snowshoeing is fun and funny

what an ordeal to get up a mountain - but it was definately a chains-four-wheel-drive mountain road and i was happy to be on a big ole bus with chains and an experienced bus driver named lupe (loopy).

snowshoeing was a lot easier than i expected and not very tiring. i enjoyed plowing through fresh snow and enjoying the tall evergreens. the snowshoes were made of metal and synthetics - not the leather and wood i expected. in the snowshoes in fresh snow we sank six to eight inches. the ranger took off his and stepped in well over his knees - so they really work.

it lightly rained the whole time, but i was not cold, and not really bothered by the rain. i had on two long sleeve shirts, a jacket, a vest, and a raincoat, underarmour leggings, pants, and rain pants. my feet were cold and after a while i couldnt feel my toes despite two pairs of socks. there was another lady who also had on sneakers so we commiserated together. but as long as i kept moving then i was alright.

we had a snowshoe race just to see who could run the fastest - though running is not advised in snowshoes. i think i came in third and then faceplanted. getting up was not easy, but i managed. i also enjoyed jumping and playing around in the snowshoes. it was silly and i like snowshoes.

after i got back and could feel my toes, i went on two short hikes to see more of the valley. tomorrow i am off to kings canyon and sequoia national parks to see GIANT trees. there are some sequoias here but they are mostly inaccessible or four mile hikes through unplowed snow. so i am moving on.