I bolted up the trail sans snowshoes as the snow was just a thin layer, sliding only occasionally.  Having never been to the Spur in winter, I was really looking forward to being so close and personal to the mountain during the heart of climbing season.

I quickly passed the Cloud Cap Campground fork and made my way further up the Tilly Jane Ski Trial.  The clouds cleared, the sun shone and I smiled.  This was just what I needed as everything in life fit into place at this very moment.

Shortly before the cabin, the I entered thicker trees and thicker snow.  It was deep enough to warrant caution as it's surface was still frozen. 

I

The cabin appeared and I took a look inside.  It was such a lovely cabin, complete with a warming stove, cooking stove, picnic tables and a lot of room for sleeping.  It also was stocked with a good supply of dry wood.  This was supposed to be a popular cabin, but every time I have come here, I have never seen anyone around.

I passed the cabin and took the Polallie Ridge Trail, eventually bisecting the Timberline Trail.  There was a lot of snow past 4500 feet as I had to don my snowshoes.  It was a chore since I waited too long and kept sinking up to my crotch while trying to put the first shoe on.  Shouts of anger and five minutes got me rolling again.

At the 6600 foot mark, I stopped to rest at the public shelter.  I have never seen it in winter and was not too impressed.  There was a greater amount of snow inside the shelter than there was outside.  I just sat in the snow outside while munching on a Cliff bar and gulping down water.

I rested for about 30 minutes when a group was approaching.  It was a large group.  Some had skis and some, snowshoes.  I thought having skis for the trip down would be fantastic as thoughts of future plans rolled through my head.  Clouds began to roll in as I snapped out of my haze.  Although they were lower in elevation, I did not want to take a chance on having to retreat due to weather.  I shouldered my pack and made the final pitch to the top.

Just past the shelter I was hit hard with wind.  It was strong enough to knock me over without my poles bracing me.  I am not sure the speed, but with years of bicycle racing under my belt, I would estimate 50 mile per hour gusts easy.

I took shelter besides a large boulder to keep from being blown into the Clark Newton Glacier while the other's tried their luck.  I waited for 10 minutes as they asked if they could join me beside the boulder.  "My boulder is your boulder", I said as they all smiled and huddled around. 

A break in the wind brought forth haste as we all made our dash for the top.  We could go no further than the rock shields do to the ridge, before tie in rock, having a knife edge with overhanging cornice.  We snapped pictures and chatted before our retreat.

Since I had one of the slower retreats, I had time to snap some great shots of Mt. Adams, looming high above the clouds in the distance.  The weather was closing in as this did not bother me in the slightest.  I was almost done with my hike as my mission had been accomplished.

I foot plodded my way down effortlessly to the Polallie Ridge trail and took a break.  I was tired, but completely satisfied at my trip today.  It was hard, but will make next week easier in comparison.

I lopped my way back to the truck smiling all the way.  It was around three as two younger guys, wearing small daypacks and snowboards, approached me asking how to get to Cooper Spur.  I thought this rather foolish being there was only one and a half hours of daylight left, but simply pointed the way.  Back at the truck, satisfied, my mind, body and spirit were all completely aligned for next week.

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