Snow is Falling

After being inundated with rain, the Cascade Mountains are now being blanketed in snow. So, what does this mean? It's time to trade your hiking boots in for snow shoes and skies. But unfortunately, many of our favorite winter haunts are currently inaccessible due to recent flood damage. Like Paradise at Rainier for instance (pictured left). The Nisqually entrance (actually all of the park's entrances) is currently closed. Hopefully, if Congressman Norm Dicks, whose district includes the majestic mountain lands himself as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee-he'll be able to wrestle some bacon-I mean funding our way-and fast-so that we can once again enjoy our mountains. In the meantime-pick up the December issue of Outdoors Northwest and read my feature article on snowshoeing in the Pacific Northwest's National parks.