Hike to Five Lakes

Sabrina, Markus, Niko, Megan, and I headed out for a great hike up to Five Lakes in Alpine Meadows. It was Niko's first big hike where he did quite a lot of walking on his own...very impressive. Markus was also very impressive, shouldering the rather large weight of his 2 year old son for the main uphill parts of the hike! We all swam in one of the lakes, and it was actually warmer than I expected...quite nice after the hot hike up.

Markus and Katharine taking a dip.

Sub and Megan stealing the camera!

Niko found a few friends to play with.

The old crew back together...Kat, Sub, and Meg.

The girls and Niko, what a chick magnet he is!

A Little Mt. Lassen Backcounty

I headed up to Lassen National Park this weekend for a little camping and backcountry skiing with John, Ryan, Stacia, Hunter, and Parkhill. It was raining the whole drive up, and pooring even harder once we got into the park, but for some reason there was a little pocket of lighter rain over our campsite so it wasn't too soggy, and it totally stopped raining the second we got out of the car. And it stayed dry the entire trip until we packed up and got back in the car the next day!! Yay, lucky us. And it turned out to be an awesome trip with 3200 vertical feet of the most perfect corn snow turns!!

Stacia and Eldon, our Great Pyrenees guard dog.

Ryan and Stacia, relaxing by the grill and cookin' up a fat tri-tip.

Katharine and Ryan, just chillin'.

John, getting his camping on.

Hunter, happy to be a part of this year's awesome crew.

The whole gang enjoying the raging campfire.

Uh oh, I've got an announcement to make...cap's in the fire and its time to drink some whiskey!

John and Stacia getting cozy by the fire.

Ryan has another announcement to make...cheers!

And another cap, this time some Bailey's, tossed into the fire...except, oops, looks like somebody missed the fire!

A little nightcap of Bailey's and hot chocolate anyone?

And what do you know, the brew crew, as usual, outlasting everyone by the campfire!

John, Katharine, Ryan, Parkhill, and Hunter ready to go, bright and early at the trailhead.

John and Katharine posing for a quick shot on the hike up.

John is almost to the summit, and just in the nick of time because it looks like the clouds are rolling in.

And here comes Hunter too.

Awesome view looking down from the summit!

Never underestimate the A-Team Brew Crew, summitting Lassen in top form even after the late night of whiskey announcements!

And this is what we skied, 3200 vertical feet of perfect spring corn...probably the best snow we've ever had at Lassen!

Hunter and John, hiking out the bottom after a great run.

Back at the parking lot, relaxing and stretching.

This is one happy crew! Thanks for a great trip!!