I LOVE my Yak-Tracks

Bearhead Mountain, 2/21/10, 3 miles, 1000 elevation

The invitation read "Join me on a strenuous hike up the winter route of Bearhead Mountain." Sounded like my kind of a hike. That the invitation came from my buddy Dave who hiked up to Camp Muir with me last summer, I knew I'd be in for an adventure. Two other friends met us in Orting for breakfast before we started the drive out to the trailhead. Dave proved to be an excellent tour guide as he pointed out features and remnants of towns along the road.

We reached snow just short of the trailhead but Dave just pushed right through to the parking area. We had originally thought we wouldn't need our snowshoes at first, but with the freezing temperatures ice lined the trail instead of secure snow. It didn't take us long of slipping and sliding before we called a truce and put on the snowshoes. From then our way became easier and we sped along to our first short break, Twin Lake. Yes that is singular.

From Twin Lake our climb began. The summer route is a moderate 4.5 mile climb. The winter route shortens this by 2 miles as we climb right up the spine of her back. We followed a cross-country route through the trees, using our bark-y friends to help us along. We came upon an open area and rapidly crossed to the next forested area to continue our climb. At some point through the trees, I looked up the hill ahead of me and froze. I would have to come down that in these conditions?

I love walking in my snowshoes and find them very comfortable in most conditions. However, on steep icy slopes, my confidence in my snowshoes falter. At this point one of our companions slipped and fell grabbing onto a sapling to stop her slide. I knew I wasn't going any further. Dave came back down to help me find a place to sit and wait for the group to return and I settled in for a cold stay. The sun hadn't yet reached my little stump and a breeze started blowing up over the ridge. I put on as many layers as I could and started to pace. Once my toes got cold I started swinging my feet and jumping up & down. Amazingly, my hands never got cold - my new double layer ragg wool mittens were working marvelously. Probably the best 12.00 I ever spent.

Finally Dave & the other returned making sure I knew I had made a good decision - the conditions only got worse above. But I still had to try to maneuver down steep slopes with my snowshoes. Dave recommended I put on my Yak Traks to see if they helped. All I can say is, they certainly did. Another wonderful investment for my outdoor life. We made fast time down the hill and I never slipped once. We gain stopped at Twin Lake for a few photo ops before making our way back out to the parking area - I in my Yak Traks and the rest in their snowshoes.

Old Dogs

Greenwater Lakes, 2/15/10, 3.5 miles, 100 elevation

Over the years, I have watched with a heavy heart as my beloved Olympia has become lame. She had torn her ACLs and doesn't get around the house very easily. Every time we go on a hike, especially with Zillah, her big brown eyes watch with sadness as we head out the door without her. It breaks my heart each time we leave. She had been my hiking companion for years and now she stays home while I train another. But she is always there, happy to see me, when I return.

Today's hike would be a short one, only a couple of miles to the 1st lake and back. Since the girls had been locked up in the house for some time, we decided to bring them both along with us. My heart swelled as I watched Olympia, a grin on her face, lope after Zillah sniffing trees and ferns, marking their way. When we had to cross the creek on a high log bridge, Olympia led the way tail wagging. I left the trail to take pictures of a small waterfall, Olympia was right by my side as she had been for so many years.

But we knew when we got to the lake that Olympia had reached her limit. She began to walk more slowly and stayed closer to us than she had on the way in - a sure sign that she was hurting. At the car, she leaped into the back without hesitation but once we were home she barely moved. We had to carry her to bed when the time came. I nearly cried as I realized that this would be her last hike. It had to be, she is now longer the pup I brought home, but the old lady who will be at home to meet me.

Fabulous February

Lime Kiln, 2/6/10, 6 miles

In an El Nino year, weather in the Puget Sound area just isn't right. February is a time for rain in the lowlands and snow in the mountains. Either we stay at home snug in a quilt reading a book or we're out snowshoeing in the gloriousness of Washington winter. However, this year, this El Nino year, snowshoeing has been sketchy at best so we're forced to look for hikes that are rewarding in both scenery and exertion. Luckily, also in this El Nino year, we are getting far more sunny days than normal - as we did this past weekend's Mountaineers hike along the Lime Kiln Trail.

Lime Kiln Trail starts from just outside Granite Falls and meanders along the Stillaguamish River through moss dripping forest. With the sun still at a low angle, the moss was aglow with fire as the sun stretched across the sky. Every now and then we'd come across some old artifact narrating the mining and logging past of the area. A rusted saw blade here, a speckled pot there until finally we reached the old Lime Kiln used to cook lime in a time not that far in the past.

We finally settled down for lunch near the river. As the water danced over the rocks, the light of a mid-winter day danced across the ripples. I could hardly make myself sit still - all that light dancing and rippling through our little world just made my eyes sparkle. We finally hiked out, carrying on conversations we had started earlier in the day with new friends and old.

Sometimes it's just fun to hike in a group on a bright day rare in the northwest.

Issaquah Alps

Cougar Mtn Ramble, 1/30/10, 6 miles

When the snows aren't flying and the weather isn't raining, why not go for a hike with friends? And Cougar Mountain is a great place for a mid-winter hike with it's low elevation and criss-crossing trails. One could hike there all day and never see the same scenery more than once.

Our little gang of hardy hikers started out at the Red Town trail head and slowly made our way around old mining paraphernalia stopping to read about the mining history from the information kiosks set about along the trail and mining locations.

From there, we started up the hill to DeLeo Wall and a magnificent view of Mt Rainier. Well, on a less cloudy day, a hiker might be able to see Mt Rainier but today the clouds hung low so the view was minimized to the valley and the towns that are gobbling up the green.

From the wall, we meandered our way back down the hill following a different route to end up on the other side of the hill near a little stream and waterfall with mossy clumps. It was decided after one of our group commented that he likes mossy clumps that we'd eat lunch at the waterfall . . . and mossy clumps.

Our way back to the trail head took us along an old road past the Red Town townsite that is now being rehabilitated back to a woodland meadow. The way was wide enough for several of us to walk shoulder-to-shoulder telling stories and jokes and recited the occasional poem. What a great way to end a woodland ramble with friends.