International Horizons will be attending the UK Snow Film Fest, we are sponsors at the UK Snow Film Fest. We have some fantastic Ski Apartments in Ukraine for sale prices start from £30,350 in this up and coming ski resort, which is already really popular with the Ukrainians so much so there is not enough accomodation in the area for all the skier & snowboarders. These apartments are located only 400m from the lifts.

If you would like tickets to the event please visit the UK Snow Film Fest webiste.

More about the event:-

As the first of its kind, the UK SNOW FILM FESTIVAL is breaking new ground – this won’t be a conventional, ‘sit still in your seats and clap politely’ film fest. No,  you can expect a festival-like atmosphere, with beer, wine and food throughout the night, as well as various competitions and giveaways. Following the films – which start at 6pm each evening – there will be a banging after-party with big name guest DJs.

Get excited and celebrate the start of a new season with a Two day movie festival of the latest and greatest snow movie productions from across the world.

I had a fairly eventful weekend. Friday night was spent baking up a storm (and washing my cheese grater after several incidents–this, by the way, is why I claim to need a Cuisinart), Saturday was spent celebrating a friend’s birthday (the carrot cake and macaroni & cheese were both well liked [and Coral-free]), and Sunday was spent alternately cleaning the kitchen and nursing a headache. (I wasn’t irresponsible on Saturday night, beyond staying out way too late. But I’m too old to stay out way too late and not pay for it the following day[s].)

In a very Alaskan turn of events, I pulled up in front of my friends’ house on Saturday and was about to get out of the car when I saw a moose! I called them, and they said to pull down into the driveway and come in the back door, which I did. I was not really that far from her, in the driveway, but she didn’t seem particularly upset at me. She kept an eye out, sure, but neither of us felt like we were in any great danger, I guess.

Anyway, Ms. Moose proceeded to stand right in front of the picture window, eating leftover Halloween pumpkins, for the next 20 minutes or so. Pictures were taken; I’ll post them when I have them. It was pretty excellent. And my friends felt validated, since they’d told me moose eat leftover pumpkins, and here I was witnessing it.

She wandered down the street, later, nibbling on the neighbors’ trees.

Alaskan wildlife facts: Moose mating season is in the fall–that’s a bad time to run into a male moose. The calves are born in the spring–anywhere from 1 to 4, though more than 2 is apparently (understandably) uncommon–so the spring is a bad time to run into female moose. One of the local hospitals has problems with moose calves wandering in through their automatic doors, and staff have to kind of herd them back out. Moose bulls drop their horns every year. Besides pumpkins (:)), moose also eat bark in the winter. You can tell how tough a winter it’s been by which kinds of trees are missing bark; some don’t really have any nutrients for a moose, but they’re filling. Moose have long legs so they can stand in muck–marshy areas, high snow, whatever.

In less immediately exciting (to you) news, the PA registration for the Subaru finally came. It’s on its way to me, now, and then I will be able to get Alaskan plates. Maybe I’m imagining that people are giving me space when following in winter: the PA plates have a really similar color scheme to one of the popular AK plates. I keep doing double takes at other cars, thinking “why is anyone else from PA up here?”

I like my iPhone OK–email everywhere is a wondrous thing–though I still hate the lack of keyboard. I’ve been assured that I’ll get over it. Dale’s phone is in Pittsburgh, albeit not with him yet. If you have numbers for either of us that start in 412, they’re only good until the end of the week. And since I haven’t turned my Verizon phone on in almost a week, I guess mine’s really not all that good now. If you call it, my new number is in the message.

Lessons learned: I found out that campus police are wonderful, and Subarus are hard to break into. I started the car and got out to scrape the windows–ironically, it was this weird, unscrapable ice that would have been better removed with the windshield sprayer–and shut the driver’s side door behind me. You see where this is going, but, you might recall, I’d tried to lock myself out (with the spare key in hand), in order to keep the car on and temperate for the birds, during the trip. I’d learned that you can’t lock the door, except with another key. Hitting the door button doesn’t lock it, nor does hitting the “lock” button on the remote. So imagine my surprise when I couldn’t get back into the car, that night. In my panic, I blamed myself, figuring I must have managed to lock myself out, despite knowing that’s impossible. I called campus police (figuring they’d be faster than Subaru roadside assistance), but the officer had a lot of trouble getting the door open. He finally had to use the unlocking tool to force the passenger side window down, so I could unlock and open the passenger side door. Even then, when I’d confirmed the driver’s side door was unlocked, he couldn’t open it from outside. I had to open it with the inside handle. Sadly, there are some scratches on the paint around the frame of the door, and I swear the door edge doesn’t sit quite as flush as it used to. (In the meantime, while all that was happening, I was wearing thin, unsuitable-for-winter shoes, so I had to come home and take a bath, to warm my feet. Dale’s sending me the brown boots I forgot, in this shipment. They’ll look stupid with skirts, but I don’t actually care.)

That car door thing was weird. And unsettling. So I unlock all the doors before I get out to clean the windows, now. Not that I’ve had to, the last couple of days! It’s been a balmy 30+ degrees out! It got above freezing today! Though I keep hearing rumors of rain/snow mix tonight; we’ll see.

I’ve got some pictures on the camera; I’ll do another post soon with those–and hopefully Ms. Moose’s picture, as well! I’ve got some Thanksgiving plans, which is nice. And it’s a short work week, which is also nice. (I like my job, yes, but I also like not going to it, from time to time. Nothing wrong with that. )

I’m halfway through my bottle of beer (Alaskan Oatmeal Stout–not a bad brew), so I’d best stop writing now, while I’m ahead. And start drinking faster–it’s almost 11!

“As I am an honest Puck… goodnight unto you all.”

Xmas landscape card in 2 slightly different designs, with snowflakes, reindeer, pine trees,… and merry christmas lettered on christmass balls.  See download links further this post. Useful as greetings, announcement or invitation card. Have fun using!

It’s a good weekend when you can say that you went both mountain biking and snowboarding. But that’s just how we shred the gnar hard in Western Washington. That is, when it decides only to mist one day in the lower elevations, and then dump pounds of snowflakes in the higher-ups, the next.

After taking what might haven been my last ride of the season the SX Trail at Tokul with Billy and crew, I made a solo mission up to Snoqualmie Central on Sunday to slash my first tracks of the snow season. The Cascades have been pummeled with storms for weeks now: Baker has a 100-inch base; Snoqualmie’s is growing at 42 inches. And Alpental opens Friday–thank god. This little bird will be set free to fly in her natural habitat. It’s a special bond you share with a mountain. I know if I begin to describe, the innuendos will be unavoidable. But anyone who’s spent time exploring the intricacies of mountain’s form–the pleasing surface aspects, the arousing surprises and intoxicating secrets–knows the intimate connection one can feel to their home hill.

Northwest cement (wet, heavy, sticky packed powder that separates a hardened Northwest rider from his brethren in sunnier such places). I forgot how hard it works the legs, the entire body. The moisture laden atmosphere seeping into the mountain was heavy at Snoqualmie. The trees heaved under the weight of thick wet snow. The powder on the runs captured passers-by with sticky affection. But amid it all, I fell in love all over again with my sport. With flat light and very low visibility, and being unfamiliar with Central’s terrain–Alpental being my one-true–my first run took me through a steep channel of high moguls, sweetened by soft pow in the trees and then slick fast groomers down to the new Silver Fur quad.

Ghostly shapes marked the scene Sunday–a haunting preview of snowboarding in the Northwest. The intense conditions for this unusually early start to the season seemed determined to weed out those not prepared to get intimate with these mountains. It was beautiful.

Twas a weekend of woods, tracks, trails and pow–all fashioned Northwest-style. My passions were obliged…for the moment.

Wednesday 4th March 2009 00:19am Lion and Lamb Walk

We had some very heavy snow for about a week then. The University was closed for many days giving us almost a whole week off to play around in the snow. After having a very warm day inside me and Arron thought lets go out and take some photos. We were out for a good couple hours as it kept coming down around us.

Bring on next year!

D

It’s quite ironic, but I couldn’t seem to get this piece published anywhere. 

Now I know what you’re thinking – oh wow! A struggling writer turns to a blog to get her work into public discourse, the ingenuity! But give me a break, Im only 19.

Anyway, here you go – the piece no-one wanted. Let the blogging begin.

Australia’s got cold feet

Citius Altius Fortius – you know, faster, higher, stronger; it’s the Olympic motto. We all learn it in primary school, and every four years even the most inactive of Australians cannot help but be entrapped by it. Sitting in our front-row armchair seats, we cheer on our nation’s athletes to victory in distant lands. You have to love that kind of patriotism – well for the Summer Olympics anyway. See; add that white sheath of precipitation and suddenly, most of us lose interest.

12/02/2010- it’s the day that the 21^st Winter Olympiad begins in Vancouver, Canada. And before you ask, yes, I am counting down. Whilst my enthusiasm is clearly an extremity, it concerns me that no-one else in this country seems to display even the slightest bit of excitement for this upcoming cultural festivity! Quite simply – our nation has no care for the Winter Olympics.

Sure, everybody knows about ‘that guy’ who managed Australia’s first gold medal after his competitors conveniently stacked it on the finish line (Steven Bradbury, men’s 1000m short track speed skating, Salt Lake City, U.S.A 2002). Perhaps for some, the name Alisa Camplin will also ring a bell for her success in the same year (if not for her skiing, then the follow up ‘Extra’ gum commercials should do it). But do you know who Zali Steggall is? How can it be that such a self-confessed sport-fanatic nation loses all momentum for the highest of competitive forums – the Olympics?

The answer is actually pretty obvious – a clear lack of success, most of our country consists of desert and the highest Australian mountain does not allow for sufficient training facilities. Do not let this fool you, the Winter Games are undervalued. It is my intention to convert the masses. From this very moment, I urge you to jump on board the Vancouver bobsled. Channel our Jamaican friends from Cool Runnings (1993) and “feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme”, come on now – it’s winter time!

At this point, you may be questioning my unusual infatuation for this spectacle. It’s just snow, right? Well, I like to think of the Winter Olympics as being similar to Eurovision – an unconventionally entertaining geography lesson, which sometimes gives you the giggles, and sometimes makes you nod your head in approval. For me, the interest began back in 1998. Although I was only in Grade Two at the time, every night I would sit up with Sandy Roberts and Gary Wilkinson in Nagano, Japan, and be bewildered by disciplines I didn’t know to be humanly possible, set against the bright image of an arctic landscape. Bit of a romanticised reflection, but I’d never seen snow before and additionally hooked by the Olympic hype being generated for the then upcoming 2000 Sydney games, I was an instant fan.

 t is in our nature, as a modern Pacific island, to mock these sporting cultural norms of our foreign counterparts, and one would assume that this unfamiliarity is a key reason behind disinterest. Yet, it is for this same disparity that I believe we should embrace the Games with curiosity. Until 2006, I had never been skiing. Even then, I was frequently passed by French toddlers, as I struggled to just remain upright for more than five minutes! My point is, alpine sports are not intrinsic to Australian people (nor a natural skill) and for two weeks once every four years, it provides a great contrast to observe winter experts at their (and the summit’s) peak.

Let me give you a bit of context – the first ‘official’ Winter Olympiad took place in 1924 in Chamonix, France. Technically, it was not recognised until a year later, and at the time was celebrated as “International Winter Sports Week” (see – undervalued!). This, however, was not the first infiltration of icy events to the games. 1908 saw the inclusion of figure skating in the London program, and the 1920 Antwerp competition added Ice Hockey to this list, for which, unsurprisingly the first gold was awarded to Canada. Whilst we now expect that the Summer and Winter Games alternate every two years, this ruling was not stipulated by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) until 1986. Prior to this, the Olympic Charter had declared both competitive forms to be held in the same year. With the exception of St. Moritz (1948), Australia has participated in each Olympiad since 1936.

Like any sporting festival, the Winter Olympics have not been without intriguing highlights. Forget Steven Bradbury, in the 1994 Lillehammer (Norway) games, the final of the men’s 1000m short track speed skating, finished with the awarding of just two medals; going to Koreans who remained standing after an extreme amount of disqualifications and falls.

Skiing, skating and bobsledding have long provided the platform for the Winter Olympic program, but in recent times there are a few other unique sports which, in essence, only give you more incentive to switch into Vancouver this February. Snowboarding sees the ‘cool kids’ of the snow come out to play. Australian, Torah Bright finished 5^th in Torino (2006), but will use her goofy stance to start as a real medal hope next year, having won 6 of the last 8 major titles she has competed in. The need for speed is intense on the luge (feet first) and skeleton (head first) tracks, where tenths of a second can be the difference between finishing on the podium and finishing last. Did you know that the biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle shooting? But nothing can compare to the inevitable marvel at the sport of curling. Using a large broom (that’s its official name), competitors move large stones down the ice, in a lawn bowls-like attempt to get it as close to the centre of their team’s ring as possible. My friends, this stuff is gold!

It was always my intention to go to the 2010 Vancouver games. However, thanks to the fact I didn’t win Tattslotto’s $90mil (or rather, my inability to save), this dream won’t be. But you can join me in generating the Olympic spirit here in Australia! Get ready to befriend Miga, Quatchi and Sumi (the Olympic mascots) in Canada, and sit back for some better late-night viewing than Gunthy-Renker home shopping (the time difference will most likely see the broadcast in such hours).

Oh and by the way, Zali Steggall took home Australia’s first ever individual winter medal, earning herself a bronze in the Women’s Alpine Skiing Slalom; fittingly, in 1998 at Nagano.

I made this video last season, nothing too fancy but at the moment it’s all I have to remind my senses of the snow!

Admit, the video is a bit elementary. This Winter while working for the Marketing and Ski School Directors at Mad River Glen, hope to reveal some improved video work and maybe sneak in some refined tele twirls while I’m at it!

Think Snow! Please!

This is why I LOVE ANIMALS!

A wildlife photographer who was on hand to take photos of a bunch of huskies in Canada was able to capture an encounter between a husky and a polar bear. What at first looked like was going to be bloodshed, the two cuties became friends! Click on the article to see more pics!

Also, there is a video accompaniment and it is so ADORABLE (if you like this kind of stuff)

This is a little card painting of a Snow Leopard. This is probably a huge fav of mine, it came out beautifully.

Snow Leopard

There are still more to come…

There was a nip in the air today, one that I would swear is snow is on the horizon. Not quite yet, as the forecast  has rain but not snow. Yet. Coming from much further north I am getting itchy that the weather is far too warm for this time of year. I can’t wait to have a blizzard coming, to know that school will certainly be canceled and that all my loved ones will be safe and snug in the house. Stew will be simmering and perhaps a loaf of gf bread will be in the oven. Or chocolate chip cookies.

This is the view from my window as I work at my computer in my office. I hope this winter is not a repeat of last. When once the excitement of a rare snow day gave way to so many that we actually got tired of them. That is like getting tired of good chocolate! The ice storm of Dec 11 was a freak thing that knocked out power in some places for weeks. We only lost it for three and a half days but that was long enough. Our town had 10 days of school missed because our middle schools were the town shelters for those still without power. Once the sun came out and started melting the ice, thing turned gorgeous but still dangerous. The tips of the icicles started dripping off the tops of the trees below and the sound of falling ice was everwhere. Hopefully this was a once in a lifetime event.

Getting ready for snow is fun. Let the flakes come soon!

     Flood! Flood! Flood is everywhere!

     Because of the previous storm sweeping all across the UK, several regions of the country suffered from severe flood.In Cumbria, conditions were especially serious: residents suddenly became homeless, bridge collapsed, and a policeman even died on eve of his birthday while he was leading the stuck traffic on the collapsing bridge.

     It’s hard to imagine that there are such heavy rains and storms during winter time. Back in my country, floods only happen during the summer, and as far as I can remember, ever since the most severe flood happened in 1997, I can hear relavent news at the same time every year. Maybe it was because of the global warming, the weather is becoming abnormal. Normally there won’t be snow in my country until January or February, but this year, even as early as November, there has already snowed, and the weather turned to be very very cold, which was, rarely seen.

     There are several Hollywood movies warning people what would happen if we just let the climate be as it liked. People usually get shocked when they see the movies, but forget it soon as the film is over. I don’t think the doomsday is coming as what “2012″  suggests, but if we human beings still don’t do something to stop the tendency, it’s not impossible that humankind will really face our own destiny somewhere near the year 2012.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”……It definitely is! Before you can even celebrate Thanksgiving, you’re preparing for Christmas. The gifts, the decorations, the cookies: all of it just puts you in the holiday spirit. People all over celebrate Christmas in different ways with their families. It’s a time for happiness and peace, and a time just to be together with the ones you love. For some, Christmas is one of the most special and anticipated days of the year. And being a fan of Christmas myself, I just love everything about it! So I’ve decided to write this blog for my other Christmas fans as well.

In this blog you will find Holiday themed questions, with responses from my viewers (and myself!), recipes, gift ideas, tips, recommendations and much more! This is the Ultimate Holiday Blog!

Christmas Questions

1. What do you love most about Christmas?

Irishclover7: I love the decorations and the music most. Both of those just scream Christmas for me. Course, I do love the food too. Its like a second Thanksgiving!

Natalieallan: The country being on shutdown, there’s nothing nicer when you live in the city to get a break from the constant traffic night and day. The shops are shut and you get to relax

Rychesgirl: Spending quality time with friends and family

Suzanne: When it’s over (lol) the kid’s excitement 

KittenQueercat: The holiday spirit, the give-away ceremonies, decorating my tree in a different theme each year, the cold weather, listening to my xmas mixtape(http://www.imeem.com/people/sww0PLJ/playlist/QhiayGcK/merry-xmas-music-playlist/), making presents, cookies, and, I’m not gonna lie, getting presents, the lights, the decorations, the ancient holiday of Yule… 

Kaisa:  Hard to say, maybe the Christmas spirit when everybody get together. Christmas holiday is a good thing too and the movies that come from tv

2. What is the Best or Worst Christmas gift you have ever gotten?

Irishclover7: Not sure about the worst Christmas gift. I guess when I was younger the worst Christmas gift would have been clothes, but now I ask for clothes for Christmas. The best Christmas gift, would probably have to be my electric scooter. I loved riding that thing!

Natalieallan: Best present = a kitten, worst present = a bible (donated it to the local Christian book store)

Rychesgirl: Best gift was a digital camera, worst gift was childish gifts from my Aunts. 

Suzanne: Nothing I can honestly remember 

KittenQueercat: The best present I have ever received is my laptop! Thanks, mom!  The worst would have to be one year where I got nothing but a blanket, but I’m not ungrateful.  It’s my favorite warm blanket ever with a deer on it and way better than coal…

Kaisa:  Once I got these ”dry leaves” that are supposed to smell good (it was from a friend). I had no idea what to do with them. After keeping them in my closet I threw them away. The best gift is probably the cellphone I got two years ago or then the theater tickets I got last year.

3. What are your favorite memories of Christmas?

Irishclover7: My favorite memories of Christmas is the part when I get up real early and look around at all the presents sitting around and the tree all lit up. Then I’d take down my stocking and open it, while Christmas music played in the background.

Natalieallan: Being little and the youngest in my family, I’d get spoiled rotten. My mother always chose the best presents and it would be fun. Don’t get spoiled so much now…

Rychesgirl: Having the whole family over for Dinner. We had a packed house that day. 

Suzanne: Waking up early Christmas morning when I was a little girl and all the presents

KittenQueercat: Being a little kid and waking up Christmas morning, decorating a Heaven and Hell themed tree one year with white lights and angels on the top and red lights and ozzy osbourne ornaments on the bottom, sharing my first christmas with a boyfriend I love, and the year I had tons of money and got everyone in my family alot of great presents!

Kaisa:  My first Christmas I remember was probably the best. I still believed in Santa Claus and his little helpers. When Santa came to the house (in Finland we celebrate Christmas in Christmas eve, the Santa comes in the afternoon, gives the gifts and goes to other house), I scared him so much that I ran to my room and went under the bed. I got many gifts and I was so happy

4. What Christmas songs or movies do you love the most?

Irishclover7: My favorite Christmas songs would have to be “O, Holy Night!”, and “Have a Holly Jolly Christmas”. I love those songs. And my favorite movies would be all of the Rankin Bass, animation movies, (plus all the songs from those too!). I also like Elf with Will Ferrell, and the Santa Clause series with Tim Allen.

Argelmatta: Home Alone, definitely!!! and Skipping Xmas.

 Natalieallan: I love the home alone movies, they’re great. We tend to get a lot of crap like Mary Poppins here in the UK. Songs, I like all the rock n roll stuff like Slade and the Darkness. Wizard is good too.

Rychesgirl: Fave movie “The Santa Clause” 

Suzanne: A Christmas Story (classic love it), Frosty the snow man, I saw momma kissing Santa clause, and the chipmunk one (the hula hoop gets me every time) 

KittenQueercat: For songs, see the above mix.  My favorite christmas movie….hmm, that would have to be The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood starring a young Liza Minelli. 

Kaisa:  I almost hate Christmas songs these days because they get stuck in my head. But the one where they sing like silent night, holy night, …. you know? That’s pretty beautiful song. I like all Christmas, no favourite.

5. What are your favorite Christmas recipes, or cookie recipes?

Irishclover7: I love most all of it! I love to make decorated sugar cookies for Christmas, and I also love the Spinach Dip. And you cant forget the Farm Store egg nog, yum!

Natalieallan: Yule log, Christmas cake, and orange and cranberry muffins. I also like to cook venison and Christmas and making those chocolate coin things you hang on the tree is fun. I’m a big foodie so I tend to cook buffets rather than set meals. There’s nothing better than making your own mulled wine too.

Rychesgirl: Chocolate Chip Cookies, & Lasagna. I make a mean one. 

Suzanne: my mother’s peanut butter fudge or her spice bread yummy!! 

KittenQueercat: Gingerbread house and sugar cookies with hot chocolate.  White fudge with peppermint pieces.  

Kaisa: Often in Christmas we eat potatoes with this really good meat sauce (my mom’s own recipe) and then some salad, boiled eggs, this good cheese, carrot and rutabaga casserole. Nothing special really. Oh, of course we have those traditional cookies and mince pies.

Ah, Santa Clause. The big man with a white beard and a red suit, who rides through the night in his sleigh pulled by reindeer and delivers presents to all the good little boys and girls. What a man he is, to be able to pull all that off within 24 hours. Lucky for him he only works one night a year. His elves however work the whole year, making tons of gifts for the children.

The story of Santa Clause has been around for years, and each country has their own version. And though some people may not believe in Santa anymore, you can believe that there was a real Santa. Yes, he did exist. Maybe not in the way your story books describe him, but there was a man who delivered gifts, as I recall, a Saint Nicholas. Of course we know that the original Santa never wore a red suit, nor had elves and reindeer, but over the centuries, we’ve adapted our own version of Jolly ol’ Saint Nick. And while Santa is a popular product of our imagination, and our way of commercializing Christmas, we must remember what the holiday is really about: the birth of Jesus. And if you believe otherwise, then so be it. Yes, Santa, and presents, decorations, and lights, all symbolize Christmas today, but without Christ, there would be no CHRISTmas.

Santa and the Northpole

The history of Christmas

Christmas Around the World

Celebrate Christmas with Santa

Santa’s Village

Official NORAD Santa Tracker

Christmas dinner it seems is one of the most anticipated things next to opening the presents on Christmas morning. Families gather round at a table to enjoy home cooked food of all sorts! And of course, what could be better than the desert?! Cookies, pies, puddings, oh my! And who wouldnt want to cozy up next to a warm fire with some hot cocoa or eggnog? Well as you’re getting for the holiday season, I’ve picked out a few recipes you might enjoy. Try em out !

~Sugar Cookie Recipe # 1~

Cookies:
3 cups flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup soft butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
3 tbsp cream
1 tsp vanilla (can substitute almond extract)

Icing
1/3 cup Crisco (transfat-free) or a 1/3 cup of softened butter
1 pound of confectioners sugar
About 1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon of vanilla

Method

1 Sift dry ingredients (use a real sifter), cut in butter and add other ingredients. Blend thoroughly; chill for several hours.

2 Break off a piece of dough the size of an orange and pat it flat in your hand. Using a rolling pin, roll on dough on floured board (best to use a 2/1 ration of flour/sugar – 4 Tbsp flour mixed with 2 Tbsp sugar) or between wax paper. (It helps if you flour both sides of the dough.) Roll out to about a 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out and put on silpat-lined or ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 5-8 minutes at 400 F. Remove the cookies from the oven as soon as you see them turning color at the base of the cookie. Let cool completely.

3 Mix icing ingredients together until smooth. Separate into different bowls, add food coloring to achieve various colors. Spread on cookies with a butter knife, use cake decorating piping equipment to add decorative accents. If you want the sprinkle type decorating candies to stick, brush the cookie with clear Karo syrup and then sprinkle.

Makes 5 dozen cookies.

Adapted from the recipe for Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies, Huntsville Heritage Cookbook, 1967, The Junior League of Huntsville, AL, Lowry Printing, Inc.

~Sugar Cookie Recipe # 2~ 

Cookie:
1 1/2 cups sifted confectioners sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 1/2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cream of tartar

Icing:
2 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 cup milk
Food coloring

1. Cream butter for 2 minutes, add sugar and beat for an additional 2 minutes. Add egg, vanilla and almond extract, beat until light and fluffy. Combine dry ingredients and add to batter, stirring to blend.

2. Divide dough in half, form 2 balls. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

3. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough (about 1/2 of one dough ball at a time) on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8″ thickness. Dip cookie cutters into flour; cut out shapes. Place cookies on silpat lined or lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375°F for 7-8 minutes.

4 To make icing, combine sugar, almond extract and just enough milk (about 1/4 cup) to make the frosting the consistency of thin glue. Pour icing into shallow bowls wide enough for dipping cookies. Add food coloring.

5 To decorate, dip the topside of each cookie into the icing. Remove quickly and let icing drip of excess back into the icing bowl. Let dry. Pour additional colored frosting into pastry piping, or use a plastic sandwich bag with the tip of one corner nicked off. Gently squeeze frosting on to cookies in whatever patterns you choose.

Makes 2-3 dozen.

~Amazingly Good Eggnog~

Ingredients

• 4 cups milk
• 5 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 12 egg yolks
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 1/2 cups light rum
• 4 cups light cream
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Combine milk, cloves, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and cinnamon in a saucepan, and heat over lowest setting for 5 minutes. Slowly bring milk mixture to a boil.
2. In a large bowl, combine egg yolks and sugar. Whisk together until fluffy. Whisk hot milk mixture slowly into the eggs. Pour mixture into saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 3 minutes, or until thick. Do not allow mixture to boil. Strain to remove cloves, and let cool for about an hour.
3. Stir in rum, cream, 2 teaspoon vanilla, and nutmeg. Refrigerate overnight before serving.

~Classic Gingerbread Cutouts~

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2/3 cup molasses
• 2 eggs
• 4 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
•  
• 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 3 egg whites

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the molasses and eggs. Combine 1 1/2 cups of the flour, baking soda, salt, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger; beat into the molasses mixture. Gradually stir in the remaining flour by hand to form a stiff dough.
3. Divide dough into 2 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Place cookies 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.
4. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.
5. In a medium bowl, sift together confectioners’ sugar and cream of tartar. Blend in egg whites. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat for about 5 minutes, or until mixture is thick and stiff. Keep covered with a moist cloth until ready to frost cookies.

~Remarkable Fudge~

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 (7 ounce) jar marshmallow creme
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups evaporated milk
• 4 cups white sugar

Directions

1. Line a 13×9 inch baking dish with foil and butter the foil.
2. In the top half of a double boiler combine the butter or margarine, evaporated milk and sugar. Cook on medium heat for 12 minutes or until it reaches a temperature of 236 degrees F (112 degrees C). Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate chips, vanilla and marshmallow creme. Stir until chocolate chips melt then mix in the chopped walnuts. Spread mixture into the prepared pan. Score into squares while still warm. Refrigerate until firm then cut along the scored lines.

~Candy Cane Fudge~

Ingredients

• 2 (10 ounce) packages vanilla baking chips
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 1 1/2 cups crushed candy canes
• 1 dash red or green food coloring

Directions

1. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with aluminum foil, and grease the foil.
2. Combine the vanilla chips and sweetened condensed milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir frequently until almost melted, remove from heat and continue to stir until smooth. When chips are completely melted, stir in the peppermint extract, food coloring, and candy canes.
3. Spread evenly in the bottom of the prepared pan. Chill for 2 hours, then cut into squares.

~Spinach Dip with Water Chestnuts~

Ingredients

• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 envelope dry vegetable soup mix
• 1 (8 ounce) can water chestnuts, drained and chopped
• 3 green onions, chopped

Directions

•   In a medium bowl, mix together spinach, sour cream, mayonnaise, dry vegetable soup mix, water chestnuts and green onions. Cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 2 hours before serving.

~Creamy Hot Cocoa~

Ingredients

• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/3 cup boiling water
• 3 1/2 cups milk
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup half-and-half cream

Directions 

1. Combine the cocoa, sugar and pinch of salt in a saucepan. Blend in the boiling water. Bring this mixture to an easy boil while you stir. Simmer and stir for about 2 minutes. Watch that it doesn’t scorch. Stir in 3 1/2 cups of milk and heat until very hot, but do not boil! Remove from heat and add vanilla. Divide between 4 mugs. Add the cream to the mugs of cocoa to cool it to drinking temperature.

 Kaboose Christmas Crafts and Recipes

Christmas on MarthaStewart.com

Christmas Recipes 

 Now on to Christmas shopping! Probably everyone’s favorite part of the season, right? Well maybe not. For some its exciting and for others its just a drag. And many get it done early to avoid the Christmas rush. Many years Christmas shopping (like the day after Thanksgiving) has proven to be quite deadly. Sad to see that many will  trample over other people for a sale. Which is more important: your life, or that HD TV? But anywho! Lets not bring sadness into the holiday season. Lets enjoy the holidays and enjoy a very simple shopping trip as well. Use these links to help you find deals on your Christmas presents this year!

Guide to best day after Christmas sales online

Christmas shopping without the hassle!

Christmas Cards at Hallmark

Bronner’s Christmas Ornaments

 Now, another part of the holidays is the travel. People all over travel to their parent’s houses, or to their friend’s or sibling’s houses to celebrate Christmas. And you know, during the holidays hotels will be packed, and the roads will be full of traffic jams. Just wonderful isnt it? Thats when you turn up “Jingle Bells” really loud, and have a party right in your car! Kidding of course. If you didnt know, some fun places in America are all about Christmas, and even have Christmas themed names, like Santa Clause or yes, even, Christmas. You could skip the Christmas dinner with your family (although Im sure you wouldnt), or maybe even invite your family, to some of these unique holiday destinations. And when we say holiday, we really mean it! But book early, hotel rooms go fast!

Santa Claus Museum

Christmas City, Bethlehem PA

Fort Christmas, Christmas Florida

Holiday World, Santa Claus Indiana

Santa’s Lodge, Santa Claus Indiana

Smoky Mountain Winterfest

Jingle Bell Parks

 Top Ten Christmas Light Shows

 Sleigh Ride Locations

 ”Oh, Christmas tree, oh, Christmas tree, how lovely are your branches…”

Ah….dont you just love the smell of Christmas trees? I do! Its one of my favorite smells of the holidays. The fun of picking out your Christmas tree, taking it home, and decorating is, is what really brings back ol’ memories. Its something the whole family can be involved in. And I know little kids love to put the decorations on the tree, including the ones they’ve made themselves! Whether you go to your nearest Home Depot or Walmart, or to an actual tree farm, picking out your Christmas tree is a very special moment. Here are a few Christmas Tree links, to find your own Christmas tree this year, or to join the National Christmas Tree Association.

National Christmas Tree Association

Pick Your Own Christmas Tree

 Who doesnt love Christmas Carols?? I mean, you cant have a Christmas holiday without singing them, or turning the radio up real loud. It just wouldnt be Christmas without good ol’ Burl Ives, Elvis, Bing Crosby, and all the rest! So I’ve put the lyrics to some of my favorite Christmas Carols right here for ya! You can find more with the link below, or download them from Walmart, itunes, or Amazon.com.

~Carol of the Bells~

Hark! How the bells
Sweet silver bells
All seem to say,
“Throw cares away.”
Christmas is here
Bringing good cheer
To young and old
Meek and the bold

Ding, dong, ding, dong
That is their song
With joyful ring
All caroling
One seems to hear
Words of good cheer
From everywhere
Filling the air

Oh how they pound,
Raising the sound,
O’er hill and dale,
Telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
While people sing
Songs of good cheer
Christmas is here
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas

On, on they send
On without end
Their joyful tone
To every home

(repeat from the beginning)

Ding, dong, ding, dong.

~Oh Holy Night~

Oh holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! 

Fall on your knees
Oh hear the angel voices
Oh night divine
Oh night when Christ was born
Oh night divine
Oh night divine

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the wise men from Orient land
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend.

Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

~Here Comes Santa Claus~

Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
are pulling on the reins.
Bells are ringing, children singing;
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your prayers,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus!
Here comes Santa Claus!
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
He’s got a bag that is filled with toys
for the boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
What a beautiful sight.
Jump in bed, cover up your head,
‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

~Up On The Housetop~

Up on the housetop reindeer pause
Out jumps good old Santa Clause
Down thru the chimney with lots of toys
All for the little ones
Christmas joys.

Chorus

Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Ho, ho, ho!
Who wouldn’t go!
Up on the housetop
Click, click, click
Down thru the chimney with
Good Saint Nick

First comes the stocking
Of little Nell
Oh, dear Santa
Fill it well
Give her a dolly
That laughs and cries
One that will open
And shut her eyes

Repeat Chorus

Next comes the stocking
Of little Will
Oh, just see what
A glorious fill
Here is a hammer
And lots of tacks
Also a ball
And a whip that cracks

Repeat Chorus

~Rocking Around the Christmas Tree~

Rocking around the Christmas tree
At the Christmas party hop
Mistletoe hung where you can see
Every couple tries to stop.

Rocking around the Christmas tree,
Let the Christmas spirit ring
Later we’ll have some pumpkin pie
And we’ll do some caroling.

You will get a sentimental
Feeling when you hear
Voices singing let’s be jolly,
Deck the halls with boughs of holly.

Rocking around the Christmas tree,
Have a happy holiday
Everyone dancing merrily
In the new old-fashioned way.

~Silver Bells~

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style.
In the air
There’s a feeling
of Christmas.

Children laughing
People passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you’ll hear,

Silver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city.
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing.
Soon it will be Christmas day.

Strings of street lights
Even stop lights
Blink a bright red and green
As the shoppers rush
Home with their treasures.

Hear the snow crunch.
See the kids bunch.
This is Santa’s big scene.
And above all this bustle
You’ll hear,

Silver bells, silver bells
It’s Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them sing
Soon it will be Christmas day.

~Buon Natale~

Buon Natale, means Merry Christmas to you
Buon Natale, to everyone
Happy New Year and lots of fun
Buon Natale may all your wishes come true
Buon Natale in Italy means
A Merry Christmas to you
Far away across the sea
In sunny Italy
There’s a quaint little town
Not a clock has been wound
For over a century
They don’t know the time or year
And no one seems to care
And this is the reason
The Christmas season
Is celebrated all year
Buon Natale, means Merry Christmas to you
Buon Natale, to everyone
Happy New Year and lots of fun
Buon Natale may all your wishes come true
Buon Natale in Italy means
A Merry Christmas to you

~Have a Holly Jolly Christmas~

Have a holly jolly Christmas
It’s the best time of the year
Well
I don’t know if there’ll be snow
But have a cup of cheer

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet

Ho ho the mistletoe
Hung where you can see
Somebody waits for you
Kiss her once for me

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh, by golly
Have a holly jolly Christmas
This year

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And when you walk down the street
Say hello to friends you know
And everyone you meet

Have a holly jolly Christmas
And in case you didn’t hear
Oh, by golly
Have a holly jolly Christmas
This year

~Blue Christmas~

I’ll have a Blue Christmas without you
I’ll be so blue thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same, if you’re not here with me

And when those blue snowflakes start fallin’
And when those blue melodies start callin’
You’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white,
But I’ll have a blue Christmas with out you.

Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same, if you’re not here with me
I’ll have a Blue Christmas that’s certain
And when that blue heartache starts hurtin’
You’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white,
But I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas

~Peace on Earth / Little Drummer Boy~

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum

Come they told me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
A new-born king to see pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Our finest gifts we bring pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
to lay before the king pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
so to honour him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
when we come

Little baby pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I stood beside him there pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my drum for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
I played my best for him pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
Rum-pum-pum-pum, rum-pum-pum-pum
And he smiled at me pa-rum-pum-pum-pum
me and my drum

Peace on Earth, can it be
Years from now, perhaps we’ll see
See the day of glory
See the day, when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Every child must be made aware
Every child must be made to care
Care enough for his fellow man
To give all the love that he can

I pray my wish will come true
For my child and your child too
He’ll see the day of glory
See the day when men of good will
Live in peace, live in peace again

Peace on Earth, can it be
Can it be

Christmas Songs and Lyrics

Let it snow! Let it Snow! Let it snow!  Snow is quite a wonderful sight to see during the Holidays. I myself have never seen snow, but I can imagine how wonderful it is. For those who live up north where it seems to be always snowing, they proabably feel differently than I do, and they’re probably wishing they lived down here in the South. But for some of us who cant get up north to see the white delight, we can surely have close-to-the-real-thing right in our own home or backyards! And Im not talking about that cheap snow, Im talking about cold, wet, instant snow! I found this online and I just love it. Its reusable, so all you have to do is re-wet it when you want to use it again. And it feels just like real snow. Your kids will deffinitely enjoy this! Use it in the house, outside, for crafts, or decorations, or for whatever else comes to mind. You can even create little packs of snow to give as gifts. And hey, with enough of it, you can even build your very own snowman.

Snow Wonder –Instant snow!

One of my favorite things to do during the holidays is watch Christmas movies. And I have a lot of favorites! And Im sure you have plenty of favorites as well, that you like to share with your family. So I decided to make a list of the top ten Christmas movies I love, that I think you’d love too (if you havent already seen it!), and maybe you can find a movie to watch this year with your loved ones.

***

10. Charlie Brown Christmas – Who doesn’t love the classics? Charlie Brown is a big classic for any holiday, and Christmas especially. It’s a movie for the kids, and the adults, and it’s a nice little movie to warm your heart.

9. Christmas Vacation – Hilarious! Maybe not for children, but definitely one for teens and adults! Chevy Chase is so funny in this movie, and you’ll still be cracking up even after it’s over. In fact, I wonder if most families come close to these nut-cases during the holidays!

8. Santa Claus is Coming to Town – A Rankin/ Bass classic. You just gotta love Fred Astaire in this one. Plus several of the songs are catchy. Although not the actual story of Santa Clause, I still love this movie.

7. Snow Dogs – Cuba Gooding did a great job in this one, as a dentist who goes to Alaska after his mother dies, and finds out his father is white. The dogs are cute, and so is the story. It’s a great family movie.

6. The Grinch – I prefer the one with Jim Carrey to the cartoon. You just can’t beat Jim’s hideous touch to the wonderful character. It’s more lively and colorful compared to the cartoon version, and you laugh! You can’t laugh to anything in the cartoon, which makes this movie a big Christmas hit in my book!

5. Snow 1 and 2 – This aired on ABC Family. It’s an ABC Family original I believe, and you can buy this on DVD at Amazon, and probably from ABC’s website. Both movies are wonderful!!!!! I absolutely love the idea in this movie, and it really does make the holidays even better. Great movie to watch!!

4. The Polar Express – I was a little hesitant before watching this movie. It didn’t seem to interest me very much. Then I watched it and was a little confused. But after watching it again, I actually found that I love it! The message it sends is perfect for those little non-believers, and it does make you want to believe again. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that Tom Hanks plays a majority of the characters.

3. The Christmas Story – A CLASSIC!!! How can you compare to the leg lamp, or the tongue stuck to the pole routine? If this movie doesn’t make you bust out laughing then nothing can! You can’t get anymore Christmas that this folks.

2. Elf – I am a big, big, big, fan of Will Ferrell. He’s hilarious in most everything he does. And this movie was a chance to see a more playful and less vulgar side of Will. Its perfect for kids and families all over, and it does give you several laughs. It’s a great movie to watch.

1. The Year without a Santa Claus – Now to my all time favorite! I love Rankin/ Bass movies, but this one tops the charts. I love every song in this movie and every time I watch it, I sing along. Plus I just love the Miser Brothers!! (I’m more partial to Snow Miser myself). It’s just a cute little movie. And kids will love it too.

Uh oh!!! I almost forgot one! I dont know how I missed these movies, because I love these more than any of them combined! The Santa Clause series! Never, has Tim Allen ever done a more superb job in a movie. These three movies are fantastic, funny, charming, delightful, and magical!! A must must see for everyone!!

Top 25 Christmas Movies of all Time

Lets not forget the children this holiday season! Find Jokes, Coloring pages, e-cards, and more with the links below. Plus, learn how to say “Merry Christmas” in 123 languages around the world.

All things Christmas!

Christmas Coloring Pages

Christmas Jokes

Merry Christmas in 123 languages 

And make your child’s holiday even more memorable with a letter or phone call straight from santa himself!  Find different packages and different rates using the website below.

Get a letter or phone call from Santa

Well thanks for checking out my Ultimate Holiday Blog! If you want to comment or add more links, please feel free to do so below! Thanks bunches! Dont forget to bookmark this blog post, forward it, or tweet it!

Yes, it’s that time of year again when hopefully we might get a dusting of snow on the hills. There has already been a dusting on the Cairngorms and the forecast is looking quite promising for the west this weekend. Which would be very well timed as we are heading north to stay at the Corran Bunkhouse with a crowd from scottishhills.com!

Of course that’s if I survive watching the Tigers play Everton on Wednesday night…I’m not sure my heart can cope with another game like Saturday’s 3-3 draw with West Ham! Still that’s us up the fifth from bottom!

The Amsoil Duluth National at Spirit Mountain scheduled for this weekend have been rescheduled for December 11-13 due to unseasonably warm temps.

On a totally different note we just received this awesome ad from one of our riders overseas. Straight from Sweden! Sweet.

With beautiful fall weather and sun. Yes, I said sun. It seems that Stowe will have to push back it’s opening until some more winter like conditions. Until then we rely on a little of that ice rink snow as we hear from out friends out West of their 32 days on snow. Ouch!

When I was a kid, growing up in southern New England, we would take vacations “up north” and visit New Hampshire.  Naturally, this led to ascents of windswept Mount Washington – the most respected peak in the northeast.  At 6,288 feet, this is in fact the highest mountain in New England.

But this blog post is about a different Mount Washington, one that’s a bit smaller, but more of a foothill than a singular peak.  Along the western front of the Cascade Range in Washington state is another Mount Washington.  Ours is a bit more difficult to find information on.

Yesterday, I got a late start.  Once I stumbled out of bed and finished the morning routine, I went to REI and got a pair of winterized pants (to be the subject of a future blog post) and then headed out in want of a trail.  Because I had taken such an unusually long time to get started, I went to Exit 38 – the first “real” hiking available after Si.  From here I parked in the Twin Falls lot, just as the last car was leaving, around 1 or 2 pm.

The trail starts with a short but steep warm-up, then dumps you onto the Iron Horse.  You pass a sign almost immediately, on the left but aimed at people walking in the other direction.  About 200 feet down the trail is a small, unmarked trail to the left.  I’ve passed this a few times before, never thinking much about it or where it might go.  Yesterday I decided to find out.

It ascends steeply to the summit of our MT WA, as a sign two miles up the trail announces at a small trail junction.  At first, the trail is covered in gravel, which thins out to dirt and fallen, decomposing leaves.  Eventually you start to cross small streams – many of them are probably seasonal – and hike past some waterfall vistas.  If you have a water purifier, there is much to drink.

At about 2,000 feet ( the trailhead is at 1,200 ) the trail becomes covered in snow.  It’s not an immediate transition, but rather there are splotches here and there, until about a mile further, when the change is complete, and the ground is blanketed in white.

Most of the trail is through fairly dense woods, but, every now and then, there is an exposed view.  You’ll pass many cliffs, some of which face openings, others simply hidden by trees.  As you get higher, the wind gets more and more extreme – yesterday the gusts hit 40 to 50 mph.  Much of this is because there’s so much open space to the west, allowing stronger currents to build up, with little shelter.

Unfortunately, I did not make the summit.  The sun set before 4:30, and I had to leave time for a long rush back to the trailhead.  I got to about 3,000 feet above sea level, above the Owl Hike Spot.  There were great views, though I never got to see Chester Morse Lake, let alone Rainier, which would be visible from the peak on a clear day.  This, however, is not the season for clear days.

The trail is unmarked, and virtually undescribed.  I’ll have to come back with more time, and reach the summit.  In the meantime, I was able to find these two trail reports:

• Hiking Snoqualmie: Mount Washington
• Mt. Washington | Hiking with my brother…

…a longterm photographic series i’m working on.

{all photos © julia schiller}

If you’re like me and you don’t like Safari 4 for the one reason you have no progress bar, what’s all that about, having said that even Google Chrome is the same, but anyway, for Snow Leopard users its finally solved.

1. Download the same Safari 3.2.3 portable by clicking here! (Open in a new tab/window)

2. In a Finder window containing the file “Safari 3.app”, right click and “Show Package Content”

3. Open the only folder available marked “Contents”, then “MacOS”, then double click the Terminal file marked “TrueSafari” and a Terminal window will open and as will Safari 3.

4. However if you close the Terminal window you will also close Safari 3 as that is preventing Snow Leopard from knowing what OS the application requires. Safari 3 runs as it does on Leopard in my experience.

TIP; Right click the “TrueSafari” command and “Create Alias”, copy the alias file to a more convenient place, Documents etc, you then can launch Safari 3 by double clicking that alias!

via

On my write up of a recent Roaches walk I mentioned that I was looking forward to walking Kinder Scout in the snow this winter.  This jogged my memory of the day after boxing day in 2003 when a group of friends and myself climbed Kinder from the Snake Pass.  A great days outing up Fair Brook to Fairbrook Naze and along the northern edge to return by the Snake path.  A combination of snow on the ground and thick mist made it pretty atmospheric up there.  At least navigation was made easy by just simply following the edges.  What we had not really thought about was the really short winters day, which after the drive from Nottingham did not give us much time to play with.  It started to get dark as we were descending Ashop head and there was talk of getting torches out.  I was the only person in a group of four who had bothered packing one!  We managed to get three quarters of the way down in the gloom before my single beam guided us back to the car.  Not easy.

So don’t forget your torch this winter!

Fingers crossed I can get up there this year under clear blue skies with a dusting of snow…………