It snowed here last night – three inches of fluffy powder on our backyard picnic table; more higher up. Whether this is THE big snow or just A big snow for 2019 remains to be seen. Yeah, pretty tame stuff compared to the Polar Vortex (or spring in the Dakotas). But it was enough to inspire us to pull on snow boots and make yet another pilgrimage to Roxy Ann for some easy snow walking. The drive to the “trailhead” at the lower gate (closed for the day) involved some slipping and sliding on our part. It also involved us dodging some other drivers who were obviously unfamiliar with just how frictionless icy snow can be – wheeeeee… 
After parking well below the gate to escape this nuttiness, we walked up the delightfully car-free road. Then it was up the Greenhorn Trail, stopping to visit an old spring house that we’d somehow missed on previous hikes. From there it was up the Manzanita Trail to Roxy Ann’s southern shoulder for a hoped for sighting of Mount McLoughlin (not today). We were considering a summit bid when our sunbreak started to close. So we passed on the peak and headed home for lunch.
On our way out we squeezed through numerous vehicles struggling to turn around at the closed gate. We also passed a tow truck trying to rescue a car that had slid down a car-swallowing embankment near the gate (fortunately none of the car’s occupants were injured). Friction, people, friction. Another storm is on the way. But after that the weather and roads may be clear enough (and my back steady enough) for some judicious snowshoeing in the high country. 😉
BOOTS on the TRAIL 
Thanks! Always happy to help folks dream about being outside. 🙂 I sent you an email (at applegaterogue.org) about using some of my images.
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Love your site, and your trips. Reading your accounts and lingering at each image is truly a wonderful way to avoid responsibilties. Thank you!
Would it be possible to connect with you by email or phone regarding possible limited permission to showcase some of your images?
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We hoped you guys were going to get up there and enjoy this latest round of snow. Nice to see that you did. 🙂 We got to the lower gate around 9 when it was still a skating rink populated by sliding cars & trucks – you didn’t miss anything there.
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Funny, we were up there too, same day, just a little later than you. We got up there around noon and finished up around 2:00 pm. We saw the tow truck just leaving from helping the car in the ditch. By the time we finished out hike, the road had lost a lot of the snow/ice at the very first gate that was closed. We too cut through the Greenhorn Trail. Great minds think alike!
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Snow like this isn’t that common this low down here, so it’s special when we get a lot. Madrones are an all time favorite. And there will be wildflowers here come spring! 🙂
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Thanks! Glad you enjoyed them. 🙂
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Beautiful place in the snow. Love the madrones.
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Wonderful photos–thanks for sharing!
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