Since last week, the golden trees around our apartment have already lost most of their leaves. While I miss their brightness out the window, many of the other trees around Redmond are just beginning their transition into fall. Late in the week, my sister delivered her second daughter, and I was able to join my mom and niece in visiting the hospital to meet my new niece when she was just a few hours old. Seeing the amazement of my two-year-old niece when meeting her baby sister was especially adorable.
Read morePololu Valley
If you find yourself on the Big Island of Hawaii, and you only have time for one hike, I would would highly recommend the short hike into Pololu Valley! Some of the best views of the rugged North Coast cliffs can be seen from the trail leading from the end of the road down into the valley. Once you reach the bottom, there are rope swings and tree forts to explore, hammocks to lounge in, and plenty of shade from the tall trees lining the beach.
Read moreLife: Week 39
I'm happy to report that fall has most definitely arrived! While we had one suspiciously summery day this week, I think (hope!) we've left our days of 80+ temperatures behind for the year. The trees in our apartment complex are some of the first to turn a vibrant gold and lose their leaves every fall and I've started to see them as an indicator that fall has arrived. Soon they'll be bare, but for these few weeks, on sunny afternoons their color reminds me a little of my beloved alpine larches.
Read moreLife: Week 38
This week was a wonderful reminder of why fall is my favorite season! The cool, rainy weather has been so refreshing after so many months of summer heat. The chilly mornings do make it harder to get out of bed in the morning, especially with a cuddly cat who'd like nothing more than for me to stay in bed all day, but I sleep so much better now that its cool, and steaming mug of my favorite chai tea usually helps ease my unwilling transition from a cozy bed to the work day!
Read morePark Butte
The Alpine Trails Book Club hasn't had much luck with mountains this year but I had high hopes for a crisp, sunny fall day with clear views of Mt. Baker for our September hike to Park Butte. Driving north to the trailhead, the weather looked promising, but the closer we got to Baker, the cloudier it became. By the time we hit the trail, the mountain was shrouded in a dense layer of cloud that refused to budge all day. Even if Mt. Baker refused to make an appearance for us, there was plenty to enjoy on our hike.
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