Exhausting is the one word that best captures this trek through miles of deep, powdered snow. Carol had been eyeing this outing for a brief break in the weather, so we headed up the Mountain Loop Highway and parked in the snow‑covered pullout at the start of Deer Creek Road. There we strapped on our snowshoes and began the long, steady trudge toward the Kelcema Lake trailhead.
For the first mile or so, travel was manageable thanks to a set of older snowshoe tracks. But when those tracks ended, the real work began. Carol and I traded off breaking trail through increasingly deep powder, each step sinking into soft snow that only grew deeper as we climbed. Several miles in, we were relieved to see two other couples approaching from behind. Their willingness to take the lead was a gift — the snow was nearly 18 inches deep by the time we reached the lake trailhead, and fresh legs made a noticeable difference.
From the trailhead, we wound our way through quiet forest to Kelcema Lake, arriving about six hours after leaving the car. After a quick snack and a moment to appreciate the stillness, we turned around and followed our own trench back down. On the return we encountered several jeeps and groups of people out enjoying the rare low‑elevation snowfall brought by the recent storm. Their tire tracks — combined with our earlier snowshoe work — made the descent far easier. What took six hours on the way up took only three on the way down.
A demanding day, but a satisfying one, carved through fresh powder in a brief window of winter calm.
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