My friend Steve and I made a run with our families up to Crown king on Saturday to see if we could find some snow. We took the front way in via Bumble Bee to save time and after another good meal at the Mill Restaurant we headed up the hill towards the lake. Just out of town we found a truck of ladies who had gotten stuck in the road, with a little guidance we got them turned around and headed back to town.

One set of tracks led up the hill after we passed the last house. I was a little worried after having discovered my from ARB line had broken that 3 wheel drive wouldn't make it but I didn't have too much trouble. 

We stopped at the top of the first hill to look around.

Panoramic shot looking down towards Oro Bell (may take a second or two to load).  Everywhere we went you could hear the sound of water running due to the snow melting.

The road wound it's way along the north side of the hills and it was in this section like last time where we found the deepest snow and most challenging driving. I'd guess the snow was 1-2ft. deep.  The trip out would be the true test as it is mostly uphill.

Closer to the lake the snow was only a few inches deep due to exposure to the sun.  There were no tracks leading into the lake.

The lake was the fullest I had ever seen with it spilling over near the parking area at am impressive rate.  There were a lot of trees down in the valley below the dam and a few laying across the road so the storm that blew thru the previous week did some damage.

We walked part way around the lake but the water was up high enough that the trail was submerged in many spots.

Panoramic shot of the lake taken from the dam looking west.

Heading out from the lake. We eventually turned around at the campsites and started heading back at around 3pm.

Like I thought, the ride back up was harder but not as hard as last years trip in deep powder.  The wet snow provided pretty good traction in most places and if you stayed in the ruts you could get some good forward momentum built up.

Once of the many streams cutting across the road.

Heading down the hill. Besides a pair of hunters and a bunch of kids on foot it was really quiet up there which made for a perfect day of snow wheeling.