WINTER SPORTS -- A Saturday trek to the top of Scotchman Peak gave three backcountry skiers a heavenly if not gusty view of Lake Pend Oreille.

Jake Ostman, Jacob Styler and Michael Lucid -- along with their canine companions Coco and Mojo -- skinned up their skis for the ascent and made great tracks back down through the powder and wind-packed slopes.

Ostman's Facebook page has good photos of the day that hint at why the Friends of the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness are working so hard to protect the area northeast of the lake.

The photos, including the one above, also readily tell backcountry travelers that new snow and high winds have created huge cornices on ridges and avalanche danger on wind-loaded slopes.

Be careful out there.