tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75617139788764077932024-03-12T16:34:34.623-07:00Finding My WayStaciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-38238766899880644672012-02-04T21:18:00.000-08:002012-02-12T21:23:08.260-08:00Sheer awe on Amabilis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijTC_H-WaADTUQQYSXGwfOo-sE5Az2sfdFP5_M_RcLRMY7WBYbKSyytR_YKinTSCJhkU5qecOsMVKzFcsKcqBqYxpfQBSY8PCQ5XGMycWnyPxk9MAiJ7H14MMJ9_EdOZb09t6uox3DEad/s1600/DSC03579.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgijTC_H-WaADTUQQYSXGwfOo-sE5Az2sfdFP5_M_RcLRMY7WBYbKSyytR_YKinTSCJhkU5qecOsMVKzFcsKcqBqYxpfQBSY8PCQ5XGMycWnyPxk9MAiJ7H14MMJ9_EdOZb09t6uox3DEad/s200/DSC03579.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708485447456494402" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Snoqualmie Pass</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 8 miles</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation: 2,100 feet</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Conquering Amabilis Mountain made me realize something deeply disturbing – I’ve probably knocked out dozens of peaks with stunning views, though all I could see was fog or snow. I feel cheated, and challenged. Now I’ll have to go through the list of trails where I couldn’t see a thing and try them again, just to make sure I’m not missing the best part.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Today was a rare, brilliant day in Western Washington where the skies were blue and the air was crisp, but not too cold. I started at a sno-park and walked the first mile or so on the side of a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiexdcghnnfHzMGZ-S8ImfgX25lYVW87R2XmhPVbV4S8a58_GWT3uXxl37mdTEZBuYrkRQ95Drx5SlOwGGnwawZXX3Pg071Tjn437CVcTu7LBYt3UlVPXQWs8m0KVYGZ8YqzxEEhrL1T5U/s1600/DSC03583.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiexdcghnnfHzMGZ-S8ImfgX25lYVW87R2XmhPVbV4S8a58_GWT3uXxl37mdTEZBuYrkRQ95Drx5SlOwGGnwawZXX3Pg071Tjn437CVcTu7LBYt3UlVPXQWs8m0KVYGZ8YqzxEEhrL1T5U/s200/DSC03583.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708486003205959138" border="0" /></a> forest road more popular with cross-country skiers than snowshoers. After the second mile, the road forked and I chose to start left on a looping traverse of the mountain. There was plenty to look at – Keechelus Lake (again), the Yakima River and the South Cascades.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">The trail climbed steadily enough to get me breathing hard but not so much as to make breaks necessary. When I neared the ridge <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF2T0fFqi7inWo-SwFQtviRL0mxlkBmJpRtR7hHTfkaKdUOiPJdr_eWEBQ6a950StfcylCFh5RiA4XL3vGqcNPw8u7an3mhFIk0MscTYoIkjtzKLebG_hXhzCtuXNY81afWUXE_kTMAz1/s1600/DSC03578.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZF2T0fFqi7inWo-SwFQtviRL0mxlkBmJpRtR7hHTfkaKdUOiPJdr_eWEBQ6a950StfcylCFh5RiA4XL3vGqcNPw8u7an3mhFIk0MscTYoIkjtzKLebG_hXhzCtuXNY81afWUXE_kTMAz1/s200/DSC03578.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708486387350766834" border="0" /></a>crest, I had a sprawling view of the lake to my left and Mount Rainier to the right. I don’t think I’ve seen a prettier sight on a day hike.</p><span style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"> </span><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >After another slope, I came to another intersection and headed south to the 4,554-foot summit. There were a couple trees atop the snow banks to block the wind … but not by much. In the end, the serene scene won me over and I stayed for nearly an hour, smiling with frozen cheeks.</span>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-39815222976107599942012-02-03T20:34:00.000-08:002012-02-12T20:40:46.549-08:00In honor of Margaret<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kawjcXf3JtLTkCrCQmeRD0oj5_lT2gk6VuPvoZ-u0y32oOhF9hMQ_VxFlP_DtwUUzzhyiNbL0imTdcm5zlX1OA2TyflLxX-qArvRVLaXWqSuzjEd3MlxtSgJovUEti9I1qEP27GAeoKr/s1600/DSC03568.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9kawjcXf3JtLTkCrCQmeRD0oj5_lT2gk6VuPvoZ-u0y32oOhF9hMQ_VxFlP_DtwUUzzhyiNbL0imTdcm5zlX1OA2TyflLxX-qArvRVLaXWqSuzjEd3MlxtSgJovUEti9I1qEP27GAeoKr/s200/DSC03568.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708474508049852434" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Snoqualmie Pass</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 9 miles</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation: 2,800 feet</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Mount Margaret is a peak I’ve wanted to do since covering the story of a Mount Rainier National Park ranger by the same name that was gunned down New Year’s Day. The route was less than extraordinary, but the rare bluebird skies this weekend more than made up for the Jeep road we followed for the first 1.5 miles of the trek.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKfPwZdLRErFA_1gD-hllXAhO_7eD5Iq4VRkLB1Zzim4agp8AgtCXUxktlRJlyOlB_o5mimlPu32AW0YSlnQp1vGODMNtpGY55Fvi6usTzO_YiTmF65K1z9OuJNO9qVPdUKaduK_Pynpa/s1600/DSC03559.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeKfPwZdLRErFA_1gD-hllXAhO_7eD5Iq4VRkLB1Zzim4agp8AgtCXUxktlRJlyOlB_o5mimlPu32AW0YSlnQp1vGODMNtpGY55Fvi6usTzO_YiTmF65K1z9OuJNO9qVPdUKaduK_Pynpa/s200/DSC03559.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708474980482983122" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The roar of the nearby highway made it difficult to fully relax into nature, but it wasn’t long before we traded speeding cars for the sounds of silence. The recent storm dumped several fresh feet of powder on the ground but we didn’t slap our snowshoes on until we were close to the summit. Occasional trees blocked our view of down below but it was mostly open, allowing for stunning glimpses of Keechelus Lake.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">After pausing briefly on a ridge to watch the gusty winds blow ice <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFAiTOGtRXmiPldOYB6qfmguhBzSVmHdrAbQFnXhF_abeyq0AlZbeyXt7Nl9HVOSbtyuwP9vMcpKhPbNEK02SniQPLbzqdYSs-K6_Y2JCr4FfKwG4w8W6fg0VmCG8bFHNtbDusFE1WpyL/s1600/DSC03556.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFAiTOGtRXmiPldOYB6qfmguhBzSVmHdrAbQFnXhF_abeyq0AlZbeyXt7Nl9HVOSbtyuwP9vMcpKhPbNEK02SniQPLbzqdYSs-K6_Y2JCr4FfKwG4w8W6fg0VmCG8bFHNtbDusFE1WpyL/s200/DSC03556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708475314016896306" border="0" /></a>crystals around us, we angled north into a stand of trees and immediately sank to our knees in snow. Deciding snowshoes would now be a benefit, we unlatched them from our packs and bent to strap them on but we were exposed on the ridge and the winds had turned fierce. By the time I got my shoes on, I’d lost feeling in my fingers, my hair tie was mysteriously missing and my hood refused to stay on. I would have wished for the winds to die down but I didn’t want to trade in the clear skies so I let Mother Nature do her best.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">We trampled uphill, climbing steeper than we had been through a meadow, and kept our heads down to avoid the wind. The summit was <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUfD8iWw2oMQIatm6yWQJpYmXkKN1GJ_xd8s287RQuLCJuQce3OpMAcTC9JnTIBCdmK8F2YfkTFuoJM42AOWhjd2E5lZepwzKrSqnj6J-jBxDT5ijxqsQ8pQpNMrcusmI5NqjHWKSzHKg/s1600/DSC03561.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrUfD8iWw2oMQIatm6yWQJpYmXkKN1GJ_xd8s287RQuLCJuQce3OpMAcTC9JnTIBCdmK8F2YfkTFuoJM42AOWhjd2E5lZepwzKrSqnj6J-jBxDT5ijxqsQ8pQpNMrcusmI5NqjHWKSzHKg/s200/DSC03561.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708475504212096066" border="0" /></a>craggy and nothing special. We stood atop it for about five minutes, snapped a few shots and then opted to head back to a less windy place to nibble our lunches. There were some stellar views of Mount Rainier in the distance as we veered off the path and meandered through the backcountry on the return. There was some debate about whether to follow Wolfe Creek drainage and hope it led back to civilization or to keep left and hope we’d eventually cross the road leading up. As luck would have it, we kept left and found the trail. </p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-69345652709338993732011-12-10T13:03:00.000-08:002011-12-16T23:18:11.694-08:00Falling in love at Twin Falls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTetn65t7Imn7RlxcoaJCccZKFz0tCLBZCXD4Ya_vXIb8r8QEMZObHYGeLapkS6SRK_YDF4q3eUHAWJVPfvjKchK4tH-jrYtoFkatQumR6UBfVuWFYV847oJOc5PCo43eCgn9DXxmcRuwe/s1600/DSC03359.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTetn65t7Imn7RlxcoaJCccZKFz0tCLBZCXD4Ya_vXIb8r8QEMZObHYGeLapkS6SRK_YDF4q3eUHAWJVPfvjKchK4tH-jrYtoFkatQumR6UBfVuWFYV847oJOc5PCo43eCgn9DXxmcRuwe/s200/DSC03359.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686992148878190674" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Location: North Bend</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 4 miles</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">I’ve seen far more awe-inspiring waterfalls than Twin Falls, but there’s something about its simplicity, and the simplicity it takes to hike there,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_cZbPopztFnanGqwsrv1AX8Z4i7Dl3Dj3K2qrRwrTCtKDBTzYnQomiiw95oY_OiSMo13oouW7vCQxQnZVgAw_oClbFRraW6NIwIDznWBZdRwf4Ytx6KS1sZKRNLr3cVkCbegfqcefF-A/s1600/DSC03354.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn_cZbPopztFnanGqwsrv1AX8Z4i7Dl3Dj3K2qrRwrTCtKDBTzYnQomiiw95oY_OiSMo13oouW7vCQxQnZVgAw_oClbFRraW6NIwIDznWBZdRwf4Ytx6KS1sZKRNLr3cVkCbegfqcefF-A/s200/DSC03354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686992341851521714" border="0" /></a> that keeps drawing me in every time I have a spare hour left in the day. The river that flows along the path for the first half mile tells a different story every trip. There are always new mosses and mushrooms to identify. It’s just as fun to wedge my toes under a board on the bridge and lean out as far as I can to gauge the drop-off. I’m filled with the same sense of peaceful satisfaction each time I gaze up at the pure white stream stretching down over rock into the rushing torrents below. It’s a sure thing. </p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-16096963872900929002011-12-09T22:50:00.000-08:002011-12-16T22:54:48.026-08:00Just a ridge away<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj59pqR8ZLw6K2aqer1CzC9ZCUKxLhvGfzO5PNmfEoYPWiGHqcZuxMO0RuurMLAh4Gd7XAGPl8SAbHi7ypx_5DQTaEj-MEdqr7_GUExefkRSBAFWc0om5QsYzW1Q_SNBHVpYMwj2W17bIF/s1600/DSC03318.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj59pqR8ZLw6K2aqer1CzC9ZCUKxLhvGfzO5PNmfEoYPWiGHqcZuxMO0RuurMLAh4Gd7XAGPl8SAbHi7ypx_5DQTaEj-MEdqr7_GUExefkRSBAFWc0om5QsYzW1Q_SNBHVpYMwj2W17bIF/s200/DSC03318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686986357249373682" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: webdings;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Mount Rainier National Park<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfyIDKPcnrLgrtV3EitHn1x54Gu-JIEHUkrBUO-blTuov8uhiJBaEg3I2plbhk3PU02Z7aVc2HdZusAzEkFJOnU_BxN7qMcl9Iltixdi19ZGo9mDNDoiYXxiBO-YvbWBSCaKsetApVKYk/s1600/Mazama+Ridge.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxfyIDKPcnrLgrtV3EitHn1x54Gu-JIEHUkrBUO-blTuov8uhiJBaEg3I2plbhk3PU02Z7aVc2HdZusAzEkFJOnU_BxN7qMcl9Iltixdi19ZGo9mDNDoiYXxiBO-YvbWBSCaKsetApVKYk/s200/Mazama+Ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686986520481448514" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: webdings;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 6 miles</p> <p style="font-family: webdings;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 900 feet</p> <p style="font-family: webdings;" class="MsoNormal">The beauty of snowshoeing on Mazama Ridge is that you can amble off in any direction at any time without the constraints of a trail. We started at Paradise and headed south up the ridge, enjoying another clear day in the midst of winter. The sweating started as we climbed and kick stepped a half mile up a steep slope until we reached the ridge crest. </p> <p style="font-family: webdings;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkKY6zSixwniJPrN3KYI60df9XQeupYflqIbGskNz7BuHEP5ZfRuIEvV2MMTfzQrp6dKrXgRDlz1WgSsdZKpWBZ5pvKA0lMdwWyLi1tqlaJVEh8yRFl_4CkcEAnTSbhyphenhyphenvu2bSSUgPM2h9/s1600/R+Mtn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkkKY6zSixwniJPrN3KYI60df9XQeupYflqIbGskNz7BuHEP5ZfRuIEvV2MMTfzQrp6dKrXgRDlz1WgSsdZKpWBZ5pvKA0lMdwWyLi1tqlaJVEh8yRFl_4CkcEAnTSbhyphenhyphenvu2bSSUgPM2h9/s200/R+Mtn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686986781933226802" border="0" /></a>At the top, we turned back briefly to admire the Tatoosh Range in the distance and then proceeded to a small outcropping of rocks for lunch.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z1yOddddAL5HQQeaJVVRgXV5xmjfBMVGR1qjpwC42-33xD5EaFgWuCoA42dtKb1Ez9BTyTBRV4hfkxNOBlnjZF6p50tT8lcazUDPXmTnvL1Gbui0fKkvrC7aOqv41gvTkpUl2B6ePYGc/s1600/behind+Mazama.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Z1yOddddAL5HQQeaJVVRgXV5xmjfBMVGR1qjpwC42-33xD5EaFgWuCoA42dtKb1Ez9BTyTBRV4hfkxNOBlnjZF6p50tT8lcazUDPXmTnvL1Gbui0fKkvrC7aOqv41gvTkpUl2B6ePYGc/s200/behind+Mazama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686986954677424162" border="0" /></a> Mount Rainier loomed just north, a glorious vision as we gobbled sandwiches and cookies. After a goofy photo shoot, we made a right and went south down the ridge through deep, powdery snow. We considered heading straight down the ridge but it was too steep for one in our party so we retraced our footsteps and made our way down the icy run by jamming our heels and zig zagging down the hill. We circled around Paradise Lodge and chalked it up to a mellow but beautiful day on the mountain. </p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-66881499408598188442011-12-03T10:09:00.000-08:002011-12-16T10:13:01.892-08:00No hexes on this mountain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNRL3uMGCFgeKoLtnYRACDuB5Bjms1kgNVDI9_w1sYInbmdrft53fyNfoPdWVejyHssgF1A0vMvAAIdXQnlk7FYgClMP8MBMtQLjkL0QIbpN5LWnBXSBCA9AoFZTgrDehEn8QHCIaCUkm/s1600/Hex+Mtn.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWNRL3uMGCFgeKoLtnYRACDuB5Bjms1kgNVDI9_w1sYInbmdrft53fyNfoPdWVejyHssgF1A0vMvAAIdXQnlk7FYgClMP8MBMtQLjkL0QIbpN5LWnBXSBCA9AoFZTgrDehEn8QHCIaCUkm/s200/Hex+Mtn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790060680985346" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Location: Near Cle Elum and Roslyn<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-omR0BwBI_pcJEgVJMpZed0-NJbpErG5dBuF9GbK-hzQw9WmQc0fYejHWQV_UGqZwSayuzWekLQTK7w2Jr7zWkL1-vRjaiiEkfjvF3Yx-z35pJYmgy_fOVgQVPuXFIj_JdOy4ANNiNp4/s1600/Cle+Elum+lake+by+Hex.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO-omR0BwBI_pcJEgVJMpZed0-NJbpErG5dBuF9GbK-hzQw9WmQc0fYejHWQV_UGqZwSayuzWekLQTK7w2Jr7zWkL1-vRjaiiEkfjvF3Yx-z35pJYmgy_fOVgQVPuXFIj_JdOy4ANNiNp4/s200/Cle+Elum+lake+by+Hex.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790171746335330" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Distance: 7 miles</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 2,600 feet</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This long, steady climb up Hex Mountain started on an old logging road that was covered with a few feet of snow. We passed through a few clearcuts as we wound our way upward and had a splendid view of Cle Elum Lake as we trekked the first two miles to reach the forest trail. We all placed bets on which lake it was and discovered we were all wrong once we pulled the map out during one of many <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcJiVTBEEM2iBkIIUZn01CBq5Bjv4wIWou5S6IZCRn0c0N58LMfqPrZDsUV8Zz-_kWnIa3mwzaAIJWQqEHfmw0e779wnCtf9vHcLA2MDoTB6ECWVRslnUn-zvajHMhXn-UEZ1Vu9WDJ64/s1600/Cle+Elum+Lake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdcJiVTBEEM2iBkIIUZn01CBq5Bjv4wIWou5S6IZCRn0c0N58LMfqPrZDsUV8Zz-_kWnIa3mwzaAIJWQqEHfmw0e779wnCtf9vHcLA2MDoTB6ECWVRslnUn-zvajHMhXn-UEZ1Vu9WDJ64/s200/Cle+Elum+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790514958492738" border="0" /></a>water breaks. (Does Lake Pontchartrain count as a real guess?!)</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The narrow path climbed a ridge crest, weaving in and out of large<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPD25Vmu2qhAoZJc_V4FiLncktYb7FPmqz2khdg3acEiAlUKKGAEB3acGqstU1bVoG-y3v1AXo5VGZei9oFoJ0CSd4ttAcdjuO3E2H4LAeHfEbN3GFXtnBLXoWtlCj4wUcXLgFABTBt5U/s1600/Hex+summit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPD25Vmu2qhAoZJc_V4FiLncktYb7FPmqz2khdg3acEiAlUKKGAEB3acGqstU1bVoG-y3v1AXo5VGZei9oFoJ0CSd4ttAcdjuO3E2H4LAeHfEbN3GFXtnBLXoWtlCj4wUcXLgFABTBt5U/s200/Hex+summit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5686790633929661090" border="0" /></a> trees. It was a better workout than we were anticipating so there was a lot of silence as we dug our poles into the snow and waited for one of the few glimpses out of the forest. Eventually we came across a sign for Sasse Ridge and turned right up one final hill. The panoramic views of the eastern Cascades and beyond were unbeatable and we were fortunate to keep blue skies long enough to enjoy lunch and the scenery.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-80437952459913416932011-12-02T19:07:00.000-08:002011-12-12T19:10:39.976-08:00Glissading down PanPoint<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR0Acogr-7KnfdYH3YHIolcaLE5gm1_wqMBIyWQv8RkcLE5XaLcS0UQBkweN-QvnJGLBlqvouyagpb7hn651kiOzH1MqZgIPQy1yQQpLRb4p-Bn6DZDs5CWLCEHt7BXGMCf9v8i1PYK4S/s1600/misty+Rainier.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixR0Acogr-7KnfdYH3YHIolcaLE5gm1_wqMBIyWQv8RkcLE5XaLcS0UQBkweN-QvnJGLBlqvouyagpb7hn651kiOzH1MqZgIPQy1yQQpLRb4p-Bn6DZDs5CWLCEHt7BXGMCf9v8i1PYK4S/s200/misty+Rainier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685444647435607314" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz5rzJXqD-Ymdt1IlBQoUU9F5OZqJSRXCDSRMHWFa62ig7kp8OXXaHzmkkMkJYh9GpVJyARsf7rkwicP1OgyNwWmW0uI_JCWqR4NpemmxZsDEdAqda-jSh4JBu7vBtx1ZfRCegIvDNj71/s1600/Tatoosh+range.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxz5rzJXqD-Ymdt1IlBQoUU9F5OZqJSRXCDSRMHWFa62ig7kp8OXXaHzmkkMkJYh9GpVJyARsf7rkwicP1OgyNwWmW0uI_JCWqR4NpemmxZsDEdAqda-jSh4JBu7vBtx1ZfRCegIvDNj71/s200/Tatoosh+range.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685444552309754882" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Location: Mount Rainier National Park</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Distance: 5 miles</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 1,700 feet</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This classic trail isn’t much of a challenge, which made it just right for introducing two women to snowshoeing. We started the day in the Paradise parking lot and strapped our shoes on to start <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6oj8VTijTqQLblLHxvtfBldU-qeTW1YTvlRy6Z7RUCyXCPsNqxo5ju2oWhld_1TCuzPXhZx0JmPiYg7UwkIxJN3xIIDYyJQjDmOuHFZeom6c4ZFxeBz5G4TRJ9qFCw7TbUs_v9L1xPIx/s1600/PanPoint+glissade.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp6oj8VTijTqQLblLHxvtfBldU-qeTW1YTvlRy6Z7RUCyXCPsNqxo5ju2oWhld_1TCuzPXhZx0JmPiYg7UwkIxJN3xIIDYyJQjDmOuHFZeom6c4ZFxeBz5G4TRJ9qFCw7TbUs_v9L1xPIx/s200/PanPoint+glissade.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685444738729807586" border="0" /></a>plowing through the snow. It was a transitional weather day, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnvNSTO8Vd4ePFhgysmlDqhZRf3J7RaAIw8F47K_lW-Ja2IsMzge_s1szlppcd7XrBeR5bEDl9FHi9i5vEEnLP7sC1zhCLmhr7FUzdeSdzmnHj2qZ4bVPjN_RCdceob6W7c9wg9-lxL_R/s1600/Panoramo+Point.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnvNSTO8Vd4ePFhgysmlDqhZRf3J7RaAIw8F47K_lW-Ja2IsMzge_s1szlppcd7XrBeR5bEDl9FHi9i5vEEnLP7sC1zhCLmhr7FUzdeSdzmnHj2qZ4bVPjN_RCdceob6W7c9wg9-lxL_R/s200/Panoramo+Point.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685444872292261954" border="0" /></a>starting out gray and overcast but eventually giving way to bright blue skies. It was a straight shot up a series of small slopes to Panorama Point, where the clouds moved on and we could see the majestic Tatoosh range. With Mount Rainier looming gloriously in the background, I convinced one of my new friends to climb a nearby ridge and glissade down. A day of firsts! (For non-Washatonians, glissading basically means sliding down the snow on your butt.)<br /></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-46702462755638908582011-11-28T16:23:00.000-08:002011-11-30T20:17:54.249-08:00Too much of a Staircase<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qSOTCDIsqaQj1URRCGgsED-6WE4IRk5EwHHuRqCuUpSi0IkKt2AB9pG4buVJjkEJ8EQ0d6cExz04IDIzLOZFaPeEnM6LvCFBOTEiFLDi2Ouflna6OwuyUyOG3PMfrjSTk1oXcdPrC0vn/s1600/North+Fork+Skokomish.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0qSOTCDIsqaQj1URRCGgsED-6WE4IRk5EwHHuRqCuUpSi0IkKt2AB9pG4buVJjkEJ8EQ0d6cExz04IDIzLOZFaPeEnM6LvCFBOTEiFLDi2Ouflna6OwuyUyOG3PMfrjSTk1oXcdPrC0vn/s200/North+Fork+Skokomish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681009083368971410" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Staircase, near Hoodsport</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 6.5 miles</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">This was another adventure cut short. To take advantage of a rare sunny day and a forced day off, I eagerly looked forward to exploring a wild waterway - North Ford Skokomish River - beneath gigantic trees and ending at twin subalpine lakes. But then life happened. We got a late start, decreasing the odds of finishing the entire 15 miles. The last 1.2 mile of road to the trailhead was closed due to recent monsoon<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxNZ-5EeLPtidaPPVtBBXXEYmMohaiOhPRXJUkwJc_C42U95s3VFtqlntar449XamhOI6p8leeXTPlvR6WLbYBVvawvOyEe9fsZpluXTvX6Uues6gYPM60V0-L-CZHLYkWkIa8XE0YNGy/s1600/Lake+Cushman.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwxNZ-5EeLPtidaPPVtBBXXEYmMohaiOhPRXJUkwJc_C42U95s3VFtqlntar449XamhOI6p8leeXTPlvR6WLbYBVvawvOyEe9fsZpluXTvX6Uues6gYPM60V0-L-CZHLYkWkIa8XE0YNGy/s200/Lake+Cushman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681009230524988722" border="0" /></a> damage. Once we started up the path though, my feet found a soothing pace and my mind began to drift. It didn’t last long. We hopped across Slate Creek on slippery stones, balanced atop snow-covered logs and ducked under fallen trees. Then the trail disappeared. We kept blazing forward, satisfied every time we passed a ribbon tied to a branch, indicating we were still heading in the right direction. The trail proceeded past the remnants of a 1986 slide and came across an area that burned in a 1,400-acre blaze in 1985. Once we started climbing straight up above a cliff, slipping and sliding in the snow, it was time to turn around. My adventurous spirit was on vacation apparently, so we lingered near Lake Cushman and called it quits.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-640925794126082742011-11-26T20:01:00.000-08:002011-11-30T20:03:58.032-08:00A trickle of a waterfall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvSru0qIyH9-P2B-ensy0JN3Kxl7J8mnNZvTf8uRUBAPzPRiOe_b3rvNZ-DWkDojLXiwQ2X212IRC-Kdg8EEfJjsOFgIi5bwWdGvZE9AtGdCSw0UIgzotzZWidXUYGqAVVSfMjYcrgMiu/s1600/snoquera+falls.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvSru0qIyH9-P2B-ensy0JN3Kxl7J8mnNZvTf8uRUBAPzPRiOe_b3rvNZ-DWkDojLXiwQ2X212IRC-Kdg8EEfJjsOFgIi5bwWdGvZE9AtGdCSw0UIgzotzZWidXUYGqAVVSfMjYcrgMiu/s200/snoquera+falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681005378767020226" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Greenwater</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 3.6 miles </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Icy roads can foil even the most meticulously made plan. We had our sights set on Arch Rock, which sounded like a lovely opportunity to whittle away 12 miles on a rainy day. But after just a few miles on a forest road, dodging obnoxious snowmobilers speeding in the opposite direction and hogging the lanes, the ice and snow forced us to reconsider our final destination and turn around. After driving through Greenwater in search of any trailhead, we found ourselves in a parking lot signed Camp Sherman. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBZ8D3y6Sx7FXbE3jle_mgHQ2yuYw0Jwx1waoIWLrxJ0BZV-pFw9Z2GlPq0FDTW67IgT7f0D3ISSO2GxiUUCuyD9Btnc6AtPhwl-GM7n74yK0RfBu2ixxyKQ4mtBvzXbPXOwelhdZkQhB/s1600/rock+near+snoquera.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBZ8D3y6Sx7FXbE3jle_mgHQ2yuYw0Jwx1waoIWLrxJ0BZV-pFw9Z2GlPq0FDTW67IgT7f0D3ISSO2GxiUUCuyD9Btnc6AtPhwl-GM7n74yK0RfBu2ixxyKQ4mtBvzXbPXOwelhdZkQhB/s200/rock+near+snoquera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681005529823073426" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">I didn’t expect much from a trail starting at a Boy Scout camp, and I wasn’t wrong. The first .6 miles were dubbed Moss of the Trees and it was a flat loop marked every few feet with a number. I nearly regretted my decision to hike as my partner made a game of yelling out the number as we passed by. Luckily, we quickly found another <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6s8wJtfNnaR0PFzw44hTfyddDZ1cHtIBMLD3MHGTWeVAHT-sUd2uEP77dvb1JA-yJB8gU_ZSWMlkdMNBNjijwc2K6Ru13VLJ8o9E01vg72wOLrCWVWoxjl3QgYHSjbug0rsJ8hzJTTKgi/s1600/snoquera+falls+2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6s8wJtfNnaR0PFzw44hTfyddDZ1cHtIBMLD3MHGTWeVAHT-sUd2uEP77dvb1JA-yJB8gU_ZSWMlkdMNBNjijwc2K6Ru13VLJ8o9E01vg72wOLrCWVWoxjl3QgYHSjbug0rsJ8hzJTTKgi/s200/snoquera+falls+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5681005661889642834" border="0" /></a>junction and a sign pointing us toward Snoquera Falls. The distance was far less than I had wanted but I never turn down a chance to see a waterfall. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">The massive granite face was impressive and listening to the creek added a peaceful, easy feeling to the outing. As beautiful as the falls were, however, they had slowed to a trickle and hardly any water splashed down over the granite. I’m assuming spring is the time to visit Snoquera Falls when the snowpack is starting to melt off. Something to remember in a few months!</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-48785028067076939762011-11-21T21:35:00.001-08:002011-11-21T21:38:51.803-08:00Ozette Triangle was just the right shape<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UGnTfWxmL0DiPkvIl6c8VpRcmDiVgq4Mm4kWpkeKmJKulbGpsjk3t7LEwBuNTPMP8P_CejPZhO2_56YC2zIZ6q3aO6z8iznazsduU0J515A7pNgs5QN-nNVkJHwVvEC24j-d8D6U-TW-/s1600/Ozette+Lake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0UGnTfWxmL0DiPkvIl6c8VpRcmDiVgq4Mm4kWpkeKmJKulbGpsjk3t7LEwBuNTPMP8P_CejPZhO2_56YC2zIZ6q3aO6z8iznazsduU0J515A7pNgs5QN-nNVkJHwVvEC24j-d8D6U-TW-/s200/Ozette+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677689678456549890" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Ozette Triangle in the Olympics</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 9.4 miles</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">There is no beating the variety on this hike. It starts at one of the state’s largest bodies of freshwater, drops you onto a wild coastline and leads you through canopies of lush forest. Not to mention the deer, eagles and harlequin ducks that popped up along the way!</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The loop began from the lake with a bridge leading over the graceful<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwQg8YGY45nG3Q_X36YFKCwBDr-0gk_1b2AoqO7HnpzbocL7hYUsnRtTABf0OFt3HDS5CGErcKyitwgZvIEP537Qo1oMJcSfGaCHm1kO_DMRepPIfLvv914eK23nqIvejjhedXywR0KUS/s1600/Ahlstroms+Prairie.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhwQg8YGY45nG3Q_X36YFKCwBDr-0gk_1b2AoqO7HnpzbocL7hYUsnRtTABf0OFt3HDS5CGErcKyitwgZvIEP537Qo1oMJcSfGaCHm1kO_DMRepPIfLvv914eK23nqIvejjhedXywR0KUS/s200/Ahlstroms+Prairie.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677689799447700530" border="0" /></a> waters of the Ozette River. A quick right at the junction and I was off to stare wide-eyed at the Sitka spruce and western cedar that towered overhead. The planked boardwalk was a tad icy and I nearly lost my footing more than once, but I managed to stay upright. The trees eventually gave way to Ahlstroms Prairie, which was beautiful in its simplicity.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">After 3.3 miles, I could hear the ocean and quickly dropped down a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHl5qfmHWvwIgV5fn2F1nE2kKcktb55eF48ibIOsfxfZxgP8gcCkXl-AJ9luziGIkIrX1_Io_b4yxIPh9BMPSNqaHbJ2TtvYQ-2M00xRubizx5NnB8ypSOfmo5JHoFfKJW1XAcUW2FbIU/s1600/Cape+Alava.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLHl5qfmHWvwIgV5fn2F1nE2kKcktb55eF48ibIOsfxfZxgP8gcCkXl-AJ9luziGIkIrX1_Io_b4yxIPh9BMPSNqaHbJ2TtvYQ-2M00xRubizx5NnB8ypSOfmo5JHoFfKJW1XAcUW2FbIU/s200/Cape+Alava.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677689923742304962" border="0" /></a>slope to Cape Alava. Sea stacks and forest-covered islands dotted the coast and inches of smelly seaweed covered the rocks. I carefully picked my way over the rocks to perch atop a large boulder and indulge in some Brie and bread – none of which I shared with the seagulls or deer that curiously watched me. </p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The most adventurous part of the trip was following the shoreline 3.1 miles south, squishing over bug-infested seaweed and balancing on slippery rocks. It amazed me how much longer it took to hike the beach than climb a peak. As I walked, the desolate scenery came to remind me of Middle Earth in Lord of the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpI2w83pVJu3VEO0VdOrbMdtq4j4BY-6FTQXD6HeAXe7Q3VZpiwL3M4sv_6T2a6TbbVfOyh37EhCLOY2deLjcy4H7Md2ll0DwinUHn0OUZgkS_LYafXdqaf-IGI6c9NLeyslMnJ8V498s/s1600/Middle+Earth.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhpI2w83pVJu3VEO0VdOrbMdtq4j4BY-6FTQXD6HeAXe7Q3VZpiwL3M4sv_6T2a6TbbVfOyh37EhCLOY2deLjcy4H7Md2ll0DwinUHn0OUZgkS_LYafXdqaf-IGI6c9NLeyslMnJ8V498s/s200/Middle+Earth.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677690175425465362" border="0" /></a>Rings.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">I fruitlessly searched for petroglyphs an older couple had tried to direct me toward on some boulders dubbed the Wedding Rocks and then continued on to Sand Point, which marked the end of my coastal trek. I climbed the grassy knoll and gazed north and south up the shore, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsH_KxNwUQBnUGh1_lq65oHcEImvbxTBwj1NGWlc87d3QNvL7VW80HkE-ehF5uIMYBeoenNB2k3Q0ABpXfYwPu8YaDDIjXXvZW7HC4szSMZ4QeD-CIq71IdAKQI_esldB4eA1TT7NLxm2c/s1600/Sand+Point.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsH_KxNwUQBnUGh1_lq65oHcEImvbxTBwj1NGWlc87d3QNvL7VW80HkE-ehF5uIMYBeoenNB2k3Q0ABpXfYwPu8YaDDIjXXvZW7HC4szSMZ4QeD-CIq71IdAKQI_esldB4eA1TT7NLxm2c/s200/Sand+Point.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677690319327689314" border="0" /></a>marveling at the sandy beaches marred by nothing other than an occasional light bulb carried in on the tide.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Eager now to work up another appetite and less impressed with the last 3 miles of forest after seeing such beauty on the beach, I fast-tracked my walk up another stretch of boardwalk to the ranger station, waved goodbye to the couple I had passed hours before and settled in for the long drive back to civilization.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-1353122741756808282011-11-19T14:10:00.000-08:002011-11-21T19:50:53.692-08:00A true Hole-in-the-Wall<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CX6RiFgAFGqgXnMbTcvdTO4eKTCma8G_L9BXooKCtRE8dRtiHwOKVRBQGrkN6EfotRmT_QUGExJZEHgu9N_EHDpoq627wbF2ThXGEnXVrOV5ykxQQ6ImVdPRyxcCxSmIRrQyuZrA5MSY/s1600/Hole+in+the+Wall.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4CX6RiFgAFGqgXnMbTcvdTO4eKTCma8G_L9BXooKCtRE8dRtiHwOKVRBQGrkN6EfotRmT_QUGExJZEHgu9N_EHDpoq627wbF2ThXGEnXVrOV5ykxQQ6ImVdPRyxcCxSmIRrQyuZrA5MSY/s200/Hole+in+the+Wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677662203538468882" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline; font-family:lucida grande;" >L</span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">ocation: Rialto Beach in the Olympics</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcpFGrTAyEQV4Y7E7dAUWY-_aFpOiC0gkh-qER4nwPBQUHgHKJ05iS4h912vsqrn_XbLVEuEFg_r4pCxAHfc_Ea4PNDYbNp29PjiMp-oxJis5xfRdej86MOOInoul_lSpNrfBNHqimmDZ/s1600/James+Island.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcpFGrTAyEQV4Y7E7dAUWY-_aFpOiC0gkh-qER4nwPBQUHgHKJ05iS4h912vsqrn_XbLVEuEFg_r4pCxAHfc_Ea4PNDYbNp29PjiMp-oxJis5xfRdej86MOOInoul_lSpNrfBNHqimmDZ/s200/James+Island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677661355065173282" border="0" /></a> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 4 miles</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">Not quite ready to delve full-time into rain or snow, I opted to spend one of the last fall weekends on the coast. Rialto Beach is said to be one of the most spectacular sights in Washington so I made the more than three hour drive to the Olympics to wander on a sandy beach and listen to the waves crash on the shore. It was blue skies all weekend, but temperatures rarely crept above 32.</p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">You only have to step out of the parking lot to be treated to the stunning sight of Rialto Beach, which stretches just beyond the Quillayute River. There are sea stacks, driftwood masterpieces <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxZiEtHa2SBfXAD766zIreMDcT4jA6VQ5t2QwmRLwwlujoYA2GK38ZpzVQWVnIxlIsLTd5cJOBnz6NgshNondFqi4D9rgAxqQiN2h3bqW9k6LXwuQ0ECGNkb6bWgLavdWO3CnKWcPxu-1/s1600/Rialto+seastack.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxZiEtHa2SBfXAD766zIreMDcT4jA6VQ5t2QwmRLwwlujoYA2GK38ZpzVQWVnIxlIsLTd5cJOBnz6NgshNondFqi4D9rgAxqQiN2h3bqW9k6LXwuQ0ECGNkb6bWgLavdWO3CnKWcPxu-1/s200/Rialto+seastack.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677661793747934898" border="0" /></a>and colorful cobblestones. The oft-photographed James Island made me leap with delight when I first saw it for I bought a framed snapshot that already hangs on the wall.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpRIZ-mMwFlyuOnX-KKK5Yo8HYPoib0wB841878NQd8jtk7R4J1TjI4o72k9Ln39BBiUCCwuAenPdB3BbI5iKBRebLzpjlvDsuJSqJmCPSSlBrUEd3prZSp4MeVbmyEmH0kze9wiY0xTP/s1600/starfish.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEpRIZ-mMwFlyuOnX-KKK5Yo8HYPoib0wB841878NQd8jtk7R4J1TjI4o72k9Ln39BBiUCCwuAenPdB3BbI5iKBRebLzpjlvDsuJSqJmCPSSlBrUEd3prZSp4MeVbmyEmH0kze9wiY0xTP/s200/starfish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677662034346143650" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: lucida grande;" class="MsoNormal">I spotted other off-shore islands as I moseyed along the beach, taking the time to admire the starfish and other marine life I found. A round log offered a way over Ellen Creek and my ultimate destination, Hole-in-the-Wall, could be seen another mile or so down the beach. The opening in the stone seemed to change size and shape depending on where I stood and I took more than a dozen <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxc7P284ekHAI8brLMul0MdPNa4q5F84x3WkCsbUTjgCbWcNVlp_el8c8cDkAmijpNp5i9-ehtcwq10OgFiAW_wogYrfeiQsKxECV9NxmaCsas7_TcnBuDq6pdmMwTM_23CyCqIPiqDiyJ/s1600/Rialto+sunset.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxc7P284ekHAI8brLMul0MdPNa4q5F84x3WkCsbUTjgCbWcNVlp_el8c8cDkAmijpNp5i9-ehtcwq10OgFiAW_wogYrfeiQsKxECV9NxmaCsas7_TcnBuDq6pdmMwTM_23CyCqIPiqDiyJ/s200/Rialto+sunset.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677662342739633058" border="0" /></a>photographs looking for just the way I wanted to remember it. </p><span style="font-family:lucida grande;"> </span><span style=" line-height: 115%; font-family:lucida grande;font-size:100%;" >I lazed about on the downed timber for about an hour, enjoying the brightness of the sun and the lull of the waves. The approach of high tide, however, prompted me to start back toward one of the most heavenly sunsets I’ve ever seen.</span>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-63465032003411929662011-11-12T19:16:00.000-08:002011-11-21T19:21:12.604-08:00Anything is better than nothing in the snow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqBWtT3UF6LejM3dCDaGMcqbgLKWH_JgweS4WOA1bCL00WGa3nFjruAItFrVhmwz-now1yZUC4nda6E9x8J1lEjmzSx7DeICsbAWmqeUpvPh3Y9ZuxizHoVi67Appym5mcnFYuhZ4p3Vc/s1600/Rampart+forest.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqBWtT3UF6LejM3dCDaGMcqbgLKWH_JgweS4WOA1bCL00WGa3nFjruAItFrVhmwz-now1yZUC4nda6E9x8J1lEjmzSx7DeICsbAWmqeUpvPh3Y9ZuxizHoVi67Appym5mcnFYuhZ4p3Vc/s200/Rampart+forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677654405719380882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWphPe7O36zhAtu8MwMtukoetwMoyN-vWz9gjY1Emt2KYLoPmT5hngrFns9TthaDDdZtPy-uo6__6bXyzVN6RNAzp5RO-YS6HVmQReK7n9_eqTubQchjL5aAwaL4QddhZ_bXL85iPa-Oj3/s1600/rampart+snowy+trees.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWphPe7O36zhAtu8MwMtukoetwMoyN-vWz9gjY1Emt2KYLoPmT5hngrFns9TthaDDdZtPy-uo6__6bXyzVN6RNAzp5RO-YS6HVmQReK7n9_eqTubQchjL5aAwaL4QddhZ_bXL85iPa-Oj3/s200/rampart+snowy+trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677654202825253170" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Mount Rainier National Park, Longmire area</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 5 miles</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 1,300 feet</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">This was a day that dampened aspirations but could not stamp out my need for a snowy adventure. The plan had been to climb to Camp Muir but recent storms and a lack of personnel stopped rangers from clearing the road to Paradise or even opening the gate to let us take our chances. Since we’d already driven nearly two hours and had no backup plan, we sucked it up and decided to take an easy stroll up Rampart Ridge.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkxj-32ZnFPg7ono4W69ProoijkBXnmlIA7JK7ZfJLwlr0NXObbyXHWI7uEW2POc14UuiNLdgM1PKaAi0Sr17OmgbnhYBQKPubPrIgkajAn9FLD52XGNUYhxgOL95x1NA3RCBFR8fpR-J/s1600/rampart+white+view.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEkxj-32ZnFPg7ono4W69ProoijkBXnmlIA7JK7ZfJLwlr0NXObbyXHWI7uEW2POc14UuiNLdgM1PKaAi0Sr17OmgbnhYBQKPubPrIgkajAn9FLD52XGNUYhxgOL95x1NA3RCBFR8fpR-J/s200/rampart+white+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677654598824685650" border="0" /></a>I’d done the trail in summer and attempted it in the heart of winter so I couldn’t argue with the logic it made to hike it in fall. The path winds slowly through a forest before peaking out briefly at a viewpoint. Normally, hikers can see the river, the valley and nearby Tumtum Peak. I saw white: fog, clouds, snow. The trees were <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTbWBTrRMgEV6wNqCtiT0hK8_XGikKqUtDeAn2044aacWHBjomX7zMS6LpD25ehb-DW9su97Do7YL3jNlgOMBzgj4-Xxga3fbB8e9G60f-wsCt4-amiDyZ4olmzBVdgconnh-SPBcI2RG/s1600/brief+sun+on+rampart.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtTbWBTrRMgEV6wNqCtiT0hK8_XGikKqUtDeAn2044aacWHBjomX7zMS6LpD25ehb-DW9su97Do7YL3jNlgOMBzgj4-Xxga3fbB8e9G60f-wsCt4-amiDyZ4olmzBVdgconnh-SPBcI2RG/s200/brief+sun+on+rampart.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5677654864259855858" border="0" /></a>weighed down with powder and several inches coated the wet ground.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">After skirting the cliff, I briefly rested and enjoyed my snowy view, trying to conjure up the images I saw here on my first exploration. I fondly recalled the gray jays that had swooped and stolen my snacks. The cold, however, quickly prodded me to finish the loop and return to the warmth of the car.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-32649104178396764852011-11-04T19:29:00.000-07:002011-11-07T19:39:07.021-08:00The right wrong turn on Thorp Mountain<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOkGQXkJph-22pw5lvA7cST0PQh9fearAJD4w1Arm71GtrzFKF8uSEk91gUfHh-Md5lwWQrsDbUUeliUMKvF3nmFlevdrkDyddTXGrjdxk7nzUKb653T3cj_1Z2IY6ovKfJGfkX_TXD1m/s1600/view+of+Enchantments.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlOkGQXkJph-22pw5lvA7cST0PQh9fearAJD4w1Arm71GtrzFKF8uSEk91gUfHh-Md5lwWQrsDbUUeliUMKvF3nmFlevdrkDyddTXGrjdxk7nzUKb653T3cj_1Z2IY6ovKfJGfkX_TXD1m/s200/view+of+Enchantments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672464140665555346" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW51-Cq9jrUfnSe3wHZgGnptOZV_4iJmkKx-QDw2uYj9VrC26KmpNEcYeAnpiQYTswzfO2Cq9jIInu1myLNLtSAAkFGCraocr7evF20O0nHnPdbhOQTQLOfK9iWth6V0b0MRGPQFvM_lg/s1600/No+Name+Ridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGW51-Cq9jrUfnSe3wHZgGnptOZV_4iJmkKx-QDw2uYj9VrC26KmpNEcYeAnpiQYTswzfO2Cq9jIInu1myLNLtSAAkFGCraocr7evF20O0nHnPdbhOQTQLOfK9iWth6V0b0MRGPQFvM_lg/s200/No+Name+Ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672462209832261218" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 15 miles</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation: Probably 2,000 feet or so</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Salmon la Sac near Roslyn</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Thorp Mountain was meant to be an easy, somewhat snowy summit to tag on a rare sunny day this time of year. My partner and I could practically hear the songbirds serenading us as we neared the end of our picturesque drive and began a hunt for a forest pass. After three stops and some backtracking, we were told no pass was needed since it is off-season so we parked and loaded up. We hadn’t gone but 100 feet when we were faced with our first challenge: crossing a cold, cold creek that offered no stepping stones or bridge. I bravely rushed forward and stretched my foot out to touch a rock barely breaching the surface. It was covered in ice. Somehow though, using our trekking poles and encouraging laughter (cameras at the ready for a fall), we made it over without incident.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmdJ693aWgLTcyjm9zV7p0wI14cISczVYEjtG19I-PIcQjiUTwV73T97UCcdgMBHGpCPPuKmMhhAJr0nD37v7CrOYTiUVyCHIfnWKKppq6DJkPhCM31oywVx52Bify3FUt69DPMbelQ8k/s1600/dead+Thorp.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmdJ693aWgLTcyjm9zV7p0wI14cISczVYEjtG19I-PIcQjiUTwV73T97UCcdgMBHGpCPPuKmMhhAJr0nD37v7CrOYTiUVyCHIfnWKKppq6DJkPhCM31oywVx52Bify3FUt69DPMbelQ8k/s200/dead+Thorp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672462753811439330" border="0" /></a>The narrow path pushed through fields of crackling dry plants that had died some time ago. With the blue sky above and snow-capped mountains surrounding us, the brown only added to the kaleidoscope of color. We marveled over several bear tracks and settled into a comfortable hiking zone. After three hours, we passed a junction with the Kachess Trail and found ourselves staring out at the Cascade Range in the distance and No Name <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_IA7uUEVgF9BMc0en2o3ixL3p2B245phiWfSYmqtR4TvQg4wGZEie8Ck4_mKMcdcO7_ETV1kMZA6hGxJytSDfEzULyHzRX17Cnv5uGx8NKVHLyZLsqcpyGEDhbrLWDaTOD4hs9yzTvZo/s1600/Kachess+Lake.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_IA7uUEVgF9BMc0en2o3ixL3p2B245phiWfSYmqtR4TvQg4wGZEie8Ck4_mKMcdcO7_ETV1kMZA6hGxJytSDfEzULyHzRX17Cnv5uGx8NKVHLyZLsqcpyGEDhbrLWDaTOD4hs9yzTvZo/s200/Kachess+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672462993123142738" border="0" /></a>Ridge to our right. We had no luck finding the lookout tower that was supposed to signal the summit so we dug out our map and trail description and argued over where we were. Our answer came at the next junction that read: Thorp Mountain, 2.5 miles, with an arrow pointing back where we’d come.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzWEi3-qQpr18HvaU3Ic9Nz34aQY94XUPKI8jVhhSCOB-bCuun-9a2lQQg0gmyHf8I2yVZy8Yk8VSwBFrHZJy_Mr_NzM0LmgoRxtLfR1HgMEFAPawoMaWOgnnlp8Qv8kSYKPXrBnS-QcE/s1600/Christmas+tree.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhzWEi3-qQpr18HvaU3Ic9Nz34aQY94XUPKI8jVhhSCOB-bCuun-9a2lQQg0gmyHf8I2yVZy8Yk8VSwBFrHZJy_Mr_NzM0LmgoRxtLfR1HgMEFAPawoMaWOgnnlp8Qv8kSYKPXrBnS-QcE/s200/Christmas+tree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672463137084271922" border="0" /></a>More amused at our “detour” than discouraged, we followed our tracks until we found where we’d gone straight instead of curved left and continued our upward surge. I snapped a shot of the Thorp Mountain sign – just to prove our success, even if it took an additional five miles. The last stretch of trail was a bit unforgiving and I felt the soreness in my ankle settling in but I was distracted by the Christmas-looking trees that lined the trail and sparkling Kachess Lake below.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgtu2hlS98e5h9FBZbPhLh9IC96Rexi6Lem8HhsH4ggDeq_2QaSS9OmmVdPw9h8lp-faE2sy9vgK2dz2fS_A3S2E9oM4lscNZaoSMeGW7xD_ZE_f6jOA3WUcOfwY8rmRJ_Tzs0AphFH0j/s1600/lookout+tower+Thorp+Mtn.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgtu2hlS98e5h9FBZbPhLh9IC96Rexi6Lem8HhsH4ggDeq_2QaSS9OmmVdPw9h8lp-faE2sy9vgK2dz2fS_A3S2E9oM4lscNZaoSMeGW7xD_ZE_f6jOA3WUcOfwY8rmRJ_Tzs0AphFH0j/s200/lookout+tower+Thorp+Mtn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672463967443769906" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Then, in a blessed moment for my tired mind and body, I saw a rustic tower (built in 1931) perched atop the hill. We threw our packs down and stared in wonder at the Enchantments rising in the distance, the lakes glistening below. Our celebration was stinted though since the approaching night spurred us down the trail, barely pausing on the hidden ice patches. Despite it all, can’t say I regret our poor navigation a bit!</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-26803105835847442692011-11-04T18:52:00.000-07:002011-11-07T18:55:05.346-08:00Reverse hike in Mowich<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLrSKPdONR8dXy8W4GJNAgUvwJJNZ6QxBACLMyiYCQkUjkqPYXKSNXh-IKlFH6onz_y09QlWcji07Laxoj4ewWSuYBRkupOTVlEi_SDLPC7ruEXrr4SsEx5JrLLaQhl5SuWFObq6_Zk3c/s1600/Mowich+from+Paul+Peak.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLrSKPdONR8dXy8W4GJNAgUvwJJNZ6QxBACLMyiYCQkUjkqPYXKSNXh-IKlFH6onz_y09QlWcji07Laxoj4ewWSuYBRkupOTVlEi_SDLPC7ruEXrr4SsEx5JrLLaQhl5SuWFObq6_Zk3c/s200/Mowich+from+Paul+Peak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672452589298256146" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 8 miles</p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation: About 2,000 feet</p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Mowich area of Mount Rainier National Park</p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">The infamous 17-mile road to Mowich gave me no problems as I sped along and I wondered why I’d felt such hatred toward the pot-hole haven last year. I'd had visions of a mini-summit in mind all morning but the road crushed them after all. The gate on the last <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVRMoNZ6G1a-PQ9eEwFT9fCix9kfKl3lMKmJadW2DV9i7EuNIKVlILLl1HorIupbHz_9TM_yfV9mgjp5RCNlXzNmAr9T7AZEL04H3pVc-WPNAnKpoexT4mulKk2FFPaNttIvt0iElCDsW/s1600/snow-capped+trees.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVRMoNZ6G1a-PQ9eEwFT9fCix9kfKl3lMKmJadW2DV9i7EuNIKVlILLl1HorIupbHz_9TM_yfV9mgjp5RCNlXzNmAr9T7AZEL04H3pVc-WPNAnKpoexT4mulKk2FFPaNttIvt0iElCDsW/s200/snow-capped+trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672452939743987250" border="0" /></a>6-mile stretch was closed due to snow and ice so I was forced to park and improvise. I found myself on a reverse hike, meaning I trekked downhill and put in the work uphill on the return to the trailhead.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0VNiwbtlDEcA2Bu03_5CgkgdgO6GUGoiUZYYbUBLzcefqawpdxe5sEqQ3U9NnYNqyzu-IS6nBCA9OyxOvt5xsaXxEtQ3wFaqAlBQQQMxipEcdtiKysCi9pq-wzBLeiQLpb9vBH2aod43/s1600/Mowich+River.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0VNiwbtlDEcA2Bu03_5CgkgdgO6GUGoiUZYYbUBLzcefqawpdxe5sEqQ3U9NnYNqyzu-IS6nBCA9OyxOvt5xsaXxEtQ3wFaqAlBQQQMxipEcdtiKysCi9pq-wzBLeiQLpb9vBH2aod43/s200/Mowich+River.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672452812475831682" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: times new roman;" class="MsoNormal">I settled on Paul Peak Trail, which drifted downward through an old-growth forest on generic switchbacks that didn’t pound the knees too badly. The scenery wasn’t stellar but the birds kept me company as I tromped past the junction with the Wonderland Trail and hiked another mile to Mowich River. The frigid water and snow-swept trees in the distance were the highlight of the trip so I didn’t linger long before heading back to the warmth of my car.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-56752124207705030612011-10-27T09:26:00.000-07:002011-11-07T09:35:37.816-08:00Rainy in the Hoh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7g02xZ569JEhsLlDONADSg2TgV5xl_lyO_FBTidII5ja18nEO_8JT0lugggRU6gZAEbJ8SI-KPBE6-dbVA5TgiH4fM489F29aaCFyeksnl-1I3Fo-GbreTCTijfv52huGbo1pmwZ9jux/s1600/Trail+of+the+Mosses.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC7g02xZ569JEhsLlDONADSg2TgV5xl_lyO_FBTidII5ja18nEO_8JT0lugggRU6gZAEbJ8SI-KPBE6-dbVA5TgiH4fM489F29aaCFyeksnl-1I3Fo-GbreTCTijfv52huGbo1pmwZ9jux/s200/Trail+of+the+Mosses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672308236731130274" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">The day was cold and wet - what better to do than visit the Hoh Rain Forest? I've already plugged through the moss-laden trees and slept beside the river on the </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPuM1jrugSMh78AcqKNT-QH3QsuzzB0UOpGDhvB1hZxO7kd1C0CiuNUMQ3AVxQ5CxhkaArh9F5VtqLaB8A72d-A0e-GGRYUX0LTcL0dGXFpIuN1LYpS9XxCGKisR6X5-GHkZmqo75Hyx_/s1600/mossy+Hoh+water.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOPuM1jrugSMh78AcqKNT-QH3QsuzzB0UOpGDhvB1hZxO7kd1C0CiuNUMQ3AVxQ5CxhkaArh9F5VtqLaB8A72d-A0e-GGRYUX0LTcL0dGXFpIuN1LYpS9XxCGKisR6X5-GHkZmqo75Hyx_/s200/mossy+Hoh+water.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672308355309659138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">approach to Mount Olympus, but this was just a side trail, a minor detour on the day we pointed the car for home. It's dubbed the Trail of Mosses and it's kept short for tourists who want to get out of the vehicle but don't want to </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-WeOCLosRfy58AYGSwhHiNfxtJGKJb27S2nDtc9U2xse-plddgNUoBakWpQl1W8E6-lINFvXlUKnxr81BL6K75KOd7cUYYbC4km76sXnzTpd49n3e3ZPUJLXsORA2U_THqk17s53fiiU/s1600/maple+grove.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-WeOCLosRfy58AYGSwhHiNfxtJGKJb27S2nDtc9U2xse-plddgNUoBakWpQl1W8E6-lINFvXlUKnxr81BL6K75KOd7cUYYbC4km76sXnzTpd49n3e3ZPUJLXsORA2U_THqk17s53fiiU/s200/maple+grove.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672308735369692242" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:lucida grande;">expend a tremendous amount of energy (we're talking less than a mile here).<br /><br />Everything was bright green, a sharp contrast to the dreary gray day. Even the water contained clumps of electric green moss. The trail made a quick loop through the forest, offering interpretive signs and views of maple groves and natural arches growing overhead. Just the right walk to wave goodbye to the Olympics.<br /></span>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-75596299304586253372011-10-20T19:37:00.000-07:002011-10-24T19:40:49.942-07:00Standing on the edge of the U.S.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL05SjUYbpXlEaBZE1YCeegh3pwRQyTDG4Mb5e-OBmVPFUuW32hrI_d0ya1RlXUjBewb7O70vLVS83WCYiu7FCkPPwwTGvCcSozCm0JRr-vgS5paD50Dgc-ui9CBpUQlHenhedsyJoH5Vr/s1600/Cape+Flattery.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL05SjUYbpXlEaBZE1YCeegh3pwRQyTDG4Mb5e-OBmVPFUuW32hrI_d0ya1RlXUjBewb7O70vLVS83WCYiu7FCkPPwwTGvCcSozCm0JRr-vgS5paD50Dgc-ui9CBpUQlHenhedsyJoH5Vr/s200/Cape+Flattery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667253558772858482" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Neah Bay</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Cape Flattery is the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States and it is worth the long drive and short walk necessary to take in the beauty. It’s at the tippy top of the Olympic Peninsula on the Makah Indian Reservation, tucked in a secluded corner amid cavernous coves and crashing waves.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqhNPyK1E1hz-hd3TkM2P_9oOUYq1fHeiZbMwAvBrK4nD63l1lwVWGEy3gY8urRK9pt0etitamkBkorFBYN_EcnvyBKzNTad8slOidYo2h27bzpdLA2-2FesAgG-EIN3fXySIq9dfc_bX/s1600/Flattery+coves.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyqhNPyK1E1hz-hd3TkM2P_9oOUYq1fHeiZbMwAvBrK4nD63l1lwVWGEy3gY8urRK9pt0etitamkBkorFBYN_EcnvyBKzNTad8slOidYo2h27bzpdLA2-2FesAgG-EIN3fXySIq9dfc_bX/s200/Flattery+coves.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667253721010137442" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">The walk is ¾ of a mile through a mossy wonderland complete with cedar decks to stand on and gaze out on the turquoise water. This is where you catch your first glimpse of the miniature islands that dot <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImE-DKL0gUh4hyYHSayc9hr1JqfuRpRfNR8NRdzCxmNp8vNqBwmWMuheXRjrQQjtImpgHynPaDKvB3qsiQC7Jm3tKr8qaQQpRh4DmTJsc1gzViArHvpJ6ppstxASTxMXhzYz61dQsjozB/s1600/view+down+from+Flattery.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImE-DKL0gUh4hyYHSayc9hr1JqfuRpRfNR8NRdzCxmNp8vNqBwmWMuheXRjrQQjtImpgHynPaDKvB3qsiQC7Jm3tKr8qaQQpRh4DmTJsc1gzViArHvpJ6ppstxASTxMXhzYz61dQsjozB/s200/view+down+from+Flattery.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667253862607567170" border="0" /></a>the coast, and possibly the puffins and gray whales that frequent the area.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">At the end of the trail, you find yourself on the edge of a cliff and faced with nearby Tatoosh Island. The Makah once used the island as a fish and whaling camp but it has most recently been turned over<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipojGWYHrLkXVloDGcF-BN4DBIMXAxYrZlNPtJk1TabRvBUc5c3PrTf3s15CHjRyoh65bdu-AErABzwTymKfaClNsKhsKa737hiPcOsjJN6oruRWRTpATE_X2z-ddzYp_YKh01BNpSXHgm/s1600/Tattoosh+Island.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipojGWYHrLkXVloDGcF-BN4DBIMXAxYrZlNPtJk1TabRvBUc5c3PrTf3s15CHjRyoh65bdu-AErABzwTymKfaClNsKhsKa737hiPcOsjJN6oruRWRTpATE_X2z-ddzYp_YKh01BNpSXHgm/s200/Tattoosh+Island.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5667253998830878754" border="0" /></a> to the Coast Guard. Staring out at the whitecaps, I noticed a gray whale disappearing beneath the surf and determinedly walked the ridge until I caught his tail in my camera lens.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">It’s such a lovely place to relax, it’s hard to tear yourself away.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-13941277306383642562011-10-20T09:20:00.000-07:002011-10-26T21:34:52.772-07:00Boggy and the beach<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_k3Z3VCw2dC077oUHstrpbYkax-5kZoB23JfrSzhrn20bYWN1fhfMYZ0_ISM9mNkqgryK80T3Igtfj33o0iMlLVW7reyVe04cLxLYHmOmEsdJtcm5UOJWwAh2ykAssxmUQmTgigaAioY/s1600/Shi+Shi+Beach.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_k3Z3VCw2dC077oUHstrpbYkax-5kZoB23JfrSzhrn20bYWN1fhfMYZ0_ISM9mNkqgryK80T3Igtfj33o0iMlLVW7reyVe04cLxLYHmOmEsdJtcm5UOJWwAh2ykAssxmUQmTgigaAioY/s200/Shi+Shi+Beach.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668024962832349138" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Neah Bay</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Shi Shi Beach is said to be one of the region’s most spectacular beaches but it has been mired in problems since the idea of adding it to Olympic National Park first arose in the 1970s. Land-access disputes with the Makah Indian Tribe were finally settled in 1976 and the sandy beach with gorgeous sea stacks became a national treasure.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8IYjELmzGa46aH6t2XCgjt3JBXBrt3wfG_8jYLFBMvFtSJ18knJBsBdUrLCbuo8IUhaXPoSOMyt9DzQKzxqL8tl-8pz4SW4BX1r0tzCywK6GtM1r8ES83QPMVr6pyGSGwtU_GAaPZ6Io/s1600/Shi+Shi+horizon.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx8IYjELmzGa46aH6t2XCgjt3JBXBrt3wfG_8jYLFBMvFtSJ18knJBsBdUrLCbuo8IUhaXPoSOMyt9DzQKzxqL8tl-8pz4SW4BX1r0tzCywK6GtM1r8ES83QPMVr6pyGSGwtU_GAaPZ6Io/s200/Shi+Shi+horizon.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668025149524751058" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The 4-mile trail to access the beach is a boggy nightmare that leads you down a muddy road bed that only gets muckier and threatens to swallow your feet whole. The first mile treks through a Sitka spruce forest, which warrant more attention than hikers give it because so much of the focus is on staying afloat in the bog <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQROmLeSWRPHn9QOB9k8ryiC3taM50CFzPvZa-cQMQLz5tcaLv2kPcxqucdaV6bYx0zwz10wjhyphenhyphenxA6rKQyiPgvjPQ1sYQm-pVPpTbsFTkeGZy8UTThp4I8pb1EYOAHVkFqAc1YYZELssw/s1600/Shi+Shi.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQROmLeSWRPHn9QOB9k8ryiC3taM50CFzPvZa-cQMQLz5tcaLv2kPcxqucdaV6bYx0zwz10wjhyphenhyphenxA6rKQyiPgvjPQ1sYQm-pVPpTbsFTkeGZy8UTThp4I8pb1EYOAHVkFqAc1YYZELssw/s200/Shi+Shi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668025508896809954" border="0" /></a>and praying for the occasional planked bridge.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">In just under two miles, you reach the park boundary and begin descending a 150-foot bluff to the beach below. It’s a bit rough on the knees but the driftwood-littered beach is a hidden gem worth a little pain. The tide was coming in when we arrived and the Point of the Arches (sensational sea stacks) loomed down the beach.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-34950476383363846762011-10-14T19:52:00.000-07:002011-10-19T19:55:36.817-07:00Wandering an Icicle gorge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2CFA9O4NuVNQQj7VT1zZjUcibcQNSOUrN5dFZGDxfq6R9DAlr6yOm8UbZ0F0VUZxxKAR7_X5FQ87sFmCaosNeq_CywXCVJ-2mKWlEDJRorwZseu6rKrEs4SRCHgzE2TsghtcGsE6Cz9c/s1600/Icicle+River.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw2CFA9O4NuVNQQj7VT1zZjUcibcQNSOUrN5dFZGDxfq6R9DAlr6yOm8UbZ0F0VUZxxKAR7_X5FQ87sFmCaosNeq_CywXCVJ-2mKWlEDJRorwZseu6rKrEs4SRCHgzE2TsghtcGsE6Cz9c/s200/Icicle+River.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665401992259974386" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Leavenworth</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 4 miles</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 150 feet</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Propelling my parents back into nature called for a special hike so I took them to Leavenworth and scouted out a short stroll through a<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfGiZKRiup-XvP_qxa7MjX3AcNusxf3ianchcNg_xigKDUtWajpGrul50SIQSr1nTqTMTVn-8tmbdxt-WbrdJDmRBElV9GWGqrN7Lp3s_hkKwtiQdk_G5tOszwUSEL_EVWBr5_xYQoYwb/s1600/Icicle+Gorge+River+Trail+Loop.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfGiZKRiup-XvP_qxa7MjX3AcNusxf3ianchcNg_xigKDUtWajpGrul50SIQSr1nTqTMTVn-8tmbdxt-WbrdJDmRBElV9GWGqrN7Lp3s_hkKwtiQdk_G5tOszwUSEL_EVWBr5_xYQoYwb/s200/Icicle+Gorge+River+Trail+Loop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665402106554472690" border="0" /></a> diverse conifer forest. It was drizzly and gray as we hit the trail and veered left, opting to head downhill first. Icicle River was churning beside us and although the heavy fog blocked our views of the surrounding peaks, we had an up-close view of the trees <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIkCH1Zh7z9Gg_6VnDGwdmfyy0lhsyqnX5hY7IxLnYRCgaoWHtSadErvAGz5EHn7HsWyWAeT9cllrgz1UwHycbOSx-G5dDvgUN2aYQdFLdCqTQY6FccvOBmGU6FKeEgEEktbDd9f4M5__/s1600/Icicle+Forge+bridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkIkCH1Zh7z9Gg_6VnDGwdmfyy0lhsyqnX5hY7IxLnYRCgaoWHtSadErvAGz5EHn7HsWyWAeT9cllrgz1UwHycbOSx-G5dDvgUN2aYQdFLdCqTQY6FccvOBmGU6FKeEgEEktbDd9f4M5__/s200/Icicle+Forge+bridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665402252799695058" border="0" /></a>changing yellow, orange and red for fall.</p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">After crossing a sturdy bridge and admiring the natural carvings on the rocks below, we headed upriver and began working our way on a loop around a gorge carved by the large tributary of the Wenatchee River. The flatness of the walk allowed lots of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja63okxZ6auHzrFkIm9YuAz5-n1wG_0t9uP_TvntHqE-xiJAlKPC7A4YLV6soPavyNajTlbi1V5GY7VYMWl-cl02fX8cHz59iEacM0myg0yjqJZmK6cT8jdz6jM8wGi0d4Z9_-aFbUXhod/s1600/Icicle+Gorge+rocks.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja63okxZ6auHzrFkIm9YuAz5-n1wG_0t9uP_TvntHqE-xiJAlKPC7A4YLV6soPavyNajTlbi1V5GY7VYMWl-cl02fX8cHz59iEacM0myg0yjqJZmK6cT8jdz6jM8wGi0d4Z9_-aFbUXhod/s200/Icicle+Gorge+rocks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5665402397827082354" border="0" /></a>opportunities for admiring the dark fir stands and pines. We peeked over several viewpoints to the river below and eventually crossed Jack Creek and found ourselves at a mostly deserted campground. We picked up the trail again a little way down the road and continued downstream until we found the car.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-80908502165658124962011-10-08T11:19:00.000-07:002011-10-11T11:27:18.634-07:00A waterfall and lake beneath the crags<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3x1rNHt-pGzYaNuJMrGuUeReQ5RFEBRLZ_R_2lfyHIaIFSc0UBYxaf7WzVpQtUG2twfbICXidi_PpsA4khC9zIw03zE516AoAbtuuNgbkGk-OSL1n88d5HB7fPKfMcy9l5w3ofbNsFRb/s1600/Mount+Index.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3x1rNHt-pGzYaNuJMrGuUeReQ5RFEBRLZ_R_2lfyHIaIFSc0UBYxaf7WzVpQtUG2twfbICXidi_PpsA4khC9zIw03zE516AoAbtuuNgbkGk-OSL1n88d5HB7fPKfMcy9l5w3ofbNsFRb/s200/Mount+Index.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662302338822839586" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Near Gold Bar</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 8.2 miles </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 2,000 feet </p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Mount Index is a fierce-looking mountain on my list to climb <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRZdHGmXrpbBv9YAdoEGIhxWO3WcAo5kp-1WhqvXNWnPu4uYEEAvlU1kzbeoxze5Ydz2gs0dYpiNSPWKRVfnu-j0ffZdJjnnDB7Qd1wTRmiCTUhT09A8PfujHzLeDMCi0aCdcYei3RCot/s1600/alders+under+Mt+Index.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSRZdHGmXrpbBv9YAdoEGIhxWO3WcAo5kp-1WhqvXNWnPu4uYEEAvlU1kzbeoxze5Ydz2gs0dYpiNSPWKRVfnu-j0ffZdJjnnDB7Qd1wTRmiCTUhT09A8PfujHzLeDMCi0aCdcYei3RCot/s200/alders+under+Mt+Index.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662302452698455730" border="0" /></a>but today wasn’t the day to take it on so I settled for exploring the waterfall and lake beneath its imposing crags. The trail was relatively flat for the first 1.7 miles, leading me through towering mossy maples and alders and over a series of tributaries.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiJYRMAY9xTzUr0S8qcXVAuOoYMMzrgTa09snzR8BO4mvrXAFE0jIsbna02pUHzpgyeWftA79Z7YWN2Q2_w2XYTMYinaufXpvhQLurFPZrPlml_MvTbyCiK_P_j7JH7B9pSJzudPFO5Zm/s1600/Serene+Lake+junction.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaiJYRMAY9xTzUr0S8qcXVAuOoYMMzrgTa09snzR8BO4mvrXAFE0jIsbna02pUHzpgyeWftA79Z7YWN2Q2_w2XYTMYinaufXpvhQLurFPZrPlml_MvTbyCiK_P_j7JH7B9pSJzudPFO5Zm/s200/Serene+Lake+junction.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662302565039825154" border="0" /></a>A right at the junction led me up several wooden ladders and staircases until I could hear the roar of Bridal Veil Falls just around the bend. The water tumbled over a smooth granite slab to the rushing river below. I’d been told to expect a “Bridal shower” instead of Bridal Veil Falls but<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xDzlSQ6C076hfk8_AdoyxOXs2oPLsBJUVDQm2EjdvGw9XPAf4gP0GEaj0d4B2ZE4RXYk-ZHpnLQ0-75DnsmqVRiu9oeVEb4w8FVNhGOuoE0pcOOT71eMqoW_cc_sDKx0FVTY0N9j-S8M/s1600/Bridal+Veil+Falls.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xDzlSQ6C076hfk8_AdoyxOXs2oPLsBJUVDQm2EjdvGw9XPAf4gP0GEaj0d4B2ZE4RXYk-ZHpnLQ0-75DnsmqVRiu9oeVEb4w8FVNhGOuoE0pcOOT71eMqoW_cc_sDKx0FVTY0N9j-S8M/s200/Bridal+Veil+Falls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662302701002191970" border="0" /></a> the splash came nowhere near me, even though I inched my way out to the boulders for a better camera angle. Hoping to beat the crowd that arrived as I stood admiring, I walked the half mile back to the junction and took the left to Serene Lake.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">I wound my way through a basin and caught a second <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6lE1kd2fXMuZCiyJDzv9Me2RrT5rLRF6U0OL6beZ2h4T-UM9Q8n2Mf3SzNTEU32OqFG1WdtPrC8flIBnoPWDQfwACYXAYfLQziltOga53yb3EXzOSiWg6439P3JzdGLXUQ14zZ2oONDy/s1600/Lake+Serene.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ6lE1kd2fXMuZCiyJDzv9Me2RrT5rLRF6U0OL6beZ2h4T-UM9Q8n2Mf3SzNTEU32OqFG1WdtPrC8flIBnoPWDQfwACYXAYfLQziltOga53yb3EXzOSiWg6439P3JzdGLXUQ14zZ2oONDy/s200/Lake+Serene.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662302848311701570" border="0" /></a>glimpse of the tumbling water before the trail steepened and my thighs began burning. I gained probably 1,300 feet in just over a mile but the views of Skykomish Valley below were well worth the work. This was one of the hikes where I was continuously sure the lake was about to pop into view. Eventually a wooden sign directed me to the lake, which was tightly tucked into a snowy basic just beneath the stark walls of Index. The clouds and mountain walls reflected in the water was just what had been promised: serenity.<br /></p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-10337571182837150372011-10-07T11:15:00.000-07:002011-10-11T11:18:59.730-07:00First snow of the season on Norse Peak<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLWB1UJfDGyTfQh-WjayA2KC3dYdAh9Ru0ZcpN6GXv02unIaEgAeuTbrvEcgPeSrucmsLTaslOs6DGfdO6xDd7pvOARMjeaeHoD4RmSDYk_h8E0ZHiuAAZCi536D4xzBdQ4cnl-EEyny7/s1600/Norse+wind.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdLWB1UJfDGyTfQh-WjayA2KC3dYdAh9Ru0ZcpN6GXv02unIaEgAeuTbrvEcgPeSrucmsLTaslOs6DGfdO6xDd7pvOARMjeaeHoD4RmSDYk_h8E0ZHiuAAZCi536D4xzBdQ4cnl-EEyny7/s200/Norse+wind.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662300166509334418" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Crystal Mountain area</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 10.6 miles</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 2,800 feet</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">I wasn’t expecting snow but that’s what I found atop Norse Peak. I set out from the base of the ski resort with basic gear, anticipating a steep climb to the 6,858-foot summit in the rain. It was drizzly when we started up the switchbacks but we held out hope that we could gain enough elevation to rise above the clouds and be treated to majestic views of the mighty mountain rising behind the resort. No such luck.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogKvrL5-oqOAiQYLfCd4cHsOX2XB1mjTD_1HFYMqlb1vUEtwkuG0q9xNBwTTQiIxAbwaiFfI5aYOrxJ55hrrVXrhdcNYqamNQcmDKNLPHhvL9UbC4hf8HdsXfcITT7RN5MxYvXo4IKSgT/s1600/Norse+Peak.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogKvrL5-oqOAiQYLfCd4cHsOX2XB1mjTD_1HFYMqlb1vUEtwkuG0q9xNBwTTQiIxAbwaiFfI5aYOrxJ55hrrVXrhdcNYqamNQcmDKNLPHhvL9UbC4hf8HdsXfcITT7RN5MxYvXo4IKSgT/s200/Norse+Peak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662300408788264354" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">The clouds stayed with us as we trudged through the rocky meadows, moving slightly slower than usual because we’d had to add extra layers and didn’t want to sweat more than necessary <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmabHojca1qz45c4YwTGysO_fI7siIU84MnrdKzIpF7RDG0a9JvjURU_-B3IGffS_K2J8mr_BQqqsQsivVdC3ZK0kC4sN8jhh4UqZKzm8Yc2i_V9pVrwtHDiPISSsTmyCb4jAX9pkFcE3j/s1600/snow+on+Norse+Peak.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmabHojca1qz45c4YwTGysO_fI7siIU84MnrdKzIpF7RDG0a9JvjURU_-B3IGffS_K2J8mr_BQqqsQsivVdC3ZK0kC4sN8jhh4UqZKzm8Yc2i_V9pVrwtHDiPISSsTmyCb4jAX9pkFcE3j/s200/snow+on+Norse+Peak.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662300559106492386" border="0" /></a>and risk freezing. It wasn’t long before patches of snow sprouted among the undergrowth. We were initially excited to see our first snow this season … but then my shins disappeared into the snow and my excitement turned to uncertainty. I was, after all, in thin hiking pants.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">We began traversing along a snowy ridge and that’s where the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-0BlUsAZHXv1OfAtdB7jyvSiDYHipPFtxbu3FrEEh6Sv3s_BsvkyFoKNMkYnob0KJKJAHBR4FeWMcXwrEeSJiSX7zPbmDtFWWx84rCIXsIko1Rcoq_NM37KY7mSDrzS4oXpiK-ulZdIb/s1600/Norse+ridge.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5-0BlUsAZHXv1OfAtdB7jyvSiDYHipPFtxbu3FrEEh6Sv3s_BsvkyFoKNMkYnob0KJKJAHBR4FeWMcXwrEeSJiSX7zPbmDtFWWx84rCIXsIko1Rcoq_NM37KY7mSDrzS4oXpiK-ulZdIb/s200/Norse+ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5662300691312598386" border="0" /></a>winds hit. My attention was temporarily directed toward the drop-off to our left and carefully picking my way over fallen trees on the narrow sloped path but it wasn’t long before my fingers turned white and my nose felt numb. I tried staying directly behind my partner to use him as a shield but the gusts kept knocking us both over. Needless to say, the last push to the summit was rather miserable and we hightailed it back to the drizzle as quick as our frozen feet would carry us.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-14297983500202968452011-09-24T20:46:00.000-07:002011-09-26T20:49:53.421-07:00A sparkling oasis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDKlCi0qKWlCe7CPLYS75gLpMjciTBvg4xJd_XtoZ7CP1iyNmWADsWFp2PqOyMHQp4SyRUAZwkdEPZ3lQF5_g2uINlNCuP_4m9INa1VT8hLCeREdpt4RhfFjkZa4zgIL6RizFWKcMqRJ2/s1600/Lake+Valhalla.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family:verdana;">Location: Stevens Pass</span> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 11 miles</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 1,500 feet</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">The lure of water on a sunny day drew me to Lake Valhalla, an oasis in the midst of craggy rock roughly 40 miles from Leavenworth. A bonus was that the route follows the Pacific Crest Trail, one of the most famous trails that winds from the Mexican border all the way to the Canadian border. Several couples I encountered in the first two miles eagerly asked if I was headed for Canada – I almost hated to disappoint them with the truth.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5Y9nh0sUtTXoEehDuqciQZtLVlzgLT6vxE8loet9JfM1Pf82OdaUv7cNfzBUzitldLRJEJCX2tDbLuYUfZPjDYUqVlYOOUpQ52pf6R8ujco9MF629faWo9VTyBiv1Q2bA2wtwTxQQQl7/s1600/Valhalla+meadow.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5Y9nh0sUtTXoEehDuqciQZtLVlzgLT6vxE8loet9JfM1Pf82OdaUv7cNfzBUzitldLRJEJCX2tDbLuYUfZPjDYUqVlYOOUpQ52pf6R8ujco9MF629faWo9VTyBiv1Q2bA2wtwTxQQQl7/s200/Valhalla+meadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656881078373003490" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal">It was pretty flat going and for the first mile or two, I could see the highway below and Bavarian hotel and cottage rooftops peeking out of the forest. Eventually I crossed two creeks and indulged in blueberry picking in an open meadow before Lichtenberg Mountain and Nason Ridge commanded my attention.</p> <p style="font-family: verdana;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-CQpyeAL_FW2f1CHdDvY7uknZW26JY9dIfddk9qt-XFFD5_pAJ4RWREbv2HvPiiirtcH632OHv3yzXC_gtKpL3mgwAXpszKaYbawV7_8L8J81-MqCkV65kojA-k8c0FcSQHUTD61d0Uc/s1600/side+Lake+Valhalla.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-CQpyeAL_FW2f1CHdDvY7uknZW26JY9dIfddk9qt-XFFD5_pAJ4RWREbv2HvPiiirtcH632OHv3yzXC_gtKpL3mgwAXpszKaYbawV7_8L8J81-MqCkV65kojA-k8c0FcSQHUTD61d0Uc/s200/side+Lake+Valhalla.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656880932377044642" border="0" /></a>I arrived at the sparkling lake after 5.5 miles, anxious to dig my feet in the cool water and let the sun warm my face. Unfortunately, there is a backdoor to Valhalla and dozens of families had beat me to the spot. I tried relaxing beside a fisherman for some time, but it wasn’t long before the splashing of dogs and shrieks of young children nudged me on my way. Still, it was pretty as a postcard. </p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-87707573899609734342011-09-20T21:13:00.000-07:002011-09-20T21:21:37.082-07:00Two for one: wonder and disappointment ahead<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2omrVsHQiXo0R2sYKvP3Ht21LZFrn9NVyAtXQH2bm210PnR4cko9YJeDJhchkrHC7xIqCenxDiRAt9e09eYITc90vTuNT9zW8MHOvvuZhHWh7Z9girwBhyj1owVD-mk20Z6Bzu3iJZzM_/s1600/Rattlesnake+Ledge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2omrVsHQiXo0R2sYKvP3Ht21LZFrn9NVyAtXQH2bm210PnR4cko9YJeDJhchkrHC7xIqCenxDiRAt9e09eYITc90vTuNT9zW8MHOvvuZhHWh7Z9girwBhyj1owVD-mk20Z6Bzu3iJZzM_/s200/Rattlesnake+Ledge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654662010746349026" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Snoqualmie Corridor</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 9 miles</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 2,000 feet or so</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The warm weather seems to be lingering in Washington so I couldn’t help but take advantage – even if it meant rising at 5 a.m. to beat the clock for work. Rattlesnake Ledge appears to be quite a popular hike with people in Seattle, probably because it’s a quick drive to a quick hike with outstanding payoff. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFuc6AwoiXotoYPMnmxWhU0JSS7_60nO4402FmcP-e_Xqu4d4BMbUxXqZQdrytfRDkLwVWc_VGCZgnBbz0-oRf6EqJA4rtWSF2K50p7DRHlHmkd913s0r-IjtpogwuCIijca6WyGKEpmV/s1600/Rattlesnake+Lake.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFuc6AwoiXotoYPMnmxWhU0JSS7_60nO4402FmcP-e_Xqu4d4BMbUxXqZQdrytfRDkLwVWc_VGCZgnBbz0-oRf6EqJA4rtWSF2K50p7DRHlHmkd913s0r-IjtpogwuCIijca6WyGKEpmV/s200/Rattlesnake+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654662157863553170" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">The trail starts at Rattlesnake Lake, which didn’t look too impressive as I rubbed sleep out of my eyes. We warmed up quickly as we climbed the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVf8EQQ_BLsNyPQFubiHsUlae6NjxBUQtvFzZK_P2zVet_1YXMDFeNw9OKVXmuVb38P9eA29OBOLVIeYtu975791ST2CcLb-knVKzjNOwGl6n2WmC8UK7uxAvSR7dKfytVYjrmiGNisVkf/s1600/Rattlesnake+Lake+fog.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVf8EQQ_BLsNyPQFubiHsUlae6NjxBUQtvFzZK_P2zVet_1YXMDFeNw9OKVXmuVb38P9eA29OBOLVIeYtu975791ST2CcLb-knVKzjNOwGl6n2WmC8UK7uxAvSR7dKfytVYjrmiGNisVkf/s200/Rattlesnake+Lake+fog.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654662334506648690" border="0" /></a>well-maintained path through the forest and onto a monolithic block of rock. Summit came quickly since this hike is only four miles but seeing the fog settle over the lake below and creep through the valley made it my favorite moment of the day.</p> <p style="font-family: courier new;" class="MsoNormal">After descending, I walked a half mile up the road <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiVMdSYPW1kYz8-TJ6Pi-h6v3myNi-UlanfoDF7eo-KGnEyV7zfneDoW76w5pHcI6GEkb7wHYTh3mcnHI-PofRGOZK46oVUJwAa2P-ehol3ue-S3MPwzYShTK726FQzUK6JiavjDlPX2d/s1600/Cedar+Butte+marker.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiVMdSYPW1kYz8-TJ6Pi-h6v3myNi-UlanfoDF7eo-KGnEyV7zfneDoW76w5pHcI6GEkb7wHYTh3mcnHI-PofRGOZK46oVUJwAa2P-ehol3ue-S3MPwzYShTK726FQzUK6JiavjDlPX2d/s200/Cedar+Butte+marker.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654662663083001682" border="0" /></a>and started down the Iron Horse Trail, which I veered off of shortly after crossing Boxley Creek. My sights were set on Cedar Butte, which guide <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVVkPWMJYD5tzTtyiCzAjdRow-OtLImiXMPcFh62IVBbmUUD7sHKcKYHpWEKqtpj8k580ZCfirO3AdAJkoigXtaanVrRGMATlpTxLEeNbjxdf_IDRkVmRgflBAQU8CyN3I6N74eg9qcLe/s1600/Cedar+Butte+view.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOVVkPWMJYD5tzTtyiCzAjdRow-OtLImiXMPcFh62IVBbmUUD7sHKcKYHpWEKqtpj8k580ZCfirO3AdAJkoigXtaanVrRGMATlpTxLEeNbjxdf_IDRkVmRgflBAQU8CyN3I6N74eg9qcLe/s200/Cedar+Butte+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654662800694086850" border="0" /></a>books had deemed the most underappreciated hike in the region. It was billed as a 3-mile hike with “plenty of scenic spectacle.” I have to disagree. The trail was pretty standard forest and there wasn’t much view at the top, even though there was an official summit marker. Popular Mount Si and Mailbox could barely be seen in the distance between the tree branches. Nonetheless, knocking out nine miles before breakfast is nothing to complain about!</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-15515275886683754042011-09-16T20:59:00.000-07:002011-09-20T21:03:51.158-07:00Ain't it grand!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiFZBF3iQrzrTNYeG4_gUeE9n0-x0ELRQF-R6bWPlfwDMU1vQU_7CaOrcDqUIMJdDUrgOOtV8-oH1fC1Y50_EvHyapamYJnjIsEvA7YcOgkBNoOAZ5ftMlOdxSZsTzi5W_P_n-ExK5sdF/s1600/Grand+Park+meadow.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdiFZBF3iQrzrTNYeG4_gUeE9n0-x0ELRQF-R6bWPlfwDMU1vQU_7CaOrcDqUIMJdDUrgOOtV8-oH1fC1Y50_EvHyapamYJnjIsEvA7YcOgkBNoOAZ5ftMlOdxSZsTzi5W_P_n-ExK5sdF/s200/Grand+Park+meadow.jpg" alt="" 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font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--><span style="font-family:arial;">Location: Greenwater/Mount Rainier National Park </span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: 9 miles</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 1,100 feet </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">The best (and shortest) way into Grand Park is through the backdoor. Some hikers do a 14-mile jaunt from the Sunrise area but my hiking partner <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGok2HexGLrq-YfhqGLvbX_X9cpJEMxomWzPLG1AK7_ECIyXWEsmQRo4uZMvBy2cTDUITjn0dmaNCFHWQM5D1AafQUhID92_cOGSLx8njd10nm-xjJmZo1pShhYsEkpFMFuHl4IzYfbLcf/s1600/Lake+Eleanor.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGok2HexGLrq-YfhqGLvbX_X9cpJEMxomWzPLG1AK7_ECIyXWEsmQRo4uZMvBy2cTDUITjn0dmaNCFHWQM5D1AafQUhID92_cOGSLx8njd10nm-xjJmZo1pShhYsEkpFMFuHl4IzYfbLcf/s200/Lake+Eleanor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654658113538066146" border="0" /></a>and I opted to bump along some dirt roads and come in through the Eleanor Creek basin to shorten our trek a few miles. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">After an effortless mile through the forest on a boot path, we arrived at <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODidh_VBC97oy8tl-1HGuUUw-3F8dKT98FmLG33Xrz7Jae3aYog7DLt5CooxBX02SFisYJ-hLr-vYL6Oi4aqxbzDdbyFPLrWgg-u0nWR1n4tWYi8rAOLj2qYnXTepdUrIH1fBdotzLTlh/s1600/Grand+Park.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgODidh_VBC97oy8tl-1HGuUUw-3F8dKT98FmLG33Xrz7Jae3aYog7DLt5CooxBX02SFisYJ-hLr-vYL6Oi4aqxbzDdbyFPLrWgg-u0nWR1n4tWYi8rAOLj2qYnXTepdUrIH1fBdotzLTlh/s200/Grand+Park.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654658296251010258" border="0" /></a>Lake Eleanor and snapped a quick picture before letting a band of rowdy children chase us back on trail. The trail wasn’t challenging but it quickly opened to a mesa-like meadow spotted by silver forests. We missed out on the wildflowers and couldn’t find any wildlife to spruce up our <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX24TwvnTmgEKxCQw_PgWh00ktAoynL8SEolNNnEc94U4326k4oQ2U7swt5dC15gny7gt9l0YHM-xZeHj31gp6rTgkvkhnJKKyHsrepHTeMEbF79oacwHZCALMwrdruelVAs0L9VLiKic1/s1600/Grand+Park+via+Rainier.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX24TwvnTmgEKxCQw_PgWh00ktAoynL8SEolNNnEc94U4326k4oQ2U7swt5dC15gny7gt9l0YHM-xZeHj31gp6rTgkvkhnJKKyHsrepHTeMEbF79oacwHZCALMwrdruelVAs0L9VLiKic1/s200/Grand+Park+via+Rainier.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5654658553098597506" border="0" /></a>adventure but it was a nice change of pace to be in an open space as opposed to struggling up a mountain. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">The meadow stretched more than a mile with a cloud-covered Mount Rainier right in our face. We moseyed along the extremely narrow path (can’t damage the natural resources!) until we hit a junction that offered to take us either to a campground or far in the distance. Even homemade blueberry muffins couldn’t convince my partner to keep trucking so we let the breeze carry us back to the trailhead.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-81704088137608097812011-09-14T09:31:00.000-07:002011-09-26T09:38:54.654-07:00Enchanting wilderness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60af2EaANZkPwE-j5rHFuDNjEp4TWbcoXLBZyLZwSRklWoXtYeRYbEXVSCny8XOIuFoHu2Q89L6tDYX5REL4i3dd8yZ5QhAfVNTDmuilAp-sKCN62wcq6ZDEu-P-kTkFcDHKgGEGx83kQ/s1600/Mt+Cashmere.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh60af2EaANZkPwE-j5rHFuDNjEp4TWbcoXLBZyLZwSRklWoXtYeRYbEXVSCny8XOIuFoHu2Q89L6tDYX5REL4i3dd8yZ5QhAfVNTDmuilAp-sKCN62wcq6ZDEu-P-kTkFcDHKgGEGx83kQ/s200/Mt+Cashmere.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656707493370629378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu_SogjF5NnhxvPnxSaJ_flrjVCi_OoGLbb4671krZ2boL4W82K6e1WGZ3MrohsSukt3pEc2wkqgMkrk9m5WeNVZInAljf1m7MZYQTpPiO3WkA4MLSrQUIAmA_LTyPO6_pSTNj2cUNSSz/s1600/pretty+cashmere.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu_SogjF5NnhxvPnxSaJ_flrjVCi_OoGLbb4671krZ2boL4W82K6e1WGZ3MrohsSukt3pEc2wkqgMkrk9m5WeNVZInAljf1m7MZYQTpPiO3WkA4MLSrQUIAmA_LTyPO6_pSTNj2cUNSSz/s200/pretty+cashmere.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656707391412615874" border="0" /></a><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Alpine Lakes Wilderness</p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Main objective: Mount Cashmere</p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Distance: A long way…</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: At least 8,501 feet</p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Enchantments are an area most climbers in Washington dream of going but rarely do since there are few permits and a lot of interest. We lucked out and got a five-day permit for the Eight Mile Area, which doesn’t encompass the most challenging peaks but had enough to keep us preoccupied for our mini-vacay. </span><p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjiYlZHN7G01-m3c7ACBTCYW1sxPtCIt9wycUCHPkDF5aaCS-GoNLZXB6_pxvh3_HaUdkdre2A-XBq18bMbAI28W2xWGV0cdns6aiAibQocm8RJGMspBZgG_GnR3XZM8hVOK6T6xAXxNM/s1600/Little+8+Mile.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjiYlZHN7G01-m3c7ACBTCYW1sxPtCIt9wycUCHPkDF5aaCS-GoNLZXB6_pxvh3_HaUdkdre2A-XBq18bMbAI28W2xWGV0cdns6aiAibQocm8RJGMspBZgG_GnR3XZM8hVOK6T6xAXxNM/s200/Little+8+Mile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656707603760592754" border="0" /></a>We started out slow, promising that we would take things day by day rather than pushing to summit as many peaks as we could physically handle. It took a few miles before we passed all the day hikers and paused to enjoy a snack at Little Eight Mile Lake, which we immediately designated as our “bath” spot on the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIXDnDDT7Z_vLLDZZEdT_2z_rJQmhuq6CKt4T7m7Pvd1GwFpA-xnFxLODcCFEvebZiuWdfAguapHimHqoIta-bZWpK6jpBFdghz3fB3SoiRAmNM2DP6hmGr8g66UQijjVWimuGK-CosXo/s1600/lavendar+daffodils.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIXDnDDT7Z_vLLDZZEdT_2z_rJQmhuq6CKt4T7m7Pvd1GwFpA-xnFxLODcCFEvebZiuWdfAguapHimHqoIta-bZWpK6jpBFdghz3fB3SoiRAmNM2DP6hmGr8g66UQijjVWimuGK-CosXo/s200/lavendar+daffodils.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656707833755467042" border="0" /></a>descent. The trail then began to climb rather steeply, winding up a series of switchbacks that finally brought us high enough that we could see two lakes below and the impressive mountain range in the distance.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">It was a decent climb, more strenuous than I’d been expecting <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7jOdZo77hInsEhHLLfGUMhZASbCprKin27ueFuZMAQtgBMDuFhAkq6uq0oT3knGcGAJ0kSHMh7TTvI_neylD1vGoq8VvC539sBIKHmgoiNM9jYmRTvNwPMBx-vwhIi_CMr17VnpO8riJ/s1600/lake+caroline.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7jOdZo77hInsEhHLLfGUMhZASbCprKin27ueFuZMAQtgBMDuFhAkq6uq0oT3knGcGAJ0kSHMh7TTvI_neylD1vGoq8VvC539sBIKHmgoiNM9jYmRTvNwPMBx-vwhIi_CMr17VnpO8riJ/s200/lake+caroline.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656707955139256594" border="0" /></a>with my 50-pound pack (I’d shoved a LOT of chocolate in, for bribery, reward, motivation, you name it), but I was distracted by the colorful wildflowers long enough to forget the pain. We finally reached Lake Caroline and stopped to filter water, debating whether we should throw the tent up or push on. Since the shoreline seemed to be a breeding ground for black flies and mosquitoes, I armed myself with bug spray and begged to keep trekking to the meadows at the base of our first destination.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyvCcwLLR-FInBpfiF1EAuexIay6DX4cG0ZeMnMZ1mrN-H2T7SYlPjwriV0G8EFfybMMynaMQkpKZrzLRWc27Iaa-qoOy_h-ibB6_07TNrfJbOL4mkVxCe8H6GnyNPJgmcn1dnJHLqyQW/s1600/cashmere+meadow.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyvCcwLLR-FInBpfiF1EAuexIay6DX4cG0ZeMnMZ1mrN-H2T7SYlPjwriV0G8EFfybMMynaMQkpKZrzLRWc27Iaa-qoOy_h-ibB6_07TNrfJbOL4mkVxCe8H6GnyNPJgmcn1dnJHLqyQW/s200/cashmere+meadow.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656708075768575810" border="0" /></a></p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">In another two miles, we came around a ridge and found ourselves in Windy Pass. The meadow was so inviting we couldn’t help but follow the stream to a flat, grassy area beneath the trees and pitch our tent. The area lived up to its name – the wind blew so hard and frequently through the night that I never quite shook the shivers.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Oi9HDN-n2yqQyJe1O6ZwaifMGbBMZ34Cdq_BT7rWXirVgzPTdEoKKCWgVMl4ePnaYtj_yETA47711hHvSmCA_mBIxeBUSgf8G-T-Fhtb6zA82hPP3e_xt52a9qVtO7xj3ayRkOTtYmU7/s1600/cashmere+ridge.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Oi9HDN-n2yqQyJe1O6ZwaifMGbBMZ34Cdq_BT7rWXirVgzPTdEoKKCWgVMl4ePnaYtj_yETA47711hHvSmCA_mBIxeBUSgf8G-T-Fhtb6zA82hPP3e_xt52a9qVtO7xj3ayRkOTtYmU7/s200/cashmere+ridge.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656708236534234194" border="0" /></a>In the morning, we made our tea and started for the ridge. It was a rocky path that traversed more than two miles to the mountain, which didn’t seem very big the closer we got. Mount Cashmere, at 8,501 feet, is the 58<sup>th</sup> tallest peak in the state and comprised completely of boulders. Sensing a long haul ahead, we dumped everything but our food and climbing gear, figuring we’d have to come back that way after summiting since our next peak was in the opposite direction.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal">After what seemed like an eternity on the ridge, peering below at unnamed lakes and possible <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFYme4r085871bfplTRR1jOOmEyVJKiE_-YBDXbq-ZSkO_H1_IAg1igXizgOLoHKXQoHrnwDOTOokN9gkgTzvQyxd8GJMWuqRkmhyphenhyphenEFjzESUnqBuxtnYH1w79EON1zbr333nsmXHDv8dk/s1600/cashmere+summit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFFYme4r085871bfplTRR1jOOmEyVJKiE_-YBDXbq-ZSkO_H1_IAg1igXizgOLoHKXQoHrnwDOTOokN9gkgTzvQyxd8GJMWuqRkmhyphenhyphenEFjzESUnqBuxtnYH1w79EON1zbr333nsmXHDv8dk/s200/cashmere+summit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656708513141386802" border="0" /></a>rock routes to climb in the coming days, we found ourselves at the base of Cashmere. We crossed some snow gullies to the back of the mountain and scrambled up some sketchy boulders before realizing we had somehow missed the path. We examined our options (summiting the east side of the peak, traversing the top of the rocky mountain, etc.) and decided to drop our packs and climb straight up. Daylight was waning and we still had a long way back to our remaining gear, which we’d hidden in the bushes near Windy Pass.</p> <p style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFA993Mz1AOgTEZX0VgXGNbTg2FYTUHprXwnDsDStAKQGjZyMpAtmpfH3C0aQQdpMdOkqulsZLNcaCk7G2Sn-xqTLRVzAqhYh3qgOH8OCT1W5lR468EawwSntNrnkML8IJmehYXOWf0KRi/s1600/enchantments.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFA993Mz1AOgTEZX0VgXGNbTg2FYTUHprXwnDsDStAKQGjZyMpAtmpfH3C0aQQdpMdOkqulsZLNcaCk7G2Sn-xqTLRVzAqhYh3qgOH8OCT1W5lR468EawwSntNrnkML8IJmehYXOWf0KRi/s200/enchantments.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656708639490654178" border="0" /></a>All things considered, it didn’t take long to scramble to the summit and gaze out at the Enchantments, which were captivating. I could see Dragontail Peak and Cannon Mountain, which are high on my list to tackle. On the way back to the pass, we somehow lost elevation on the ridge and found ourselves several hundred feet below our original trail. My partners decided we would keep trucking over the loose shale, which took me out twice, further swelling my screwy ankle and bloodying my left knee. I don’t know that I’ve ever been so excited to return to the day’s starting point! But, there was chocolate.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-42462576205060856402011-09-09T20:04:00.000-07:002011-09-14T20:09:00.762-07:00A laid-back day at the lake<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjL6-DvuP78t0g4uurUkdfM90WkFjdg5lr0ZhmblkXblhVGBMjqobxb13HHz7AQD_UwfFp7eUznnn8f1zzCWUyYj7Pj-8tUzj2i22okpT398FN_FG_U2HgMoiHfvxcp1uYis8FbTqA-ST/s1600/packwood.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzjL6-DvuP78t0g4uurUkdfM90WkFjdg5lr0ZhmblkXblhVGBMjqobxb13HHz7AQD_UwfFp7eUznnn8f1zzCWUyYj7Pj-8tUzj2i22okpT398FN_FG_U2HgMoiHfvxcp1uYis8FbTqA-ST/s200/packwood.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652417883867746338" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-if0FskUeLFi6wJPPrFjyoVz62n9KacoxmOJWbsZWJXXYGhiMNuVE2gP2x-ZzsyExm4Zqtk8U116CXeaBwrzXl5eqp1Xy6X22yqY8CF-vd24BnUNmRtbDG3WSZHJBJ-rLWgZkzOsJRkRM/s1600/packwood+lake+thru+trees.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-if0FskUeLFi6wJPPrFjyoVz62n9KacoxmOJWbsZWJXXYGhiMNuVE2gP2x-ZzsyExm4Zqtk8U116CXeaBwrzXl5eqp1Xy6X22yqY8CF-vd24BnUNmRtbDG3WSZHJBJ-rLWgZkzOsJRkRM/s200/packwood+lake+thru+trees.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652417250637467666" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;">D</span>istance: 12 miles <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 600 feet</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Location: Packwood Lake</p><span style="font-family:arial;"> </span><p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">This hike was exactly what I needed: a low-key stroll through the woods that led me to a serene lake. There was no climbing, no technical work, no severe elevation gain or shaky ridge to maneuver. Just a pleasant, easy day in a lovely setting.</p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">The dirt path was well-maintained and flat as could be. In fact, it was so flat that I nearly doubled my hiking time and made it through the second-growth forest and to the lake in just over an hour. After <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm77pVnqzcHgRkjSM3dQ-PApmU-y-MgUnQ9WSgca048yklioKXfiESSMra7GOc9F7Cw330aA0jIDd76i8XDAy8VzS3rpbMgR3NA0O_GbX7_yAveeVeoDGGrTv1oY1_zl47bwgZGzLlH3Gz/s1600/ranger+station.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm77pVnqzcHgRkjSM3dQ-PApmU-y-MgUnQ9WSgca048yklioKXfiESSMra7GOc9F7Cw330aA0jIDd76i8XDAy8VzS3rpbMgR3NA0O_GbX7_yAveeVeoDGGrTv1oY1_zl47bwgZGzLlH3Gz/s200/ranger+station.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652417420871536338" border="0" /></a>crossing a bridge and passing an abandoned ranger station, I could see the crystal clear water peeking out from behind low hanging branches. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">Several prime campsites lined the lake, which was much bigger than I anticipated and sported an island of <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCGY3bzZU-ausrfpRnXY9WFa5X9OfzVddxNt8izS4PzVDAzBroWR1mxrOj4lTJfQZTrcNi8Sj1-vXJARBZg6kgK-gz11VF7PxexSo3xRjggiBLumkh8XURxPcTOTKUufUnmEGSHlibq6F/s1600/Packwood+Lake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOCGY3bzZU-ausrfpRnXY9WFa5X9OfzVddxNt8izS4PzVDAzBroWR1mxrOj4lTJfQZTrcNi8Sj1-vXJARBZg6kgK-gz11VF7PxexSo3xRjggiBLumkh8XURxPcTOTKUufUnmEGSHlibq6F/s200/Packwood+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5652417653515288626" border="0" /></a>trees in its middle. The views were supreme. A hazy Mount Rainier could be seen in the distance but the jagged peaks of Goat Rocks were much more impressive from my vantage point. </p> <p style="font-family: arial;" class="MsoNormal">I followed the trail around the lake, gaining a few hundred feet in elevation, before the path hit a creek and became quite difficult to follow through the scratchy underbrush. After a quick battle with mosquitoes and black flies, I gave up and returned to the lake shore for lunch.</p>Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7561713978876407793.post-80812488442228886362011-08-12T12:26:00.000-07:002011-08-18T19:32:48.914-07:00Summit success on Mount Olympus<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkfWdK-dhw58U_iB9iyyDsA_nvrAY3Y5Tk4BQN5i7UEIvXsYmZaftxI7xcA4RyVa-kQqvgkAZUw71E7uMTq9KHYFg1-KdXoBg2RwfvfCJ86jH7GWv5p2WOSV-GYWtZLto8pOdMlyZJ2zK/s1600/olympus+valley.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkfWdK-dhw58U_iB9iyyDsA_nvrAY3Y5Tk4BQN5i7UEIvXsYmZaftxI7xcA4RyVa-kQqvgkAZUw71E7uMTq9KHYFg1-KdXoBg2RwfvfCJ86jH7GWv5p2WOSV-GYWtZLto8pOdMlyZJ2zK/s200/olympus+valley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642387967380555842" border="0" /></a><p class="MsoNormal">Distance: 47 miles</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Elevation gain: 7,969 feet</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Location: The Olympics</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Mount Olympus has a bum rap. Many dismiss it as a worthy climb because it’s much lower than other mountains in the state but they’re ignoring the fact that it’s one of the 10 most technical climbs in the country outside of Alaska. Others shy away from the challenge because, well, it’s 47 miles roundtrip and that’s a lot. Either way, those folks are missing out because this is one heck of an experience.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x0ImD6fAyOiTTJlFbi1kt6_BcwcitkDrweEmP_PRD-02r3qSfY-sp3Ft8zaHrHoc-iUrw38-fwOGqnGU_S_jpc_NRjLEeijxRukphbcEyUJNMk4lKOZNbIy1b7VyhPybjfyrUuuX3Ikq/s1600/Hoh+River.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x0ImD6fAyOiTTJlFbi1kt6_BcwcitkDrweEmP_PRD-02r3qSfY-sp3Ft8zaHrHoc-iUrw38-fwOGqnGU_S_jpc_NRjLEeijxRukphbcEyUJNMk4lKOZNbIy1b7VyhPybjfyrUuuX3Ikq/s200/Hoh+River.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642388301419863234" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Our group of five drove to the Olympics Friday morning and managed to hit the trailhead by 11 a.m. It was an easy, breezy hike 10 miles through the rainforest to Lewis Meadows, where we pitched our tents right on the riverbank and sat on the logs sipping tea and admiring the natural beauty.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We slept in a bit the following day knowing that it would be the lightest day of the trip, with only eight miles to go with about 3,000 feet elevation gain. We chit <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvntad5i_biCLfjk5iaAzwfqrmZIp65H8VQsM23OmtRdHqfluoRozJiiTK_Hby1Q840DcwVSAwNKOpoWKmsj_3N-WwJrir7PG2epOnJPqQcUFtzDq4LcrtSpNR7R2SzpXv3yu1knC_QQPU/s1600/Elk+Lake.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvntad5i_biCLfjk5iaAzwfqrmZIp65H8VQsM23OmtRdHqfluoRozJiiTK_Hby1Q840DcwVSAwNKOpoWKmsj_3N-WwJrir7PG2epOnJPqQcUFtzDq4LcrtSpNR7R2SzpXv3yu1knC_QQPU/s200/Elk+Lake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642388488988565634" border="0" /></a>chatted with the ranger when we passed the station, hoping for an update on the incoming storm and tips on how to navigate the glaciers. Then we kept hoofing it to Elk Lake, a serene body of water covered with Lillie pads. As soon as we girls dipped our hands in the tepid water, we decided to take an impromptu swim to wash away the building sweat and grime.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">In another 2.3 miles, we arrived at Glacier Meadows, which serves as base camp for climbers. The temperature had dropped quite a bit and snow hindered our quest for a good campsite but we managed. Bedtime came early since our start time Sunday morning would be 4:45 a.m.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">It was still pitch black out when we started toward Blue Glacier, trekking up a valley and over a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKENmlsk_kuLrjl3v3ocLC8zwFt-Hm6_D2P-rD-mSp5wSgtSmnl7ImJWHc-ldsJw1TInin58U2Sl80d9RtH7gwJvVCkxQ3LceI_WywcZH19kF9VrC1Rd6QrAle2ikp-rRiOpeoc3-PGIq/s1600/mtn+goat.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrKENmlsk_kuLrjl3v3ocLC8zwFt-Hm6_D2P-rD-mSp5wSgtSmnl7ImJWHc-ldsJw1TInin58U2Sl80d9RtH7gwJvVCkxQ3LceI_WywcZH19kF9VrC1Rd6QrAle2ikp-rRiOpeoc3-PGIq/s200/mtn+goat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642388648266378514" border="0" /></a>moraine with headlamps lighting our way. A mountain goat was the only other living thing we saw for hours. We carefully picked our way around the goat and dropped about 150 down the berm, crossing the glacier and keeping our eyes peeled for crevasses. It wasn’t long before we decided to rope in together as a safety <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbWsZXfJ7alb4WDrZf4DI-tR6qywf-awe1451p4hWaMFWa8gzkcTdnRp9PKsTNhOSqKz_iuhq9qZBVKg3vusLTR0B1nrVYEhqzraYbRxabxsr2HwZxr0g0DGJeYnDJDCchDYAjJ50lPzY/s1600/snow+dome.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbWsZXfJ7alb4WDrZf4DI-tR6qywf-awe1451p4hWaMFWa8gzkcTdnRp9PKsTNhOSqKz_iuhq9qZBVKg3vusLTR0B1nrVYEhqzraYbRxabxsr2HwZxr0g0DGJeYnDJDCchDYAjJ50lPzY/s200/snow+dome.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642388792374353042" border="0" /></a>precaution.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Just as we started up Snow Dome, the sun peeked through the clouds and shed light on the beautiful landscape we were exploring. Craggy peaks rose in every direction, partially hidden by the clouds. The glacier glistened. There was no better place to be.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">We continued our ascent, wound our way across a moat and began traversing around the false summit, which was a nasty pile of rocks blocking our final destination. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2CaXc5iUeEUlyZ7kfjOANf965vL-_AEyAH4Rj392wDRdv5Wjcg-h-VNRnMoWBD8rw7oHaL-790OYB1Dm_5514Z1pIKGMBrq8st3IByo_A9rY8R8Rf7xAB8BHAHqDk-xSE4GNXYewxXwZ/s1600/rock+summit.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP2CaXc5iUeEUlyZ7kfjOANf965vL-_AEyAH4Rj392wDRdv5Wjcg-h-VNRnMoWBD8rw7oHaL-790OYB1Dm_5514Z1pIKGMBrq8st3IByo_A9rY8R8Rf7xAB8BHAHqDk-xSE4GNXYewxXwZ/s200/rock+summit.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642388947629514178" border="0" /></a>We left our crampons on and donned helmets to pick our way down the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Fxes2jOVmksXL4TJ3p-sv7EdZpvM22B9khSL69l-n22zilqq0qJA5uwInV19Md4S5Kuvxoo6Y7fYjgyndSQz8p7op0tv9X0JsQk_vtXJhbfqZvOOSCp-5dcRWENGAH5O5-lQeRfN7P3/s1600/last+snow+hill.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-Fxes2jOVmksXL4TJ3p-sv7EdZpvM22B9khSL69l-n22zilqq0qJA5uwInV19Md4S5Kuvxoo6Y7fYjgyndSQz8p7op0tv9X0JsQk_vtXJhbfqZvOOSCp-5dcRWENGAH5O5-lQeRfN7P3/s200/last+snow+hill.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642389171248075826" border="0" /></a>boulders. As we came down the other side, the summit came into sight and our relief and excitement peaked. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">There was one last snow hill to scamper up and then we turned our attention to the class 4 rock scramble. The first part wasn’t particularly difficult but the last climb provided a brief dilemma. We shied away from climbing a trickier rock and decided to scramble up an easier but more exposed path. Our strongest climber went up first and belayed the rest of us up one by one.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">And then…. Summit success!! The summit was pretty small, an opening on top of the rock with a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e1PitVDCCyDB1N_r3onVgSol2AsvLt3E-SbE2SWqVavsd5t6BkwTM2tQNcGgzTm2JIt2AfLQ0-D3N93MBnRW6XmghGN99N0bQG3v6EzGXi6hyfjfiK9II3S-qOiLv_N6BbiZY-y4LObx/s1600/summit+view.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_e1PitVDCCyDB1N_r3onVgSol2AsvLt3E-SbE2SWqVavsd5t6BkwTM2tQNcGgzTm2JIt2AfLQ0-D3N93MBnRW6XmghGN99N0bQG3v6EzGXi6hyfjfiK9II3S-qOiLv_N6BbiZY-y4LObx/s200/summit+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5642389308077955298" border="0" /></a>metal box dating back to 1939 that held a sign-in book. We snapped a few pictures of the glorious view and then set up an anchor to rappel down.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">All in all, the expedition took 12 hours. Once back at camp, we broke everything down and hiked another seven miles (in the dark, again) to return to the camp we stayed at the first night. Then the next morning, it was another 10 miles back to the car before we could blessedly put our feet up and indulge in salt and sugary snacks!</p> Staciahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07034245548395637593noreply@blogger.com0