A year of adventure

As 2007 is put to rest and we begin to plan for 2008, I look back at what I had done this past year.At the start of 2007 the northwest was still reeling from the crippling storms of November & December of '06. The 2007 recreation outlook appeared rather bleak. Roads, trails and parks were closed which limited the opportunities to get outside for a little solitude. But I forged ahead to prove that we didn't need to sit in mourning for our northwest lands.

The 2007 New Year had me camping in the rain at Kalaloch (talk about bad omens). Later in January, Michael & I went to explore the storm damage when I fell, which laid me up for the month of February. But March came along to pull me out of my slump as I helped with few classes for the Mountaineer's Basic Photo Course. That kept me busy until I left for my grand vacation to the canyons of southern Utah and northern Arizona.

I got back home and started planning for my next trip to the Southwest as well as preparing for our climb up Mt St Helens in May. Exploration of the low-lands during April proved that spring was on the way and after our failed attempt at the mountain, we looked hopefully for summer. While waiting, Mt Rainier welcomed our return to her slopes - the damage couldn't hold back anyone who loved recreating on our grand volcano.

June started us out on our very rainy summer. Not a single camping trip on the west slope went by without our getting a little rain on us. We trudged through the Quinault Rainforest in boots oozing mud and water. The one time I camped on the east side with the Naturalists, I stayed dry. In August, I survived my first solo backpack - one wet night, but I did it and now I know I can. And then summer turned to fall and we found beauty in central Oregon on a short Labor Day road trip.

Our autumn road trip took us from Jasper to Banff to Glacier to Yellowstone. Always looking for sun but only meeting rain and snow. Then we came back home to watch storms and look for lowland hikes. And finally as the snow blankets our mountains one again, I must smile at a well-lived year. I have the greatest hopes for this new one.

Have an adventurous New Year!

An end for 2007

Coal Creek Falls 12/31/07 3 miles

Other than camping in a wonderful spot with a view, I can't think of anything better to do at the end of a year than a quiet hike in the woods. As the snow blankets the mountains at higher altitudes, I chose a little hike in the Issaquah Alps - on Cougar Mountain.

I usually avoid the Issaquah Alps, mainly because they are so close to Seattle and being so close to Seattle, you don't always get solitude. Tiger Mountain can be a rave party any time of year. I have found some solitude while on these trails - mostly on the unpopular trails. Today I was going somewhere very popular.

I had heard some description of Coal Creek and the waterfall there and thought what a good idea. The sun made an appearance as Olympia & I made our way to the trail. A quick stop for snacks and we were casually making our way up the hill drinking in the sun and the whitish bark of alders against the winter blue sky.

Although the parking lot was almost full, we met only two other people on our way to the falls. Olympia happily ran along the trail ahead of me, trotting back to check on my progress before going ahead. We heard the falls before coming to them, a good sign as most waterfalls are diminished or non-existent by this time of year. After admiring the falls, we continued on our loop to the ballfield meadow. Oh, if Camas has been replanted here, I'll need to come back in the spring for these beautiful purple flowers. On our way back to the car, we made a little side trip to see a some artifacts of the mining industry in the area.

I really shouldn't avoid the Issaquah Alps, for solitude can be found here as well as natural beauty and a little history thrown in.

Snoqualmie Boards

Snoqualmie Pass 12/29/07

Every time I drive past the ski slopes or watch winter snowboard events, I am amazed at the skill and enthusiastic joy these young people have on their boards. The closest I could think of to being out there with them - I'm too chicken to try it myself - is to take pictures of them as they spin and flip. So I decided to lead a Mountaineer's Photo Trip to Snoqualmie Pass during the Jib This! event. A yearly event that focuses on the 3 terrain parks and super half pipe at the Summit.

I was joined by Merry, Bruce & Paul in the drizzle in Issaquah before heading up to the pass where the weather was overcast but dry. Guye Peak greeted us as we climbed up to a nice overlook of the terrain park at Summit Central near Webb Ski School. After talking to Mike Webb, we were allowed to watch the event from the school's balcony. But as the morning wore on and the event didn't seem to start, Bruce and Paul moved closer to a jump uphill. Merry and I stayed on the balcony for the rest of the morning shooting the action and the sun glinting off the snow.

I'm not sure if the event ever started but I was able to fulfill a goal of shooting snowboarders and skiers and look forward to some more outings such as this.

Icing on the Cake

Snoqualmie Pass 12/24/07

Ahhhh. That felt so good, getting out into the snow for the first time this year. After several weeks of rain in the lowlands and accumulating snow in the mountains, Michael & I decided to brave the weather with the puppies and head to Snoqualmie Pass. It was to be the better of our four-day weekend and sometimes you just gotta run with the chance you get.

Zillah, our new 4-month-old puppy had yet to be introduced to snow and we were quite excited to see what she would do. Olympia on the other hand is an old hand at the cold white fluffy stuff and seemed to know just where we were heading. Zillah was unfazed as she and Olympia romped around the meadow.

As we didn't have all the protective layers for the dogs, we put them back in the car before we explored the meadow more. A stream cut through the meadow and we tromped along the bank above fascinated by the layers of dirt forming the opposite bank topped with and icy layer of snow - just like icing on the cake.

Our way back to the car led us past parents playing with their young children. Both the parents and the youngsters laughed and giggled and screamed as they glided down the hills on their sleds or threw snowballs. Almost back to the car, I glanced over my shoulder to see that the clouds a opened up a bit to splash a warm light over the hills.

I really needed that - but now I'm hoping I can get out there again tomorrow.

Birds at Alki

Last year I started a new activity: Winter bird watching at Alki in West Seattle. I was amazed the first time I went out with the Mountaineers naturalists to Alki and saw bird after bird: Scoulers, Cormorants, Grebes, Turnstones, Surf Birds, ducks, geese. The list went on and my excitement grew.

This year, I stood on the pier watching and photographing a pair of Cormorants fight over a fish. All of a sudden, they dropped the fish and flew off. Then into my viewfinder flew a Bald Eagle. He picked up the fish then dropped it again, maybe it really wasn't that great after all, and flew straight to me.

I was still basking in the experience of it all when a Sea Lion that had also been close by started barking and swimming closer to the pier as if to draw attention to himself and away from the spectacular birds surrounding us.

Whistle Lake

Anacortes Community Forest Lands 12/8/07 4 miles

As far as I'm concerned there are only two things that make winter hiking not worthwhile. First, in the Northwest winter means rain and who wants to hike in the rain? Second, with the rain falling in the lowlands, snow is falling in mountains and although I love to snowshoe, I like to consider hiking & snowshoeing two completely different sports and who wants to hike in the snow? And since I don't want to hike in the snow, that means lowland hikes in the trees, with few views except for tree trunks, salal, and sword ferns.

When I saw the hike for Whistle Lake and Toot Marsh advertised through the Mountaineers with the tag-line, "We stop for pictures," I had to sign up. Then we got a break. After a week of rain and clouds, the blue sky broke through the clouds to warm our souls if not our noses.

Whistle Lake is in the Anacortes Community Forest Lands, used by the whole community for recreation and education. The area is criss-crossed by trails - some multiple use others hiker only. Luckily the trails that go round the lake are wheel-free, so we weren't disturbed by the dirt biker who showed up the same time we did. The other hikers & I enjoyed quiet and the occasional splash of sunlight through the trees.

And ever now and then stopped to take in the views of the lake, reflecting a more brilliant blue than the sky actually held with Madronas reaching over the banks, their limbs contorted in reflection by the rippling waters.

Sunny On Thanksgiving

Can anyone believe the fabulous weather we had on Thanksgiving? The sun shone so brightly wee had to hop in the car and drive through Western Washington before heading to the family get together in Elma.

Our first stop was down the hill to Puyallup. neither of us had taken much time in the old downtown and were sweetly surprised by the various sculptures decorating the streets. We walked around awhile on the almost empty streets admiring the art before deciding to drive on.

The road took us to parts of our state we hadn't explored. Travelling between the farms in Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino, I started making plans of a springtime bicycle ride on the Yelm-Tenino Trail. From Chehalis and Centralia, the adventure continued along highway 6 to Raymond. Just a week later this area would be under 10+ feet of water, but today was a day for adventure and plans for more.

Along this route, I spied a yellow barn, decaying in the trees so made Michael pull over for a shot or two . . . or twelve. Other picturesque barns dotted the fields and we made note that a weekend in a friends cabin on the coast would afford us the ability to explore some more. As our time was getting short, we had to speed our trip to get to dinner.

A Month Off?

Mt Rainier 11/10/07 2 miles

I promised myself I would take the usually rainy month of November to sit inside and get some organizational stuff done. That lasted 10 days. When friends started talking about heading for Mt Rainier for possible snow pictures, I was right there with them.

What greeted us was not the blankets of snow we had envisioned but a thin crust of ice and snow. Traveling was a bit treacherous as we made our way past the new visitor center at Paradise to Myrtle Falls. Although the new VC isn't finished, it is completely enclosed and rapidly taking shape.

After grabbing a few shots of Myrtle Falls and the mountain that peaked out from the clouds just long enough to tease us, we continued up the hill hoping to reach a heavier dusting of snow along Mazama Ridge. However, the way became Even more treacherous and we decided to turn around, but not till after we grabbed some images of the glowing clouds encompassing the Tatoosh Range.