The previous attempt was a bit of a slog. This time we made it past the start (trail head)

The view across to Green Mountain

Lunch spot: the snow was approx. 12 feet deep here

Going up was tough…

…coming down was fun

Eventually the “High Point” which observant readers will note is not the “summit”. Yup, Pilchuck wins again

What happens when the snow runs out?

Now that the rickrolling meme is dying down, F has started his own version…

Fresh Frinton air is enough to send anyone to snooze-land.

On previous occasions I’ve stayed in some odd hotels, like here and here. But this ex-prison as a hotel has been the only one to upset the kids.

At a top secret camp far away from Newham, granddad underwent a rigorous training regime in preparation for starting up a competitive gardening service with the motto: “measure once, cut twice”.
Paul & Dave are said to be in a state of minor shock at the thought of the competition.

The massive fish escaped

Gran: The shrinking head of a growing family

Big and old (~500 years), but not as big or old as the one we saw last summer.

Day one at La Push on the Olympic Peninsula Pacific coast.

Lots of drift wood, although it’s hard to imagine some of this stuff ‘drifting’.

If you’re lost, you can tell which way is North because moss grows on that side of trees (assuming you’re not so lost that you’re no longer in the northern hemisphere).
Except when it doesn’t, in places like the Hoh Rain Forest.

The boys now appreciate why it’s called a rain forest, and not, for example, a drizzle wood.

We hit Sol Duc for a dip in the hot springs……with a variety of interesting characters. Unfortunately it was too steamy to capture on film (or CCD, or CMOS).

After a quick stop at the ranger station to assess conditions

We hiked up the closed road towards Sol Duc falls

Unfortunately snow obscured the trail making route finding impossible so,

after a quick stop to find the sweets that F had hidden in the snow,

dejectedly, we headed back to the cabin.

The odd bit of wildlife was spotted during our break

Sealions came and said hello

 

Seagulls told us where to go

Fat squirrels ate

And small bear’s ran away

First stop on the spring break adventure: Hurricane Ridge in the Olympic National Park.

Good news was that the road was open, not so good news was that we didn’t break out of the cloud so we had to play in the snow rather than admire the views
(I don’t think anyone else minded though).

The boys discovered some snow holes to play in while a nervous dad stood ready with an avalanche shovel…

 

…yes, really!
F later put it to better use by turning the tables on his big brother.

We also managed a bit of sledding without a sledge.

and I even got to wear my new specs…

…which embarrassed F so much that he buried his head in the snow.

A misty morning down at Cottage Lake today.
This pic is the end of a week long series looking at the weather (the others are here) and resulted from some inspiration supplied by this anonymous comment.

You see, you, dear reader, really are in control.
Feel the power.

The consequences of
(what I must admit was a particularly successful)
April fool early today yesterday.

Yes, most of the contents of my office disappeared J
Full details of the gag here and reactions here.