Yurt Snowshoe Overnight

We had reservations to stay one night in the Yurt on the south side of the Mt Tahoma Trail Association groomed trails. We started from the lower SnoPark, as the upper SnoPark was closed. The route was 12 miles round trip from the lower SnoPark area.
The beginning of the road was patchy ice. By the time we reached the upper SnoPark, it was completely covered in snow.

About 2 miles up from the lower SnoPark is the Lower Yurt Trail. This trail is not groomed and some route finding is needed, so instead of breaking trail here, we decided to take the groomed Outer Loop Trail.

 A bit further up the groomed road it splits: High Hut to the the right, Bruni's SnowBowl Hut and the Yurt to the left.

 After 3+ miles from the lower SnoPark, we went over the saddle having gained about 2,000 ft in elevation. It was very windy here.

 After a short descent, the trail again splits: uphill to the right is Bruni's SnowBowl Hut, to the left the Yurt.

 For about 1.5 miles we had a lovely descent down the groomed road.

 We then took the Griffin Mt Trail towards the Yurt with a bit of an uphill grade.

 Finally, the short 0.3 mile turn off to the Yurt.

What a welcome sight after 6 miles of hiking/snowshoeing in the rain! We enjoyed the warmth inside the Yurt, making a hot dinner over the stove and sleeping on bunk beds and cots!!!
During the evening we watched the rain turn to snow.

 We woke the next morning to fresh snow every where!

I took a brief walk to watch the sunrise

 and the moon set. It was so nice to see some clear skies.

View of the Yurt in the morning.

 Everything that had gotten wet yesterday, was frozen today.

Lovely fresh snow to snowshoe out on.

 We stopped and made some snow angels along the way.

I love to see the trees covered in fresh snow.

We had met a skier last evening who had come in via the Lower Yurt Trail. We could still see her ski tracks in the trail, so decided to hike out that way. This trail is about 1 mile from the Yurt along the Griffin Mt Trail.

 The going was a little slow as we were breaking trail for 3 miles before joining the main groomed road.

 a lovely bridge,

 Only one place with elevation gain (about 50 - 100 ft) on this route.

Four miles from the Yurt, we rejoined the main groomed road. Some of our party sledded down the hill for quite a ways. 2 miles downhill all the way!!!