What better way to start the week than a hike up to a snow covered peak! Today’s mountain Monday adventure to the top of Mt. St. Helena brought a few surprises. I started just after sun up and the switchbacks during the first mile were icy and slippery. Once I reached the road things were uneventful until about 2/3 of the way up when the snow covered the entire road. I used microspikes for the last mile and a half up to the top since the snow has been melting during the day and then re-freezing at night. Once I reached the summit the wind was really whipping along and blowing the snow back over my tracks but the views were nothing short of spectacular. Looking West at the Pacific Ocean or South towards Mt. Tamalpais and Mt. Diablo or East to the sawtooth peaks of the Sierras I felt fortunate to have hiked on such a clear day!!! Descending was uneventful however the abundant sunshine was welcomed to help thaw out from the windy summit!!