February 17, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Family Day weekend was originally reserved for a multi-day adventure, but the rainy forecast forced a change of plans. Instead, we made a smaller but still rewarding trip to Mount Elma, taking advantage of the best weather window—and what a day it turned out to be!
Despite a no-show in the morning and having to turn away a friend because the trip was full, I was determined to make the most of it. I’ve hiked Mount Elma multiple times with my kids, including a winter overnighter, but this trip was a milestone—Octavia’s first time completing it entirely under her own power. On previous hikes, we’d used a sled to help her along the flatter sections, but this time, she tackled it all herself.
The day started with a chilly, overcast morning, but as we climbed the steep slopes leading to the summit ridge, the sun began burning through the clouds. By lunchtime on the summit, the sky was a brilliant blue—at least until the clouds rolled back in, shrouding the peak as we started our descent.
With rising temperatures, the forest transformed into a dripping rainforest. Snow melted from high branches, sending cascades of water down all around us—a beautiful, if slightly soggy, experience.
One of my favorite moments came back in the parking lot when I pointed to the mountains and asked Octavia to take a look. “That’s how far you walked today,” I told her. I watched her think for a moment and then she rolled her eyes.