Fall is my absolute favorite season for hiking. I know I've said it before, but right now it feels especially true. This year, it may be in part due to the fact that it took most of the summer for me to feel comfortable venturing much beyond my own backyard. As though the Cascades were conspiring to lure me back the their fir scented embrace, the condions this weekend were my absolute ideal for an early fall hike. Even the drive to meet my Alpine Trails Book Club friends at the trailhead was stunning, with low swirling clouds and vibrant fall color. I even surprised myself, managing to both hike all the full length of our roughly 6-8 mile hike (no one’s distance tracking device seemed to agree once we were back at the trailhead). Happily I also had plenty of time to pick enough of the tiny but oh-so-sweet alpine blueberries that lined the trail to fill the Nalgene bottle I brought specifically for that purpose. Those now wait in my freezer as a treat for those long winter days when I need a reminder of sunny days in the mountains.
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.
Read moreLife: Week 37
After two weeks in the perpetual summer of Hawaii, I was more than happy to come home to fall in Seattle. We've even had our first real rainstorm! Most of the week, I was busy catching up on work, but I really got to enjoy fall over the weekend. Saturday morning, Andy and I were up early to drive over the pass and meet a friend for some elderberry picking! It used to be an annual fall tradition with my family, but I hadn't been in several years. It turned out to be the perfect way to welcome fall. We lucked out and found brought home a great haul so we'll have enough elderberry juice for at least a few years. After we'd filled all the bags we brought, we stopped by a fruit stand outside Wenatchee to pick up some late summer produce. Before heading home, we also made a stop for lunch at our favorite barbeque place in the state. We ended the week with a lazy rainy Sunday at home - the perfect way to recover from a stressful week of catching up at work!
Read moreLife: Week 27
I always enjoy a good 3-day work week, and with the 4th of July on a Tuesday this year, that's exactly what I wound up with! I spent many years working as a contractor, and never had paid holidays or vacation, so the idea that I can have a day (or two!) off without stressing about the extra hours I'll have to work later in the week or a diminished paycheck is still novel and exciting to me. Since I had Monday off in addition to Tuesday, I joined my dad for a hike to Mirror & Cottonwood Lakes, which turned out to be surprisingly quiet for a short hike off I-90 on a holiday weekend! I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoy hiking with my dad, since our trips always involve several hours of relaxing by a lake while he fishes, while I catch up on some reading and generally enjoy the peace of the mountains.
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