Magical.  Ice palace.  Breath taking winter wonderland.

I don’t think my words or photos can quite capture the sparkly beauty we walked through on our hike yesterday morning.  We set out early.  We had two snow storms earlier in the week and then it rained heavily on Friday evening.  Temps were supposed to hit the high 40s so we wanted to get off the mountain top before the snow got too soft and we were posting it on the way down.  (Posting is when you sink down into softening snow; each footstep creates a “post hole” as your sink down into snow up over your knees.)

The hike up was perfect with mild temps in the 30s, no wind and a brilliant deep blue sky.  The mountain slopes were pure white with fresh snow.  The sun poured through the trees casting patterns of shadows and back-lighting the trees.   Then we crested the top of the mountain and walked straight into wonderland.  The trees at the higher elevation had frozen during the night and were coated with sleet and ice.  Everything sparkled and shimmered everywhere you looked.  You could hear ice droplets falling off the trees as the sun melted it loose from the branches, a steady raining tinkling sound.  Come and see!

ice coated branch

fallen ice shimmering on snow

icy pine needles against blue sky

showing off diaphanous coats of ice

sparkly trees

aren’t I pretty?

sparkly winter wonderland

surrounded

beauty everywhere

reaching the peak. aren’t you glad you came along?