Diaries of a Ketchikan girl: We made it to the top of deer mountain without snow shoes!

Yesterday, Liz, Scott, and I hiked deer mountain. Liz and I stopped at the store on the way to the trail head and the guy working there told us there was no way we would make it to the top without snow shoes. We decided to try anyways. Deer mountain's elevation is about 3200 feet. The first 2 1/2 miles are switchback trails which are pretty steep. We kept up a good pace. Then we hit snow, which is when we decided to just lose the trail and hoof it straight up to the peak (it was kind of like climbing a ladder). We were all so glad we decided to keep going to the top. It was beautiful! There were great views of Ketchikan, the water, and other mountains...truly incredible. We explored the peak of the mountain and ran around in the snow (disregarding the fact that our hiking shoes were filled with snow and our pants were soaked up to our waist). There was a neat survival cabin which we tried to get into, but there was too much snow built up and none of us were willing to dig it out at that time. Once we decided to head back down the mountain we had fully lost the trail. We figured we could cross sideways while hiking and would meet up with it. However, we were never able to find the trail. We ended up hiking the whole way down off trail, which made me realize why mountains have marked trails in the first place. By the time we got to the bottom we were all pretty hungry, tired, and covered from head to toe in mud. 5 1/2 hours later we were spit out onto a gravel road and luckily didn't have to go too far to figure out where we were. It was a great adventure and I don't think I've ever enjoyed a shower, food, and sleep so much! My parents are shipping me snow shoes so I can hike up again soon. After a good nights rest last night I am ready for camping tonight!