Day 1 (12/6)- I got off work at noon and came home to finish last minute packing. Our original plan was for Wyatt and I to spend the long weekend biking around the park. I saw the weather report was calling for a chance of ice so at the last minute I tossed the kid carrier in
the truck in case we decided to make a run on the high country for some snow. Wyatt had repeatedly been asking to see some snow on this trip, but I had to explain to him that we were headed to the desert and would not get to see snow on this trip. I did not mention the remote chance of getting to see some frosty weather. We arrived at the Basin around 10:30. After setting up the tent Wyatt decided he wanted to sleep "under the sky" instead. We tossed out our sleeping bags next to the tent. 
Day 2 (12/7)-Morning dawned cloudy and cool. We cooked oatmeal and loaded up the gear, bound for the Basin Ranger Station. In talking to the couple manning the desk we discovered there was a "sixty percent chance of some ice". We decided to risk and got our permits for SW2 backcountry site. According to the folks there, there was only one other group with backcountry permits so far. We unpacked the bike trailer and threw gear and rations into the kid carrier. I asked Wyatt if he wanted to ride or walk. He decided to ride. In between him and our gear and water, the pack weighed in at nearly 80 lbs (I weigh 155!). As we climbed up towards Laguna Meadows clouds began pouring into the Basin through Panther Pass. I finally coaxed Wyatt into walking the last set of switchbacks before cresting 
the small pass into the meadows by telling him I would sing him Christmas carols. My shoulders were able to enjoy a brief rest. As we climbed the wind began to
pick up and clouds began tumbling down into the Meadow. The temperature began creeping into the mid to upper 30's. Finally around 4 we made it up to the campsite. We had not seen a soul on our trek. By this time we were socked in by fog and the wind was really picking up out of the northeast. It began misting with some intermittent sleet. We cooked a quick dinner of Spanish rice and tuna steaks and zipped ourselves into the tent. In case this just ended up being rain, or 
worse yet, sleet, I moved all of our gear except the food into the tent with us to keep it dry. This made for some cramped quarters in the ancient A-frame. We lay in bed reading "A Most Singular Country" (I had 
forgotten to toss in Wyatt's kids books into the pack) and listening to rain and sleet on the rain fly.
Day 3- I had prayed that we would get to see some snow. Friday morning I held my breath and unzipped the tent door. Wyatt's smile was spectacular as we looked outside. We cooked breakfast and I turned
Wyatt loose to play in the snow. His first action was to run out and clean off the bear box, 
followed by pelting me with snowballs. While he played I took down camp. Finally around 11 we started back down. He decided he would walk this time, but changed his mind as he figured out he couldn't see the rocks beneath the snow. We walked through a fantastic Madrean winter wonderland. Wyatt has been on several overnight snowshoe trips in the Rockies, but I have never heard him as delighted by the wintry backcountry as this trip. We progressed
down the mountain making much better time on our way down than up. After heading out of Laguna Meadow we were treated to a spectacular snowy view of the Basin. As we descended the snow began rapidly melting. In fact the Basin itself appeared to be free of 
snow. Around 2 we made it back to the Basin. We headed into the ranger station and secured permits for the Glenn Springs 2 site and began climbing out of the Basin. At Panther Pass we were again treated to spectacular winter weather and dense fog. The fog and snow stayed with us all the way down until about 3600 ft in elevation. mulations of wet snow fell from the trees as we headed into the warmer air down below. We made it to our site and set up camp. We made bean burritos for dinner and turned in to continued cloudy, cold skies and views limited by the shroud of fog in the mountains.
Day 4 (12/9)- Saturday dawned to more of the same in terms of cloud cover and cool temperatures. We decided to bike up Glenn Springs Road and out to Panther Junction. I loaded Wyatt into the bike trailer and we started pedaling north over the slightly muddy roads. About 4.5 miles into the the
ride I heard one of the trailers tires making a little noise. I stopped to find that we had blown a tire. I pulled out a spare tube and got ready to pull out the irons and my mini pump when I realized that I had never attached them to the bike! We limped back to the site on a blown tire as I mentally kicked myself. We got back to the truck and changed the tire. Rather than try to repeat the trip I loaded the bike and trailer into the truck and we drove out to Rio Grande Village via the River Road. Parking at the ranger station we biked west to Hot Springs where Wyatt got to compare the temperature of the cold river water to the springs. We then biked west another 5 miles before we turned around and
coasted back to the 
truck. Dinner at the picnic area was followed by a movie at the ranger station. We then made it back to the campsite around 8:30.
Day 5 (12/10)- Finally a desert sunrise! We spent time around camp before loading up the truck and heading back to Dimmitt
Day 2 (12/7)-Morning dawned cloudy and cool. We cooked oatmeal and loaded up the gear, bound for the Basin Ranger Station. In talking to the couple manning the desk we discovered there was a "sixty percent chance of some ice". We decided to risk and got our permits for SW2 backcountry site. According to the folks there, there was only one other group with backcountry permits so far. We unpacked the bike trailer and threw gear and rations into the kid carrier. I asked Wyatt if he wanted to ride or walk. He decided to ride. In between him and our gear and water, the pack weighed in at nearly 80 lbs (I weigh 155!). As we climbed up towards Laguna Meadows clouds began pouring into the Basin through Panther Pass. I finally coaxed Wyatt into walking the last set of switchbacks before cresting 
the small pass into the meadows by telling him I would sing him Christmas carols. My shoulders were able to enjoy a brief rest. As we climbed the wind began to
pick up and clouds began tumbling down into the Meadow. The temperature began creeping into the mid to upper 30's. Finally around 4 we made it up to the campsite. We had not seen a soul on our trek. By this time we were socked in by fog and the wind was really picking up out of the northeast. It began misting with some intermittent sleet. We cooked a quick dinner of Spanish rice and tuna steaks and zipped ourselves into the tent. In case this just ended up being rain, or 
worse yet, sleet, I moved all of our gear except the food into the tent with us to keep it dry. This made for some cramped quarters in the ancient A-frame. We lay in bed reading "A Most Singular Country" (I had 
forgotten to toss in Wyatt's kids books into the pack) and listening to rain and sleet on the rain fly.Day 3- I had prayed that we would get to see some snow. Friday morning I held my breath and unzipped the tent door. Wyatt's smile was spectacular as we looked outside. We cooked breakfast and I turned
Wyatt loose to play in the snow. His first action was to run out and clean off the bear box, 
followed by pelting me with snowballs. While he played I took down camp. Finally around 11 we started back down. He decided he would walk this time, but changed his mind as he figured out he couldn't see the rocks beneath the snow. We walked through a fantastic Madrean winter wonderland. Wyatt has been on several overnight snowshoe trips in the Rockies, but I have never heard him as delighted by the wintry backcountry as this trip. We progressed
down the mountain making much better time on our way down than up. After heading out of Laguna Meadow we were treated to a spectacular snowy view of the Basin. As we descended the snow began rapidly melting. In fact the Basin itself appeared to be free of 
snow. Around 2 we made it back to the Basin. We headed into the ranger station and secured permits for the Glenn Springs 2 site and began climbing out of the Basin. At Panther Pass we were again treated to spectacular winter weather and dense fog. The fog and snow stayed with us all the way down until about 3600 ft in elevation. mulations of wet snow fell from the trees as we headed into the warmer air down below. We made it to our site and set up camp. We made bean burritos for dinner and turned in to continued cloudy, cold skies and views limited by the shroud of fog in the mountains.Day 4 (12/9)- Saturday dawned to more of the same in terms of cloud cover and cool temperatures. We decided to bike up Glenn Springs Road and out to Panther Junction. I loaded Wyatt into the bike trailer and we started pedaling north over the slightly muddy roads. About 4.5 miles into the the
ride I heard one of the trailers tires making a little noise. I stopped to find that we had blown a tire. I pulled out a spare tube and got ready to pull out the irons and my mini pump when I realized that I had never attached them to the bike! We limped back to the site on a blown tire as I mentally kicked myself. We got back to the truck and changed the tire. Rather than try to repeat the trip I loaded the bike and trailer into the truck and we drove out to Rio Grande Village via the River Road. Parking at the ranger station we biked west to Hot Springs where Wyatt got to compare the temperature of the cold river water to the springs. We then biked west another 5 miles before we turned around and
coasted back to the 
truck. Dinner at the picnic area was followed by a movie at the ranger station. We then made it back to the campsite around 8:30.Day 5 (12/10)- Finally a desert sunrise! We spent time around camp before loading up the truck and heading back to Dimmitt
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