Best of times, worst of times

Toured up Sugarbowl today. Climbing was sporty in the forest till about 1,400m. Was very hard packed until then with very little snow getting through the canopy. It got easier above that to ridge top. Skiing was great. We headed down the meadows but quickly got engulfed in willows. We slowly made our way through the lower forest back to truck regretting we didn’t take the summer trail out.