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A Methow Bluebird Day

Some days are better than others. Most days are good but some are really better. Today the sun came out after days of new snow falling. The sun revealed things we could not see with the gray light of snowfall. What a change! My friend and I went skiing at the Chickadee trails near Sun Mountain and while the trails are a little slow from all the new snow, the sunshine and blue skies and gorgeous landscapes all around us made it seem perfect.

 

 

After fresh snowfall, you have to watch out for those dumps from the big trees! They can bury you if your timing is bad. Or maybe you will just get a touch of the frozen fairy dust sparkles on your face.

 

 

 

I have not seen or even heard any Northern Pygmy Owls this winter and I mentioned it to my friend who said she hadn’t seen any as well. Much to my surprise, I spotted one on the Sunnyside trail on this bush maybe only six or seven feet above my head!

 

Sharing chocolate

 

 Living in the Methow is the best.

 

The Sledding is Perfect!

You’re probably tired of snowy activities by now. It’s a fact. People should not live here if they don’t enjoy playing in the snow. And now, it’s perfect. Deep and fluffy. I said that recently, didn’t I? Well, it still is and more is coming down. So in between sessions shoveling snow, a person has got to have some fun. And so does the dog.

Our house sits a ways up a steep hill with a bench down below. When the snow is soft like this, it is a perfect sledding hill. It starts out with a short steep drop off, the scariest part, and then glides down through the bitterbrush to the bench. Of course, the bitterbrush can be an obstacle as well. Last year, the challenge was to get to the edge of the bench. I think today I went farther than anyone did last year! More than halfway across the bench. I tried once more but crashed in the bitterbrush. The hard part is the climb back up the hill pulling the sled. That’s the exercise part of the fun.

 

Luna is thinking, ‘ are you sure about this?’

 

Part way across the bench at the bottom

 

Again? You’re going to do that again?

 

 

It’s a long ways back up the hill

 

Look at how much further I went!

 

That was fun. You know, you are starting resemble me. Are you going to fix dinner now?

 In case you are concerned, Luna doesn’t ride in the sled. She runs at full speed behind me.

Methow Valley Pursuit

This weekend MVSTA is hosting the Methow Valley Pursuit – two days of Nordic ski races. Today is a skate race with skiers going the 30k from Mazama to Winthrop. It is a slow course today with lots of new snow and more falling during the race. Yesterday was the classic race that began and ended at Winthrop’s Town Trailhead. During the race I helped with traffic control where the trail crosses Twin Lakes Road. In between cars, I made a few images.

 

 

Nicely groomed trails ready for racers and other skiers

 

This fellow biked up from town

 

He just wanted to go skiing. The course was open to any skiers – we just asked that they watch out for the racers

 

And off he goes

 

Lots of really excellent racers in this field

 

 

 

Great fashions

 

All ages

 

And always – having fun!

 

 

 

Some People’s Trucks

Some people’s trucks live outside. Probably most of them. Hi ho Silver, my car, is spoiled, living in a garage. Looking at other people’s cars and trucks, it’s obvious that they are out there, in the elements, all the time. Silver, comes and goes, into the warm, well not really warm by my standard, but certainly warmer than outside, while other cars and trucks sit outside, day and night, through sub zero temperatures, big snow falls and occasional ice storms, thawing and freezing, and the occasional leaf fall.

 

 

 

Classic Skiing in New Powder

This week, Mother Nature has brought our valley some wonderful airy powder snow! What a delight. So light, easy to shovel. One lady said she used her leaf blower to get it off her porch.

Neighbor Shelley asked me this afternoon if it was alright if she started some classic ski tracks across our hillside. Oh Yeah. She and her dogs were soon scooting through the spindrift snow as more was coming down. A little while later I moved myself away from the computer and went in search of the old fish scale classic skis and the glide wax and then had to look  for the poles before finding them out in the shop with a hoard of other ski poles. We could outfit a few skiers with our outdated equipment.

And the dogs wanted to go along. They already had a morning walk. And Luna and I had done some skate skiing in the soft snow at Big Valley this morning too. That was a real effort. So off we went, up our trail and then along the road to a vacation house where we found Shelley’s tracks coming from the other side of the hill. It was a bit much for Sam, the brown dog, so I thought maybe a shortcut back home would be a good idea. It was quite a pull up a steep hillside but eventually the old dogs made it up and then we were on our regular trail heading downhill towards home. The dogs will sleep well tonight.

 

Gliding through the powder!

 

 

 

Kelly can barely see or hear. She’s a real trooper. And nearly 14! Her birthday is Valentines Day.

 

Sam wants to go. She will will herself to go despite old age and arthritis

 

And Luna. Can you see me?

 

Our little camper is in that barn with the plastic doors. Waiting for summer.

 

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

 

Kelly is thinking. Home is right over there. Put the camera away and let’s get going. It’s nearly dinner time and I need to lay down for a while.

 

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