It’s what you do right now: someone comes to visit, so you ride the closed road and hike to Avalanche Lake.

McDonald Creek is going full bore, a kayakers impossible dream due to the Harlequin Duck closure April-September.

Some horsing around was done.

Compared to a year ago, conditions are impressively different. The trail up to Avalanche has only a modest amount of snow near the very top.

The lake itself is almost fully thawed.

And the high country is just beginning the long process of drying out.

Last winters avalanche destruction.

For my own part, the legs are coming back around from last weekend, and I’m excited to get out deep into the rewarmed landscape.