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Yosemite National Park

August 13, 2014 / doublemom94

DH and I went on a trip to Yosemite in July, one day as a “tourist” in the Yosemite Valley, then a 3-day backpack from Tuolumne Meadows via Cathedral Lakes and back out at the Valley.

We started by hiking around Glacier Point and Sentinel Dome, gorgeous views from up here! Stayed at Curry Village one night, which is loud and messy and overcrowded, but the pizza is great and we got to watch one of the World Cup games here 🙂

Next day, we left the car at Y. Valley and took the YARTS bus up to Tuolumne Meadows with our backpacks and stayed at the car campground there. We set out the next morning for Cathedral Lakes, had lunch and went swimming in the lower lake, then moved on to the upper lake to set up camp for the night. We had fun watching a few people who had set up a slackline between the two peaks. This is by far my favorite place in Yosemite NP…

The second day we hiked south (in HOT weather) from Upper Cathedral, thorough Sunrise High Sierra Camp, down to Sunrise Creek near the base of Half Dome. We got to Sunrise H.S.C. the DAY they got water running for the season, a huge treat on a long, hot day!

We had a bear *almost* break into our BearVault bear canister here, it managed to pop the first tab and almost had the second tab open, when we found it quite a ways away from where we had left it the night before.

Last day… we hiked from just north of Half Dome on out to the Y. Valley via the John Muir Trail, saw Vernal and Nevada Falls. Such a gorgeous gorgeous area, I’m fortunate to have been able to do this two years in a row 🙂

Orcas Island Kayak

July 3, 2014 / doublemom94

Tori and I had a wonderful 3 days on Orcas Island, in perfect weather. After the ferry ride and setting up camp, we took our two Point65 modular kayaks out on Cascade Lake at Moran State Park for a lazy paddle.

Early on the second morning we drove up to Mt. Constitution, the highest point in the San Juan Islands, where the view of the Islands is amazing, with Mt. Baker as the perfect backdrop.

We also did a sea kayak tour out to Point Doughty State Park, accessible only by kayak. Early on the last morning, we did a nice lazy kayak float on Cascade Lake again, enjoying having the entire lake mostly to ourselves. All in all, with the weather being so perfect, it was a wonderful way to start the summer with my daughter. We’re so glad we got our kayaks, have been thoroughly enjoying them 🙂

Crystal Peak

June 17, 2014 / doublemom94

Well, I can verify that my knees are back in good working order after my surgeries in February and March 🙂 J. and I hiked up to Crystal Peak on the east side of Mt. Rainier, 8 miles round trip, 3100 feet of elevation gain and loss, topping off at about 6600 feet in elevation. The knees did GREAT, the views were spectacular, and we had a most wonderful day.

The lower half of the trail is nothing to write home about, a lot of raggedy forest without very much pretty undergrowth like so many other areas around here . Once you break out of the forest, though, the views just keep getting better and better and better. Miles of huckleberry fields and wildflowers as you switch-back up and up to the top of the peak.

From the top we could see Rainier and a perfect perspective of the White River Valley, along with Goat Island Mountain, the road to Sunrise, and the 3 Burroughs perfectly. We could also see Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood in Oregon, as well as Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak in the North Cascades near the Canada border. Looking to the east we could look down on Upper Crystal Lake and Sourdough Gap.

All in all, not an easy hike, definitely burned some calories off, but so very very worth it for the HUGE expanse of views up top. Word of advice: GO!

looking north to Mt. Baker and Glacier Peak

Carbon River Road

April 23, 2014 / doublemom94

Well, my knees have again challenged me. I’ve had surgery on both knees in the past 9 weeks for chronic bursitis and ITB syndrome (surgery #2 on the left and #6 on the right), and am ready to get back on the trails after physical therapy! I’ve been building back up endurance by sticking to level hikes to begin with, and the Carbon River Road is a perfect place for that. The northwest entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park is a gorgeous rainforest in a river valley, and 5 miles of flat gravel road that is now closed to cars. Perfect for working those knees back into shape!

I already have Yosemite, Ansel Adams, and Enchantments permits in hand for this summer, plus a lot of other trails with my name on them. Can’t wait to get back up on my Mountain for some snow-shoeing next week!

Mt. Rainier Snowshoe

January 9, 2014 / doublemom94

Mt. Rainier keeps calling me back, and I never get tired of spending time with her. Unfortunately there’s not a lot of snow up there yet this season, but enough to snow-shoe and spend a day in the sun 🙂

Mt. St. Helens – Norway Pass and Windy Ridge

October 30, 2013 / doublemom94

On the last clear day for a while, Janelle and I decided to head out to Mt. St. Helens for a little hiking and scenery… We definitely got the scenery part, it was an incredible day! Even better since while we were there, the area was being prepped for shutting down for wintertime, and will be closed in a couple of days for the season.

We started hiking toward Norway Pass, with great views of the top of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Adams, and Spirit Lake. Fall colors were mostly gone, but still a fantastic hike. We saw a large elk herd resting in the sun and eating… good to know the area has grown back enough to support such large animals again. This area really is an amazing science classroom, seeing how it’s going from a dead blast zone to very much alive again.

After enjoying the views of St. Helens and Spirit Lake for a while, we headed to the end of the road to Windy Ridge and climbed the 435 stairs to the top. The views here took my breath away. It’s hard to describe from this point how close you are to the crater, the new lava dome and glacier, and Spirit Lake. There was a constant column of steam at the lava dome, reminding us that she’s still an active volcano. Views from here also include Mt. Adams and Mt. Hood, and a full view of Spirit Lake.

All in all, a most excellent day, and much-needed attitude adjustment for me, some vitamin D even though it was cold out, time spent with friends, and mind-blowing views (pun intended).

Utah 2013

October 17, 2013 / doublemom94

I spent an incredible two weeks in October 2013 hiking through Southern Utah with my hiking buddy Frani Unfortunately this coincided with the federal government shutdown so the National Parks weren’t open part of the time we were there, but we were able to get into Bryce NP, Canyonlands NP, and Arches NP.

The shutdown actually forced us to consider other areas to hike beyond the national parks, and I have to say that UTAH ROCKS IT’S STATE PARKS!!!!! Anywhere else in the country, and these would be considered national parks, IMO.

I’ve since returned to explore Utah’s canyon country twice. Click HERE (2021) and HERE (2022) to see those amazing trips.

Wasatch Range / Wardsworth Trail and Bridal Veil Falls

A huge thanks to my cousins for putting us up (or putting up with us!) near Provo, UT. We spent a day hiking at Hobble Creek Canyon on the Wardsworth Trail, perfect timing for fall colors. We also went to Bridal Veil Falls in Provo Canyon for a little scramble near the waterfall, followed by In-N-Out Burgers, the only way to finish off a good day of hiking

Red Canyon near Bryce NP

The weather was a bit too cold for my comfort in a tent, so we splurged and got a hotel in Panguitch, UT, for a few days in the Bryce area. We spent 2 days hiking in the Red Canyon area, which is spectacular in its own right. On the first day we covered the the Arches Trail, part of the Losee Canyon Trail, and then hiked out to Red Rock Canyon via the Thunder Mountain Trail, which was wonderful in the late afternoon/evening light.

The second day we hiked from the Visitor Center (closed, thanks to our very dysfunctional government) along the Pink Ledges, Hoodoo, and Birdseye Trails. In the afternoon we Hiked out the Cassidy Trail (a.k.a. Butch Cassidy hid out here for a while), to Ledge Point, and then down the Rich Trail… a very gorgeous day!

Kodachrome and Petrified Forest State Parks

On the day we drove from the Bryce Canyon area to Escalante, we stopped at Kodachrome State Park and Petrified Forest State Park. Both are very worth the time to see. Kodachrome S.P. has a great view of Bryce Canyon NP from the distance, and has some wonderful rock formations and colors, as well as Shakespeare Arch. Petrified Forest S.P. is amazing with the big rounds of petrified wood in rainbow colors spread all around the park. Our favorite was an extra back loop off the main trail, steep and rocky, with some wonderful pieces of petrified wood and a great view down into a canyon. We stayed in wonderful little cabins at Escalante Outfitters.

Lower Calf Creek Falls

The next day we hiked out to Lower Calf Creek Falls in the Calf Creek Recreation area with a wonderful couple from Germany that we met the night before over a couple of beers. It’s a gorgeous and easy hike out to the falls, through beautiful canyonland with cliffs, blooming flowers, flowing water, and good friends. Just the drive from Escalante to Calf Creek was wonderful.

Colchuck Lake – Enchantments

August 20, 2013 / doublemom94

I was one of the lucky people to get a permit for the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Enchantments to Colchuck Lake. It’s beautiful out there, to me it’s like a little piece of Yosemite in Washington State, with granite and towering mountains and gorgeous alpine lakes. Most of the trail up is very rocky and steep in parts, not necessarily good for the knees, but worth it for the incredible views. The color of the water in Colchuck Lake is a beautiful creamy-teal color, a very easy place to sit and relax and enjoy the wilderness.

We sat in the evening on some big boulders at the end of the lake and watched people the size of ants coming down Aasgard Pass, it must be amazing in the Upper Enchantments but these knees will never do that!!! I’ll have to see it vicariously through photos, unless someone wants to helicopter me up there some day.

The hike back down next day was fairly brutal on these poor surgical knees of mine, and I got back to the car feeling sore and abused, but it was very worth it!

Mt. St. Helens – Harry’s Ridge Trail

August 13, 2013 / doublemom94

I FINALLY explored the Mt. St. Helens area, after having lived her for 25 years. It’s gorgeous, especially when the wildflowers are in full bloom. It’s pretty incredible to see evidence of the damage and complete destruction that was caused 30+ years ago, and then to see the life coming back into the area.

We hiked the Harry’s Ridge Trail, which offers excellent views of the crater, blast zone, and Spirit Lake. (even better than from the Johnston Ridge Observatory). One part of the hike is a bit sketchy, a long traverse carved into a steep hillside with a large drop-off below, but the views of St. Helens from here are just incredible, it’s hard to focus on keeping feet on the trail without always stopping to look around and imagine what it would have been like there in 1980.

The views from Harry’s Ridge down to Spirit Lake, with Mt. Adams in the close background, are definitely worth the hike. There was a herd of elk down below on the banks of the lake enjoying the sunshine. Overall, about 8 miles round trip, with only a few hundred feet of elevation gain and loss. Spectacular hike, spectacular views, and definitely something I’ll do again.

Paradise/Skyline wildflowers – MRNP

August 10, 2013 / doublemom94

To quote John Muir: “… the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings.”

He got it right, because the wildflower meadows around Mt. Rainier are second to none that I’ve ever seen. Though the Paradise/Skyline area is crowded in summertime, it’s worth the crowds to see these wildflowers and incredible views at least once every summer. It’s so different seeing it melted out and blooming, compared to when I do this as a snow-shoe route several times every winter. Crowded? Yes. Worth it? You bet!!!