Blue's Boots

Andrea's adventures on the trail...

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Ipsut Campground, MRNP

March 12, 2013 /

Wet wet wet wet….  Ipsut Campground is in the Carbon River rainforest area of Mt. Rainier NP. Sharon and Steve and Chris braved some pretty nasty spring PNW weather to go out here with me and camp overnight. I don’t think we had so much as 5 minutes of non-rain time, but we survived 🙂

This used to be a car campground, but now it’s a 5-mile walk down the old gravel road to get to Ipsut Campground since the river has washed the road out too many times to keep repairing. It’s easy to hook up with the Wonderland Trail from here, or to hike out and get up close and personal with the Carbon Glacier.

PNW rainforest rain
Carbon River
Carbon River road
log jam
a whole world on one tree stump
trail toward Carbon Glacier
Carbon River overflowing its banks
home sweet soaking wet home

Greenwater Lakes

March 12, 2013 /

A nice and easy lower-elevation hike out of Greenwater, WA, to two lakes, along a gorgeous river with some very well-built bridges. The best part of this hike is the native hardy terrestrial Calypso orchids when they’re in bloom. They look like they belong in a tropical rainforest, not the PNW.

Greenwater River
native Calypso orchid
slugs doing the slug dance
beautiful bridges on this hike
Calypso orchids

Glacier Basin, MRNP

March 12, 2013 /

Another great hike and/or backpack trip in Mt. Rainier National Park, I like to hit Glacier Basin as soon as the road to White River opens. Still lots of snow in the beginning of the season, so bring along some tire chains for your boots or snow shoes.

Last year I had my one and only bear encounter on this trail, with a younger beautiful cinnamon-colored black bear. He was just not interested in moving off the trail to let us by, so we waited around and got some good photos before he decided to munch his way further into the shrubs.

This is also the main route for climbers heading to Camp Schurman. The Glacier Basin trail  has been completely re-done by WTA in the last couple of years, and it shows… it’s a beautiful trail all the way up.

Eunice Lake, MRNP

March 12, 2013 /

Eunice Lake is one of my favorite lunch spots on the planet (besides Skyscraper Pass). From the road up to Mowich Lake you can see the cliffs, but would never dream that there’s a big, gorgeous lake up there waiting for a picnic. At the right time of year, you can be sure to donate several pints of blood to the local ‘skeeters, but other than that, it’s a beautiful little dayhike to a magical spot…

picnic spot
gentian
beautiful little cove
Tolmie Lookout top left

Dog Mountain – Columbia River Gorge

March 12, 2013 /

This is a MUST hike in springtime, around Mother’s Day, when thousands of balsamroot and other plants are in bloom. Great views of the river are a bonus too. It’ll make you sweat, almost 3000 feet of gain to the top. Worth every step for the views and the wildflowers.

Chirico Trail / Tiger Mountain

March 11, 2013 /

Great trail for keeping in shape, plus it’s fun to haul a big backpack up and down and get strange looks from people who are only carrying a single water bottle. The view from the top isn’t too shabby, either. This and Enumclaw’s Mt. Peak are what got me in shape for the Wonderland Trail last year.

Mt. Baker
view from west side of Poo Poo Point
forest
Rainier view from south side of Poo Poo Point
above the clouds

Chenuis Falls, MRNP

March 11, 2013 /

Another wonderful “me” hike/walk last summer out to Chenuis Falls from the Carbon River Ranger Station in Mt. Rainier National Park. The road to Ipsut Campground has been closed for years now, so from the ranger station it’s all foot-power (or bike-power, for those of you who can handle bikes on bumpy gravel). This is a beautiful area of temperate rainforest, and the waterfalls are a pretty nice bonus… GO!

lunch spot on the Carbon River
Carbon River Road
Carbon River rainforest
Carbon River rainforest
Carbon River
Chenuis Falls

Lake Chelan

March 11, 2013 /

I spent a wonderful 3 days with me, myself, and I at Lake Chelan last March. Had a great time hiking, but unfortunately there wasn’t enough show to unstrap the snowshoes from my pack. I’m hoping to go back again and do a lot more hiking in this gorgeous area.

Lake Chelan
Echo Ridge
Echo Ridge
Echo Ridge

Angel’s Rest

March 11, 2013 /

December 2012, day hike to Angel’s Rest in the Columbia Gorge. It was cold and cloudy, but the clouds were kind enough to part right when I got to the top for a nice view of the river below.

Dec 2012, at Angel's Rest in the Columbia Gorge.
Dec 2012, at Angel’s Rest in the Columbia Gorge.
Dec 2012 - view of the Columbia River from Angel's Rest
Dec 2012 – view of the Columbia River from Angel’s Rest

Annette Lake

March 10, 2013 /

Nice little dayhike to Annette Lake last fall before the snow started. I only saw 2 other people the whole time, so I had some good “me” time up there, great lunch by the lake, soaked in the sunshine for a while, and enjoyed the fall colors.

Annette Lake
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