A large and enthusiastic group gathered at Rite Aid to head for Mount Ashland. I had given the option to cross country ski and 3 hikers decided to do that instead of snow shoeing. We arrived at the parking lot in brilliant sunshine. Before leaving, Dan Stubblefield kindly called to alert me to possible high winds. We later ran into some gusts but nothing to spoil the hike. 

We headed off in 30 degree weather on a hard packed road. The snow was dry but the skiers found it slippery. At the junction where a road heads right towards the Golf Ball atop Mount Ashland, FS 20 narrowed but a tracked vehicle had carved out a wide trail. There was no problem finding the road. The previous year you couldn't tell where the road was at all. A few hikers decided to take off their snow shoes and just walk, but it was partly a function of problems with the snow shoes. There were some spectacular views of the sun along the way. At the Grouse gap shelter someone had carved seats in the snow inside the shelter. Very hospitable.

It warmed up a little bit as we climbed the trail back to the parking lot after lunch and the climb gave us all a thirst. The conditions were not the best for the skiers but they did look cool. The hikers headed for Caldera but gasped in shock when we found it closed for the day. Resourceful as ever, we headed for Standing Stone where the reception was warm but the beer much inferior to Caldera. Several of us agreed to meet at Cartwrights for lunch on Thursday to make up for it.