Jewel Basin

We churn on in low range, skirting rockfall and downed branches, before hitting a 5-foot high drift. Because of grizzlies Laura wants to sleep in the back of the truck, but that means we have to unload everything; most of it goes on the roof. In the morning we are up with the sun, and after a long breakfast we hike over the drift and up the road. Some skiers have come this way, and someone on an ATV, but we are the first today and perhaps the first in a while. After about a mile we reach what looks like the end of the road – but it’s hard to tell for sure as everything is buried under feet and feet of snow.