trailhead is closed due to snow so we had to cross the busy road, go under the freeway, and finally into the woods. Thankfully, there was a nice track through the deep snow and up the valley we were heading for.

Usually, Tinkham is the most excited member of our party when we get into the snow. Not so this time out. I was beside myself with joy. More than six feet of snow on the ground and more even more falling at a rate of a couple of inches and hour. Any advantage Tink had was due to her complete and total abandonment of reason and willingness to chase a snowball into the snow.

I wasn't quite that excitable and contented myself with the simple joys of watching the snow fall.

I'd like to say it would have been a bigger adventure if the avalanche danger hadn't been considerable, but to be honest, a couple of miles in the snow is about all I had in me. We kept it easy for me and used snowballs to make if fun for everyone else.

What's next? Surgery. I bet you can't wait to see all those pictures.