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The trail is well-signed and marked with kilometer placards. |
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Most of the hike is through a pleasant forest. Since it was a Monday following a nice weekend, we had a well-tracked trail to follow. This made for quick travel and meant we never even needed snowshoes. |
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A winter wonderland of snow-laden trees as we neared the lookout. |
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Windy Joe Fire Lookout. |
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Inside the lower level of the lookout. |
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The view from the upper level of the lookout. There are paintings above the windows that help orient the viewer to the surrounding mountains and landmarks. |
 
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One of the coolest parts about the lookout is the sighting mechanism for identifying locations of fires. |
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The view to the southwest. |
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Zoomed in on Castle Peak and Frosty Mountain to the southwest. |
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This photo was taken from beside the lookout looking southeast. The true summit of Windy Joe is the forested bump just to the south on the right side of the photo. The lookout is on a slightly lower but more open summit. |
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My mom enjoying the view just outside the lookout. |
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Frosty windows. |
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Cool (or cold!) window frost formations. Here's a great website explaining all about frost and the like. Window frost forms when a pane of glass is exposed to below-freezing temperatures on the outside and moist air on the inside. Water vapor from the air condenses as frost on the inside surface of the window. Window frost often makes elaborate patterns as the crystal growth is strongly influenced by the window surface. Scratches, residual soap streaks, etc., can all change the way the crystals nucleate and grow. |
