High Hut Snowshoe

For New Year's Eve we did and afternoon hike/snowshoe up to High Hut (part of the Mount Tahoma Trail Association near Ashford) to watch the sunset and moonrise, enjoy a leisurely dinner and snowshoe back down under the light of the moon.
Although the upper SnoPark area was open, we found the road very icy after about 1/4 mile, so opted to park in the lower lot, figuring the road would be even icier when we drove out later in the evening. The first part of the road was snow/ice free for less than 1/4 mile. We wore our microspikes on the way up, staying well off to the side to not create post holes in the skiers path.

 This hike is mainly in the forest, but there are several small streams along the road.

 There are a couple of places where we had partial views of Mt Rainier.

 More snow as we gained elevation.

 About 1/4 - 1/2 mile after the trail splits off from the way to SnowBowl Hut, we could see it on a ridge with Mt Adams in the distance.

 Mt Rainier to the northeast from High Hut

Beautiful views of Rainier with the moon rising

To the north we could see clouds covering the Puget Sound area and the Olympic Mountains in the far distance

 Pano views to the south included the Goat Rocks, Mt Adams behind a pointy peak, Mt Hood and Mt St Helens. We had nice colors as the sun was setting.

Alpenglow on Mt Rainier

 Was wonderful to warm up in the hut and enjoy our dinner and drinks with a view of Mt Rainier

As we began our snowshoe in the evening, we could see the city lights of Ashford below and Tacoma in the far distance

 all my night pictures are grainy, taken with my phone

Silhouette of Mount Rainier in the dark

 Leaving High Hut under the moon light

 There was enough light reflecting on the snow, that we didn't need to use our headlamps until we were on the last bit of road with very little snow.

 Moon through the tree branches

and we saw a moon dog!