This Saturday, B & I headed out to the White Mountains, just an hour from town, for a snow shoe adventure.  We piled on our snow gear and strapped on our snow shoes and hit the Wickersham Trail.

We started out on the ski loop trail, the snow falling steadily while we began our climb on the groomed trails.  Soon enough the snow stopped falling and the sky cleared to begin seeing views from the hillside.

After a couple miles of climbing, the trail began to descend and the landscape turned noticeably….Dr Suess-like.  Mounds of round snow piled on trees in comically inviting shapes.

We then ventured off the groomed trail to continue on the ski loop trail.  It was clear that we were the only ones who had gone on this trail for quite some time, the snow piled higher and the only foot prints for the day.

& Then it was time to make the turn back a couple miles to head back to the trailhead connector.  We ventured for a while and eventually the trail disappeared entirely.  We kept climbing and the snow became less and less sure below; though we got to some pretty epic views I have to admit getting sick and tired of extracting my legs from sinking thigh deep into the snow.  My legs more tired & strained than anything…

Saving the day was our handy GPS (which was an xmas gift from B in order to counter his terrible habit of telling me “only five more minutes” every time we ventured out on trails unknown).  So, instead of back tracking the 4.5 miles we’d gone already, we were able to find a route back to our original groomed path to trek just another 1.5 miles back to the trailhead. Hooray!  That GPS has earned its keep already in my eyes.

Definitely a grand day of adventuring (though I won’t plan to return to that exact same route in the future!)!

& To cap it off, not only did we later head out to spend the evening with a fantastic Johnny Cash cover band — when we returned to our street early evening we had to pause while a Moose and her calf meandered along. (you’ll have to trust us, it was too dark for pictures without putting ourselves in a dangerous position)