Dolly Sods Packsledding

After an early-morning odyssey that included getting nearly stuck in tire-deep snow ruts, my sister and I found ourselves sitting on a chairlift, packs in our laps. It was a strange way to start our trek to a wilderness area, but was the only option that didn't include trespassing or a very long hike in. Our destination: Dolly Sods North, a high plateau with a western ridge granting long views. Our purpose: finding some gnarly hills to try out the packable sleds we discovered on the way out of our parents' house. The slopes weren't epic, but we had a really good snowshoe.

Photo Essay: Click on the above image to begin a photo essay on our trip. The right and left arrow keys can be used to navigate among the images.