Tweeters,

My husband and I did an end of year snow shoe hike to Surprise Lake near Stevens Pass on Monday. Temps stayed in the mid to upper 30's and it rained and/or drizzled most of the way up the 4 1/2 miles to the lake. Snow depth ranged from a few inches at the trailhead (elevation 2200') to several feet at the lake. Once at the lake (elevation 4400') I heard several Red-breasted Nuthatches, and had a flyover flock of Red Crossbills. The outlet of the lake (Surprise Creek) was flowing in large sections and I heard vocalizing Dippers, then saw a pair flying low over the creek. On the way down we had vocalizing Hairy Woodpecker, Song Sparrow, and Chestnut-backed Chickadees.

Cheers,

Amy Schillinger
Renton, WA
schillingera at Hotmail.com