January 1, 0330 hrs

While most of the west coast was likely: a) partying, or b) tossing and turning in a fit-full hungover sleep, I was gathering my snowshoes and headlamp. Warming my hands by the heater vents, I pointed my truck toward Mt Baker for a headlamp snowshoe to Artist Point. I thought about turning around or just sleeping in my truck at the parking lot, but was so glad I didn’t bail.

The alpenglow was soft and the stillness palpable. It was a great way to start off 2016.