We were lucky to have a sunny weekday to explore. Plan to avoid the week-ends if you can.
From the Mt. Rainier National Park site:
Cougar Rock. Do you see it?
Silver Falls - A beautiful hike!
Cascade Mountain Fox 
Grove of the Patriarchs
VIDEO OF SILVER FALLS
Under the snow, things were still a bit green, and the goats enjoyed wandering the fields to see what they could find, but they enjoyed their first Christmas tree recycle too.
OK. We had one day above freezing, but that was short lived as the frozen water buckets showed us. 
We happily unplugged them to save on the electric bill. Didn't last 24 hours. These are the buckets inside the barn too.
The ice stayed thick on the pond, and now we could see that there were other creatures living there, by the tunnels they left behind. 
Now I think I understand why the barn cats enjoy the pond area so much. 
The chickens have barely seen the outdoors since Thanksgiving, but that doesn't mean they haven't seen the sun. They know how to use solar heat on these frigid days. 
Today the snow was back and deep enough to need the tractor to clear the lane. The winds are bitter, and more severe weather is in tomorrow's forecast. I just hope the pregnant ladies are smart enough to wait for a break in this weather - if there is one.
The reason the waters have not risen as expected from all the snow melt, is because of the heroic efforts of one dog - Jock. 
This wonderful Border Collie, has tamed the wild waters coming off the hills. 
His herding abilities are not restricted to mere four legged animals, but include - water. 
Not just any body of water, but fast running, snow melt springs that burst out of the earth, here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. 
Because of the tireless efforts of this dog, a whole community can sleep in their dry beds tonight. 
Thank you Jock!
This is one of the springs that feeds the pond, taken on Sunday. 
This was the only shoot I found so far of my spring bulbs. A bit yellow from being under two or three feet of snow til now. 
A day or two more and we'll be back on our beach. I've been taking my lunch outside and eating on the bench. The sun feels good, even if the temperatures were cool until today.
Last night was not below freezing, so the melt started sooner this afternoon. I noticed the flow coming down the barn driveway at lunch. It was flowing quite quickly. Going into town today, I realized some rock formations were under water. Its really begun to raise the water levels. 
The ground here is saturated and there is a lot more snow to go. The mountains have even more.
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