A Walk in the Rain

Island Lake Day Hike, 7/12/09, 12 miles, 2500 elevation

After our relaxing backpack to Island Lake, it was time to take a group of Conditioning Hike members up for their own view. However, the fabulous weather we had last weekend did not hold for this week. We would not be deterred by the threat of rain. Nor would we turn back when thunder rolled through the air. As northwest hikers, we were prepared for any weather contingency.

We easily crossed streams and waterfalls as we hiked up the hill. Stopped on occasion to laugh at a joke or look at a plant. When we came across the opening for our view of Mt Rainier, the mountain was obscured by the cloud-laden sky. The beargrass, however was as plentiful and beautiful as last week. A few trail runners passed us heading to Pratt Lake. We lost our way about a quarter mile from the lake - snow had hidden the trail last week and marshy ponds covered them this week. A bit of bush-whacking through the shrubs and trees got us through.

As our group made our way to the lake shore, low lying clouds hid the lake from view. Soon though, a breeze swept the clouds away and everyone ate their lunches with smiles. Even though we didn't have sunny skies, the lake was still just as pretty - with a bit more solitude to boot.

A Guidebook Complaint?

Pete Lake, 6/7/09, 9 miles, 400 elevation

When I read a guidebook, I expect just a few things. Accuracy in mileage and elevation; a detailed description are basically what I want. Over the years I have been able to decipher the author and that they may be leaving out information. If an author glosses over a section of a trail then they either don't want to tell you something or they have never been there. I often wonder about this last. I know that with the older books by Ira Spring, he leaves out details because he didn't find them necessary - other things were important. But a few of the newer authors I'm wondering if they are leaving information out because they are writing the trail description from a map.

Take a recent hike to Pete Lake in Eastern Washington. The author of the guidebook tells you of all the animals you could see while hiking, but never really talks about the trail. The hiker will pass a swampy area (that can be seen on a map) and hike through trees (no duh, since we are in the mountains of Washington then you come out into a mountain bowl with a lake (well since we are in the mountains hiking to a lake I would think so.

What was left out were the 6 major stream crossings without bridges. Were there bridges and they washed away? Just mentioning bridges and stream crossings would tell us. The forest here does have a habit of taking out bridges on some stream crossings so they won't be washed away - if they do that wouldn't it be a good idea to mention that in the guidebook? To me a guidebook is there to give you as much necessary information to stay found and unhurt. leaving information out does the hiking community a dis-service.

Oh, and the hike to Pete Lake? A lovely stretch of the legs through the woods along a river. And you should go if you get the chance.

A perfect naturalist spot

Nolte State Park, 5/9/09, 1 .5 miles

As Michael & I walked the trail around Deep Lake with the girls, Michael stated that he felt this was a forest where he should be able to identify all of the plants. And really he was right. The forest surrounding Deep Lake at Nolte State Park is the stereotypical coastal forest of Washington - a perfect place for a new naturalist to hone their skills or just bone-up on what they already knew.

Along he way we spotted the three coastal forest conifers, plus vine maple, salal, oregon grape and a couple of ferns. A few wildflowers were blooming and the birds twittered. So much fun we were having walking in this little naturalist treasure that the daylight began to slip away more quickly than we were walking. We arrived back at the car at dusk and the awaiting rangers ready to give us a parking ticket for being in the park too late. We talked or way out of the ticket much to our relief since it would have been $137.00 naturalist trip. Yikes! and I started this partly because it was a cheaper hobby to accompany my photography.

Blustery Days

Snow Lake, 11/1/08, 7 miles, 1300 elevation

If you are a Seattleite looking for a little hiking solitude during the summer, Snow Lake is not the place to go. However, if you want to go hiking with about 500 or more new found friends, Snow Lake is where you will find them. Michael & I found the solitude secret to hiking the Snow Lake trail with only 30 relative strangers.

Friends had often extolled the wonders of the Snow Lake trail - relatively short, not very steep, and in no time at all you are in the beauty of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. But the reputation of being a hiker super-highway left me just a little turned off by the whole thing. I'm afraid of getting hiker-herpes on Mt Si, what could I get on the way to Snow Lake? A bit of solitude on an otherwise blustery day.

We took Zillah along with us and left the Alpental parking lot early. The amount of cars left in the lot prepared us for the worst, but we soon realized those cars must be there for the lodge and had nothing to do with our day on the trail. The rain held off through most of our hike into the lake and the sun even showed itself while we adventured along a side trail to the Source Lake overlook. But once we got over the saddle to the Snow Lake valley, the wind blasted us with a winter chill as it rushed through the valley and over the lake. Hurray for fleece. But poor little Zillah started shivering as we ate lunch by the lake. Time to get her some cold weather gear.

As we felt the first few drops hit or faces, we gathered up our layers and quickly gained the saddle to cross to the other side to block the wind. It wasn't too long after that the rain became heavier. Zillah thankfully let us towel her off when we got back to the car. Pretty Snow Lake even as cold as the wind became, had given us warm welcome.

The Reason for it All

Kendall Katwalk, 7/26/08, 14.6 miles, 3100 elevation

Every now and then, everything comes together for the perfect hike - weather, trail, companionship, views. We got that this past weekend when we hiked up from Snoqualmie Pass to Kendall Katwalk and Ridge and Gravel lakes beyond.

We started out climbing steadily through the forest admiring the lush green and forest wildflowers. After crossing a few streams, we came out to meadows clinging to the slopes between large rocks and boulders. Rosy Spirea, Paintbrush, Lupine and Penstemon dotted the meadows. We looked down upon I-90, a grey ribbon threading its way through the mountains and over the pass. Red Mountain stood out against the blue and green of the surrounding scenery.

But it was after rounding the ridge where the real views came into sight. Kendall Peak looked down upon us as we traversed through wildflowers and snow not yet ready to melt away. It took no time before wee were at the catwalk - a trail carved out of the cliff face and views looking into the heart of the Cascades. Beyond the catwalk, the stubborn snow came in greater frequency. I could have sat on a rock overlooking the snow patches and the views all day, it was so peaceful and beautiful.

The lakes, by the time we got to them, were still mostly covered in ice and we had little time to enjoy them before heading back out. This by far is my favorite hike of the season.

Well Worth a Sprinkle, or Two

De Rouex Creek, 7/5/08, 8.2 miles,

4th of July weekend and wee had 3 days to play, but with snow still hanging out in all of primary choices on the westside of the mountains we decided that heading east would be the better of the bargain. There are a couple of trails in the Teanaway we wanted to explore and with a base camp somewhere along the river, we could easily head to each.

First on the list was DeRouex Creek. I had been up this trail previously with the Mountaineer's Naturalist Class and wanted to head further into the mountains than the naturalists had gotten. With spotty clouds overhead Michael, Zillah and I crossed the North Fork of the Teanaway and started out on the day's adventure. Almost immediately the wildflowers lined the trail - Lomatium, Jeffrey's Shooting Star, Red Columbine, Vanilla Leaf and Violets.

As we climbed higher, we came across Penstemon, Arnica, Liuna, and Asters in greaterr abundance. And then the trees opened up to meadow with more Shooting Stars and our first Avalanche Lilies, but the clouds that had been building throughout the morning started to let loose in spurts. We were prepared and threw on our rain coats before continuing on up to Gallagher Head Lake. Along the way we saw more Columbine, Arnica, Shooting Stars, Lupine and Avalanche Lilies.

There were only a few people at the lake when we reached its shores and clouds obscured the peaks enough that all we got were teasing glimpses of what stood beyond. However, there is an old jeep road leading up to the lake and some 4-wheelers had played too often and too close to the shore and deep ruts had been created and left for the rest of the world to look upon in disgust.

Rangers Lie

Glacier Lake, 6/21/08, 4.5 miles, 800 elevation

Every year Michael & I travel south to Randle. Sandwiched between Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens, Randle was my uncle's favorite vacation spot and at times the family vacation became an epic adventure filled with friends and family. The family vacation was one of the traditions we kept intact after he died years ago. So every year, during the same weekend in June family and friends still gather together to fish, boat, hike, sightsee, and just sit around exchanging BS.

Michael & I are the hikers of the family, my sis will often join us and this year another friend and our cousin joined us. Now first, we had talked with the ranger at the Cowlitz Station to find out, in this late snow year, what trails are open for a nice little day-hike. The second thing to understand is the cousin does one hike a year and that is generally the extent of her exercise.

The trail, we were told, follows along a creek for about 2 miles and is a nice stroll through the forest. Yeah, right. Normally, this hike wouldn't have been a problem, but with our cousin along for the walk it became a fearful trek. We were all concerned for her well-being as she trudged 1st down one hill and then up the next. I could imagine her cursing me under her breathe as she slowly moved her feet up the hill as it grew steeper and steeper as we progressed.

But we finally made it to the lake and my cousin turned to me and said, "I forgive you." After that, we trundled back down the hill. Back in camp, the family listened while she told them the reason why they should never go hiking with us - at least not on a new trail.

Spring to Winter to Spring Again

Mt St Helens - Road Trip, Spring 2008, 3/23/08

Of all the times I have gone to Mt St Helens, stopping to walk along the lake trail at Silver Lake along the Mt St Helens highway seemed to be put off for another day. Since I had 9 days and a free schedule, why not make today the day to walk along the nature trail at the Silver Lake Visitor Center.

The sun filtered through the clouds as Olympia started out along the boardwalk leading out into the lake. Purple leaves of waterlilies were just beginning to spread out on the lake's surface, they will turn a yellow-green by the end of spring when the blooms speckle the lake. A few ducks drifted along beyond the rushes. Fishermen, too, drifted in their boat. Ever present was Mt St Helens on the horizon.

I was informed by the staff that the road was now open all the way to Coldwater. We drove back through the seasons our way up - from early spring and sprouting foliage around Silver Lake to winter and several feet of snow around Coldwater Lake. Olympia was thrilled to see the snow. She rooted and rolled in the snow, a smile stretching from ear to ear. Anyone who believes that dogs can't smile has never seen Olympia playing in the snow.

On the way back down the mountain, we stopped by the the Forest Learning Center to look down into the Toutle River Valley and the resident elk herd. I could see the elk, small tan ovals the size of grains of rice against the chartreuse lichen, far below. Olympia did her own type of seeing - with her nose. She pressed her nose firmly against the fence, nostrils wiggling, sniffing the breezes for a hint of just where these fantastic beasts were hiding.

Our day was far from over, but our adventure up Mt St Helens was over for today.