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Phelps
(peak 12, winter peak 1)

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Back in business! For November and December holiday season I hung up the walking stick to help with seasonal festivities, but MAN did I want to be in the woods. Charlie was also itching to get out, so he tagged along, and so did my daughter Erin.

(Mouse over the picture to see the image full size.)

We had light snow showers to start out, and it was just above freezing, so the little snow we had was sticky and wet. Phelps via Van Hoevenberg trail is about 8 miles round trip from the Loj. We were on the trail about 9am. Made really good time to the dam - the first 2 miles, and then started a gradual climb up the Van Hoevenberg trail along Phelps Brook to Phelps Mtn trailhead.

With a total ascent of under 2000 feet vertical, and with generally low grades on the trail, this is one of the easier high peak hikes, and I would recommend it for a first winter hike. I still prefer Cascade and Porter for first hike, as they are shorter (distance).

Here we are on the summit. We were clouded in, so no pictures of other peaks from Phelps. Erin did real good for her first winter peak, and first trip on snowshoes. This is only my second trip on snowshoes, and I survived as well. Where there wasn't much snow on the trail in, or up, you can see from looking at Charlie's and my hiking stick on the left that there is significant snow on the summit.

Who says there are no insects in the woods in the winter?! After counting 4, we stop to take a picture of this spider crossing the trail. I don't have a macro mode on my camera, so I did the next best thing - I took a picture of Charlie using a camera with a macro function. Hope his shot turns out!

This was my first trip where I needed a headlamp. Mine lit once and immediately went out. Erin did better. Coming back in the dark was confusing, as you can tell from the looks on Erin's face below...

Even without the views it was exhilarating to be back in the woods again. We were back at the Jeep and on our way out at about 5:30pm, after changing into dry clothes at the Loj. Eight mile trip - eight hours - par for the course, and excellent time for us, given that it was the first trip of the new year, and first trip in a while in snowshoes.

A good time was had by all.