January 1977 was a record low snow year and I didn't even need skis or snowshoes to navigate the backcountry. For such a low snowpack there were some big cornices on east ridges but it was just cold enough to keep the avalanches under control and no big ones came down even on very steep slopes. In one long (short in hours) day I scrambled up into Commonwealth Basin, climbed Red Mountain and got some great pictures,
descended and crossed to below Snow Dome for lunch. Took a short nap in an exposed clump of heather. Then I climbed Snow Dome for more pictures before scrambling across to Snoqualmie Mountain for more pictures. I took the route down the SW Ridge of Snoqualmie Mountain getting pictures on Cave Ridge and on down. I got down just in time to avoid using my headlamp. Wish I could still cover that much ground these days. Sigh...
