Both Karen and I are recovering from the flu. The flu shot we got last September covered two A and one B type of flu. We got the second B flu, Karen's doctor husband said.

Happy to get outside on a sunny day, we put on microspikes and braved ice and snow in the mountains. The first trail we tried was hard ice. Our microspikes didn't pierce the ice. Dangerous.

"Let's go higher toward Mission Ridge Ski Area," I said. "It snowed there last weekend. Maybe we can get away from the ice." Nope. All of the trails in the area were covered in thick ice.

But as we climbed higher on Pipeline trail, the snow got deeper over the ice, making it safer to walk. To avoid descending the icy trail, we scrambled up a steep hillside. Arriving at the top of the ridge, the logging road was like a skating rink. So we went off-trail, circling down in fresh snow through the woods to the car.

We hiked 6.1 miles with 1,500 feet of elevation gain. What a gorgeous day!

Photos:

1. Mt. Stuart, 9,416 feet.

2. Large Ponderosa Pine looks like a bonsai from high winds.

3. Glacier Peak, 10,000 feet.