I have been really jealous of my online friends talking about getting snow (or even the promise of snow) in other parts of the country so this last weekend I had to go find some for myself. I didn’t have a goal of a huge outing but driving far enough up into the mountains to be able to put on snowshoes.
The Index Galena Road outside Index, Washington, was re-opened late in 2023 after damage from a storm in 2006 and I had yet to venture along its length so this felt like the perfect day. Well, not that perfect. I had chores on Friday (the day I prefer to get out) so Saturday morning it was. This meant extra audio book time as I joined the eastbound crawl on State Route 2 towards Stevens Pass.
Thankfully most folks were heading to the ski resort so I was in solitude once I turned towards Index. I made a brief stop in town as I wanted to check out the cafe at the Bush house Inn. I drive by when I go to hike the Index Town Wall but hadn’t visited yet. There wasn’t much for me unless I wanted a sit down breakfast so I just grabbed a coffee to go.
The drive leaving Index was stunning as it followed the Skykomish River, I got out a few times to take pictures and watch the current flow underneath my feet.
The Troublesome Creek campground was closed for winter but I noticed an iron bridge spanning the river between the two sides and it made for a great little walk. I just parked outside the gate and walked past the campsites to the bridge.
The Index Galena Road (Forest Road 63) leads up into the Wild Sky Wilderness and the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. You might have heard of popular trails like Blanca Lake and West Cady Ridge to Benchmark Mountain that draws crowds into Glacier Peak Wilderness. Forest Road 63 intersects with the Beckler River Road (FR 65) out of Skykomish and then meets Jack Pass and the newly opened trail to Frog Mountain. That was my destination, how far could I get before hitting snow to high for my car to manage?
It turns out it was about 16.5 miles from State Route 2 and .5 miles from Jack Pass when I decided I was within striking distance of the trailhead for Frog Mountain and could go no further. I had traction but I didn’t like the sound of my undercarriage scraping so I parked in a pullout at a switchback in the road and walked in the ruts to the trailhead.
A dad was camping with his two kids and dog at the pass, something that is common to see when roads are closed by snow. I said hello and continued around to the left on Forest Road 6550-610 which was marked for Frog Mountain.
It was clear that quite a lot of people are still enjoying the trailhead (and trail) from the tire marks and the compact snow at the kiosk.
I knew that the snow here was not what I would see once I got under the canopy of forest so I waited to put on my snowshoes. I hate walking on bare tread with the metal going clankity, clink on rocks. I was right, the trail alternated with soil and patches of snow to start. Even when there was snow, it was compact and I was making shallow prints.
At .75 miles in, the snow remained consistent and I started to posthole (sink more than a few inches) so time to slap on the snowshoes I had strapped on the top of my pack. I didn’t want to be one of those people who make things treacherous for others by making ankle twisting holes in the snow.
One of the best things I have started to use is reusable zip ties to secure my snowshoes together when being carried. I bought them for staking my raspberries in the backyard but they have turned out to be useful for so many things.
From here I spent about another hour climbing up the gentle grade of the trail which thankfully has seen traffic since the last major snow so I was not breaking trail. Frog Mountain is forested until you get right up to the summit so it was snow tipped evergreens and fauna tracks for me today. Even the simpleness of that seemed indulgent, though, when compared to all that is going on in the world.
The silence and calm replenished my soul before I decided it was time to head back down. I had started too late today to be able to make the summit and back to my car before sunset so it seemed the safest thing to do. Next time I’ll get my butt out of bed earlier! Frog Mountain is new to me so I will also plan to return on a day that has the promise of views. They are supposed to be similar to other trails nearby like Evergreen Mountain Lookout, Beckler Peak and Scorpion Mountain (which has also skunked me a few times). Here is a sample from Benchmark which is 5 miles away as the crow flies.
Another reason I turned around was that I had a gear malfunction part way up! Not only did I fail to grab the right poles (ones with snow baskets), one of the baskets I did have broke off. If you have ever snowshoed without proper baskets on your poles, you know how hard that can be on the upper body, not too mention how easy it is to be thrown off balance when you poles don’t help keep you upright. I could see myself being super sore if I continued, let alone run the risk of pulling something. Smarter to come back another day…
I didn’t stop for a bite on my way home as I had some homemade, copycat Zuppa Toscana leftovers waiting for me. It is one of my favorite soups, I just swap in cauliflower for the potatoes and coconut milk for the whipping cream.
And after settled in for the evening, I finished the large cabled section of a Stephen West shawl I am working on, the Doodler. I am not a huge fan of his mystery knitalongs but some friends were doing one where we could pick any so this one seemed fun (and not too outlandish). The third and final section will run along the scalloped edge in a different color, I hope to have this finished by Valentine’s Day.
So how about a recipe?
I received an email from Heal Me Delicious for her latest “ball” recipe and realized I had not thought of putting chocolate and cranberry into a protein ball yet so this seemed like the perfect time since I had some cranberries and cocoa powder left over from holiday baking. Her recipe calls for things like oatmeal and a sweetener so a few modifications were needed.
I added up the protein amounts and each ball comes to about 3.5 grams so if you eat three you would get 11.5 grams which is comparable to a mass produced protein bar. I just loved them because they were delicious and filling!
You can substitute your own favorite protein powder instead of collagen if desired and another nut/nut butter, for the trail I stored them in a hard sided container to keep them intact.
Chocolate Cranberry Protein Balls
Protein balls are the perfect on-the-go snack when hungry is gnawing at the door. Chocolate and cranberry bring both an rustic goodness and punch of tangy flavor to the trail!
Prep Time
10 minutes
Total Time
10 minutes
Course: Snack
Cuisine: Dairy Free, Paleo, Gluten Free
Servings: 18-19 balls
Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup raw cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup collagen powder
- 1/2 cup almond butter
- 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)
- extra raw cocoa powder (optional)
Instructions:
- Pulse the coconut, cranberries and almonds until the mixture is small crumbs
- Add the cocoa and collagen
- Add the almond butter until the mixture will form a ball and not be too sticky
- Add chocolate chips (optional)
- Using a 1/8 cup scoop or cup to measure, roll the mixture in your hands to make a small ball
- Roll the balls in cocoa powder (optional)
- Store in airtight container (these will keep in the freezer, too)
- Enjoy!
These Chocolate and Cranberry Protein Balls are less sweet than my other energy balls that are date based so if you would like some more carbs, try one of these:
- Guayaba Coco con Col Rizada Energy Balls
- Tangy Bacon Pineapple Energy Balls
- Pad Thai Snack Balls
- Classic Spumoni Energy Bites
If you are on the less carb, more fat side of things, this post is for you:
12 AIP Fat Bomb Recipes: A Self Care Arsenal
You can find out more information on Frog Mountain at Washington Trails Association. This land is the ancestral home of the Coast Salish, Skykomish and Tulalip Tribes. You can learn more about them here.
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The silence of snow is the most wonderful silence I know.