"Will there be snow?" Bob asked. "No," I replied, "But I don't know where Karen wants to hike."

Today Karen, Bob and I hiked to 6,000 feet elevation. We did a big loop totaling 7.2 miles with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. We scrambled up a little-used, very steep trail (we call those "fisherman's trails" ) to see if we could reach Lake Marion from a different direction. Exploring, really. Karen was leading.

As we got higher, we wound up post-holing in deep snow. Sorry, Bob.

"My new hiking poles are useless spears!" I called to Karen. "Here, take one of my poles with snow baskets," she replied. Much safer.

"Where's Lake Marion?" I asked Karen, puzzled. "It's through these woods," she replied. Last year I gave Karen a trail name: Compass. Hello, Lake Marion. Bravo, Karen!

I used every piece of clothing in my pack:

1. Down jacket and neck warmer during lunch. We sat on cold rocks at Lake Marion. Brrr! For warmth, I wrapped my legs with my fleece jacket. Love my insulated sit-upon.

2. Raincoat during a 10-minute rain squall. Mountain weather changes on a dime.

3. Long-sleeved shirt and fleece jacket for hiking after the rain stopped.

Had a spare shirt in my pack. Wore lighter clothes on the ascent and didn't get sweaty. For once, I didn't need to change into a dry shirt at the top. A revelation. Slow learner.

Ordered snow baskets for my hiking poles when I got home.

Photos:

1. Lake Clara, 6,000 feet. "Can your camera catch the raindrops?" Karen asked.

2. Yellow Glacier Lilies, the first Spring flower to bloom in the mountains.

3. Tweedy's Lewisia begins blooming. Extremely rare, it only grows in North Central WA at certain elevations and exposures. Snow just melted.

4. Two years ago, Mission Ridge Ski Area had a massive avalance/landslide that destroyed a ski run and a road. Still rebuilding.

5. Tweedy's Lewisia in full bloom looks like Hawaii. May 2019. My favorite wildflower.