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Mountain Ash - Giants

Growing up in the northwest, I have always thought of douglas fir trees and sequoias as the tallest trees on the planet.  Sequoias, for example, can grow to be about 250 feet (76 meters) tall and douglas firs also in the 200 to 300 foot range.  But that's nothing compared to mountain ash or Eucalyptus regnans which at one time were actually measured at 132 meters tall or 433 feet in the forests of southern Victoria and on the island of Tasmania.  Today you can still find mountain ash, which grow to maturity at 350 years and can live twice that long, in the 85 to 100 meter tall range (328 feet) and they bloom too - the tallest blooming plant on the planet.  During our recent hikes in the forests of Victoria, we were fortunate to find ourselves in the middle of several of these giants.  Judy's cell phone photo provides the best perspective.

While she took this shot, I opted for an alternative perspective.

What a treat hiking in these forests has turned out to be.  

Now, off to Tasmania and even bigger and better.

Snow Hike to the Slatted Bridge

Another local hike that you can take in most any weather condition is the trail from Lake Sawyer Park along the west side of Ravensdale Creek to what I call the "slatted bridge".  Measured from the parking lot to the bridge, it's about a 4 mile round trip through second growth forests on easy trail that provide some nicest views of the creek as it meanders it's way to Lake Sawyer.  Cross the bridge to the east side and follow the trails further north all the way to 288th and circle back around to the west side of the creek and you can another mile or two.

These are trails first established and maintained by a community of mountain bikers that provide some of the best mountain biking in King County.  I call it the slatted bridge because of the type of bridge shown above.  It's not the smoothest ride across but it sure is sturdy.  This is also a location where we have seen coho salmon spawning in the past.  The above view is looking east.  On this day, we even found some color.

Berries from weed holly trees stand out in the snow.  Other areas along the creek that can look a bit drab in the winter, really dress up in the snow.

It doesn't take a lot of sun to brighten the day.

What a winter wonderland we have here.

A Walk in the Park

What to do on snow days?  Stay close to home and if you live in Black Diamond, take a walk in Lake Sawyer Park.  After the snow falls, we often have clear skies and bright sun, creating a fantasy land, like this sunset at Ravensdale Creek.

Or, you might like it better in the morning.

Fortunately, city staff was quick to clear the park access road and only a few inches of snow fell, making it easy going on the trails.  It's an excellent opportunity to catch some sunbursts as the sun shines through the trees.

See if you can find some hoarfrost close to the lake.  With cold temperatures and high moisture levels in the air from fog rising on the lake, you can often find fields of hoarfrost, some even growing on the snow.

We found it everywhere.  If you have a micro lens for your camera (I don't), you can get some really neat shots of individual snow flakes.  I used my 300 mm long lens to capture this closeup while standing a long ways away.  Always looking for interesting shapes and lighting, like this view of Ravensdale Creek looking upstream.

And downstream.

A tip if you like to take pictures.  You will find Ravensdale Creek to be a great spot for sunset photos over the next couple of months.  Soon the sun will be setting right down the chute.  It's still setting a few degrees south as you saw from the first photo, but it should be even better in a week or so.  Usually, lots of color even now.

Are we all fortunate to live in the northwest or what?

Franklin Mine No. 7

As many times as I have hiked to the ghost town of Franklin and explored what remains from coal mining days, I still can't visualize just how large coal mining facilities were at the time.  The following photo of Franklin No. 7 with top works clustered along the hillside and the railroad running below adds some perspective.

Photo courtesy Washington State Historical Society, 1943.42.1050, Asahel Curtis photographer, circa 1902

I presume the building with steam coming out at the top was a washing and sorting area or perhaps a power plant?.  I expect that a ready source of timber (see the logs piled up at the top right) made construction of mine shafts a bit easier and less expensive.  These were big facilities and required major investment.  I'll have to recalibrate my brain and see if I can better "see" Franklin during my next visit.  

And don't forget to join one of the tours that will be coming up soon.  I believe the first tour is planned for the 1st Saturday in March.  Will confirm dates.  Also, following is a link to Black Diamond History's article Franklin, Everything You Always Wanted to Know.

Hiking the Upper Big Creek Loop Trail - and More

Have I got some fun winter hikes for you!  The area around Lake Cushman, north of Hoodsport and Hood Canal, is rich in low traffic well maintained trails just waiting to be explored. Yesterday, Judy and I headed over to explore Lake Cushman (our first visit there) and hike the trails around Big Creek.  The weather could not have been better.  Sunny but cool - perfect for hiking. 

First impression, Lake Cushman is a pretty cool place for outdoors people and a beauty in it's own right.  I'm sure that it's crowded during the summer with campers and vacationers but certainly not this time of year.

Here are a few scenes from driving around the lake.

You will find Cushman Falls as it makes it's tumble down the hillside.

Though used as a reservoir for hydroelectric power generation by the Mason County PUD, the water level was a few feet lower that in the summer but still beautiful.

Having never hiked here before, how do you choose which hike to go on.  Ah, look for where most of the cars are.  Thus we ended up hiking the Upper Big Creek Loop trail and then extended it further to see the vista from a trail overlook on the way to Mount Ellinore.  I must say, overall this was as well maintained and well built trail that we have been on.  Very few rocks or big roots.  We must have made 7 or more stream crossings and each of the bridges were in perfect condition.  Here's the view from the overlook about 1,700 feet above the trailhead.

We also had great views from here of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams.  In all, we logged about 7 miles and had enough elevation gain at 1,700 feet to keep our hearts pumping and bodies warm.  The Big Creek area is home to a U.S. Forest Service Campground, a trailhead for the climb to Mount Ellinore and the Upper Big Creek Loop trail.  For young families, there is also a camp loop trail that is perfect for youngsters.  

Not far from Big Creek is the Mount Rose trailhead and the much larger Staircase area with 10 more trails.  Lots more exploring yet to do this winter and spring.

Whitewater Kayaking and Rafting Down the Green River Gorge - Update

Last week I noted how high water flows were in the Green River Gorge.  3,200 cfs is prime for whitewater kayaking and rafting (see complete article below). Apparently such a large release of water from the dam was done in coordination between the corps of engineers and recreational kayaking groups and only for a short period.  As of Feb. 1, water flows are now back down to only 1,000 cfs which is normal for this time of year. 

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With water now flowing at 3,200 CFS, it's prime time for advanced kayakers and river rafters to enjoy the thrill of shooting the rapids down the Green River Gorge.  What an incomparable experience this is.  

I spent yesterday hiking several trails in the gorge and ran into some kayakers at Kanaskat-Palmer State Park preparing to head down the river.  I also was surprised to see the high water flows being released by the dam.  

The word must have gotten out because at these flow rates, this is prime time for those capable of navigating level III and level IV rapids.  High flows limited my access to the river and photograph opportunities but it sure is a thrill just to see it.  The 5 miles from Kanaskat to the takeout at the Franklin bridge have some pretty amazing rapids.  So, I headed down to the Franklin bridge hoping to see the kayakers as they made their way down.  Sure enough, in not too long, along they came.  The photo you see above was taken from one of the take out points - after the major rapids.  By this time, it was pretty easy play time for these kayakers.

The take out point is immediately below and to your right.  A lot of water flowing.  Several years ago, Judy and I were fortunate to raft down through the gorge, guided by experts, and what a memorable experience it was.  It was not just the thrill of the rapids, but the unique beauty of the gorge seldom seem by many.  Since that day, my appreciation for the gorge and the need to protect such a unique asset for future generations has grown enormously and if I want to get away for a hike close to home, this is my get-a-way.

Such unique geology.  Somehow, I don't think I need the sign to tell me not to dive, even at high water.

 

Hiking to Greenlake, Mt. Rainier National Park

Great weather, great time to hike up to Green Lake from the Carbon River entrance to Mt. Rainier National Park.  Although it's January, Judy and I found the trails to be snow free except at the very top.  And sunshine too.

Even though the lake was frozen, there is always something special about being up here.  And you get some great views of Ranger Falls along the way.

Green Lake is at about 3,400 feet elevation and this is a good indicator of where the snow level is in the cascades right now.  For those not familiar with this popular hike, park at the park entrance where the road dead ends along the Carbon River.  Follow the old road for 3 miles and you find a sign on your right for the Green Lake trailhead.  In one mile, you reach Ranger Falls and another 0.8 miles to the lake.  9.6 miles round trip and 1,150' of elevation gain.  Always fun.

Time to Go Visit Mud Mountain Dam

Are you looking for somewhere different and interesting to take out of town visitors during the holidays?  Somewhere where you don't have to fight the crowds?  A place where kids can run and safely play in a large park setting and have the place virtually to themselves?  Or perhaps you just want to get away, stay out of the snow and maybe take a hike?  Then mud mountain dam and park is the place to go.  Completed in 1948, the dam is one of the largest and tallest earth filled dams in the country.

The dam is located along the White River a few miles east of Enumclaw.  It's earthen structure sits between the walls of a steep canyon through which the river once flowed freely and rises 432 feet above the canyon floor.  The above photo of the dam was taken last Sunday.

The following photo, taken in 1937. shows the canyon from about this same perspective as construction commenced.

Photo courtesy Washington State Archives, circa 1937

Several things about Mud Mountain dam are unique.  Not only is the dam tall and earthen filled (not concrete) but it is one of the few large dams in our state which generates no electricity.  Other Puget Sound area dams such as the Howard Hanson dam on the Green River, the Electron dam on the Puyallup River, Masonry dam on the Cedar River, and Ross dam on the Skagit River all were designed with both flood control and electrical generation in mind.  For the Mud Mountain dam along the White River, flood control was the driving factor and the source of New Deal era federal funding.

In addition, you won't find a big reservoir sitting behind the dam filled with water.  Instead, it appears to be just the river flowing as it normally would. 

As you can see from the above photo, the river reservoir never does get very high and only during periods of heavy rain will there be much water stored behind the dam.  At 5.5 miles long, the reservoir could store up to 106,000 acre feet of water at capacity, but it's never had to be tested and it remains just a river virtually all of the year - albeit a little marshy at times.

Another unique factor about the dam is the apparent success that the Army Corps of Engineers is having in improving habitat and increasing salmon runs.  First, there are no fish ladders here.  Instead, spawning salmon are collected at the base of the dam and transported via truck to a point above the dam where they are released.  To quote the Corps:  

"The Corps is pursuing an aggressive schedule to minimize risk to ESA-listed species. Recent years have seen large increases in the White River Chinook run. The 2017 count was 16,271, a 174 percent increase over 2016’s 9,347 total, which was the best seen in 71 years of return records."

Let's hope that these successes continue.

For visitors, the Corps maintains a large day use park with picnic facilities, interpretive exhibits and 10 miles of hiking trails.  

For more about the history of the dam, follow this link to my earlier post Mud Mountain Dam - Taming the White River.  To get there, take highway 410 east of Enumclaw for about 6 miles.  You will see a big sign for the dam.  Turn right and follow until the road dead ends at the park.  Park hours are 9 am to 4 pm and they are closed on weekends, though you can hike the trails at any time.  The primary trailhead is located just outside the park gate to your left (east) as you face the gate.  Well worth visiting!

Mind-Numbing

Lest there be any doubt that Douglas Fir trees can grow big and tall, these photos taken in the early 1900's make it quite clear.  How loggers of this era were able to fall these huge trees, buck them into transportable lengths and then load them on to a rail car remains beyond my comprehension.

Photo courtesy University of Washington Libraries

Photo courtesy University of Washington Libraries

The good news, there remain a good number of large old growth fir trees still standing and we are blessed to have the opportunity to see them.  Two suggestions for this winter for you to visit that are generally still accessible and make good winter hikes even in the rain.  

1. Federation Forest State Park - Located on highway 410 just before you enter Greenwater, the park is usually snow free or with just a little snow in the winter, though the gates will be locked and you will have to park outside at one of several turnouts next to the park.  Lots of big fir, hemlock, spruce and cedar right along the river.  Easy trails for walking and beautiful ferns and trees.
2. Mt. Rainier National Park at the Carbon River entrance - Located along the Carbon River where the road dead ends at the park entrance, you can walk the flat road that continues east along the river.  This road once allowed you to drive all the way to the Ipsut Creek campsite but continuing wash-outs caused by the river along the road made it too difficult to maintain.  Now you can walk, jog or ride your bike along this flat road.  Take some time along the trail to count the growth rings on several of the fallen trees.  You'll be counting for quite a while.  Footnote:  Do not take the road to the right after crossing the Fairfax bridge.  That would take you up to Mowich.  Instead, stay left along the river and follow it past the ranger station until it dead ends.

Postscript:  The thought of going to a park to see trees reminds me of Joni Mitchell's song Bill Yellow Taxi and going to see the trees in a tree museum, but fortunately these sites are not really like that.  All natural, all real and beautiful.

A Walk in History

Inspired by the work of local photographer Robert Dobson, I decided to head out and see if I could "see" history as it was and is today.  Bob's style of using old cameras and dated film to capture images that tell a story is unique and to be treasured - and well beyond my skill level.  But perhaps it's possible, using digital technology, to catch a glimpse of the past in the present that is also pleasing to the eye.  Following is an image that first caught my attention.  Can anyone guess where and what this is?

The mix of colors, textures and shapes is what made me look twice and with barnacles growing we get our first clue as to where this might be.  Would it help if I told you that this structure is over 100 years old.  Maybe this image will help.

Oops, we've got a leak.  Things do wear out after a century of use, but it's still functional and a vital link for Puget Sound commerce.  It's also a place to view salmon as they make their way on up to the cedar river to spawn.  Here's another glimpse.

Hmmmm, we have moving parts.  Old moving parts. 

Even on this day with no salmon passing through, the cormorants still delight in seeking fish for dinner.

Here's a photo showing modern day structures at the site with all their shapes, sizes and "muscle".

Well, if you haven't guessed yet, these photos are of the Ballard Locks connecting Lake Union to Puget Sound, first built by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1917.  If you haven't visited the locks, it is well worth the trip.  They have a nice park, gardens and good trails.  Some historic buildings too, still in use. 

This nearby railroad trestle must also date back to the early 1900's.  Still using the big weighted end to lift the bridge for opening.

On my way out, I had to stop and take a picture of one of my hiking buddies - always begging to have his/her picture taken along with a snack.

 

Hiking To The Old Johnson Coal & Clay Mine

Picture of Gomer Evans taken on Wednesday during our hike to the old Johnson Mine

On a beautiful fall day, Keith Watson, Keith's brother, Gomer Evans, Bill Kombol and I had the opportunity to hike to the location of the old Johnson Clay Mine.  Gomer worked here during the 1950's, so we were anxious to see if we could find any remnants of the mine now located on Washington State Parks property.  It's on the south side of the Green River just east of Flaming Geyser State Park.  Thanks to Gomer's memory and the sleuthing/bushwacking skills of our team, I think that we did great and now have a pretty good understanding of how this facility all laid out - at least at the big picture level.

The old haul road that once connected the mine to SR 169 is still there.  In the picture that follows we see where the haul road decended into the area of the mine up on the ridge, about 600 feet above the river, that contained the burn pile areas, hoist, bunkers for loading mined coal and clay, the wash house etc. as sketched by Gomer in the link provided above.  We are hoping that Gomer might put together a more detailed sketch focused just on this area.

Bill Kombol gets the "discoverer" award for finding what clearly appears to be the area where coal/clay cars where hoisted up from the mine on rail to the ridge top.

The picture that follows shows just how steep this incline was for pulling cars up from the mine, which was located pretty close to water level in the river.

If you look near the top center, you will be able to see the river below - way down there.  Among Bill's discoveries was also what could have been a vent or just caved in area - big hole that went well into the hillside.  Notice the clear coal seam.

And for the last picture let me show some of the remnants pulled from the site including nuggets of clay left over from the burn piles, coal remnants and what we might best call a "klinker" that had been heated through the burn process but that contained other minerals like silica that would cause it to fuse and look "glazed" in appearance.

It appears that the best way to get there without having to cross private property is from Flaming Geyser - but I'll save that trail for another day.

Hiking to Comet Falls

Although many of the roads are now closed in Mount Rainier NP and you will find snow at Paradise, there is still time to do some hiking at lower elevations - such as the trail to Comet Falls.  As the days cloud over, it can be a good time to visit some of your favorite waterfalls.  According to Waterfalls Northwest, Comet Falls ranks as the 8th "best" waterfall in the northwest, including Washington, Oregon and northern Idaho.  Why does it get ranked so high?  A whole lot of water falls (no pun intended) and it has a 462' drop in three sections with the biggest 392' among the farthest drops in our state.  The trailhead at an elevation of about 3,600 feet is well below the snowline for now and to the falls, you climb 1,250 to 4,875, which was right at current snow levels.  Just some traces. Here's a view from the base of the falls.

As you can see, it was overcast but not raining.  Perfect, but....  There was plenty of mist blowing around which makes it a challenge keeping your lens clear, especially for long exposures.  The exposure I used for the photo above was 1/60th of a second and I was able take the shot hand held and protect my lens from the mist.  With my camera mounted on a tripod, I was able to slow the shutter speed down even more, to 2 seconds.  The effect is to "feather" the falls while keeping the background in focus.

Too much mist on my lens in these conditions to get a really clear photo with a 2 second exposure. 

The hike to the falls is 3.8 miles round trip with 1,250 feet of elevation gain and some stair climbs along the way.  The good news is that there is a lot to see along the trail both going up and going down.  For a change, following are some pics taken on the way back down.

As you can see, there are three tiers to Comet falls, two including one at the top and this third tier as the stream levels out some.  Note the snow - easily navigated.

Before you reach Comet falls, there are several other falls to see, including this one, just before you climb over the ridge to get your first view of Comet falls.  Here, you cross a bridge and see water cascading down what is called Bloucher Falls.

Continuing on down the trail, there are easily 6 to 10 places where you can get some pretty neat views.  Some are close ups.

Some views are a little further away.

Water everywhere.

And just before you get back to the trailhead, you cross a bridge with a great view of Christine Falls.  You can also see this falls just off the road as you head on up toward Paradise.

Great way to spend a day when the sun and mountain are hiding.

 

 

Hiking to Blue Lake

Where are your favorite places to go hiking in the Cascade mountains of Washington?  Mt. Rainier National Park, Chinook Pass corridor, Snoqualmie Pass corridor or maybe Stevens Pass?  How can you beat the Enchantments or the Alpine Lakes Wilderness areas?  Well, you can't but then you can't leave out Heather-Maple Pass Loop and Blue Lake along the North Cascades Highway either - especially in the fall when larch begin to turn yellow and shed their needles.  Though we had already visited Blue Lake earlier this summer and it was a bit late for larch, I headed up to Blue Lake last week to get a last look before the snows came.  First views of the lake always make me smile.

Certainly one of the better lakes for reflections that you'll find.  Sheltered by the surrounding peaks, there are still traces of snow from last winter.  A few larch still showing off their colors too.  In an attempt to protect the lake from the impact of man, significant areas along the shoreline have been roped off limits - particularly those areas right on the lake shore.  However, National Park Service staff this year added a short loop trail on the west side of the lake, providing access to a mountain tarn surrounded by larch.

You might note that the tarn was frozen over and a few traces of snow from a week or so ago remain on the ground up here.  Looking back down over the ridge at Blue Lake offers some neat views.  No trail to this higher view point but a reasonably easy scramble from the tarn to gain another few hundred feet of elevation.

Back down on the trail, quite a few larch still showing their colors.

Though there were perhaps a couple dozen hikers, they seemed to stay clustered at the north end of the lake - avoiding the tarn loop trail and perhaps the best view of all from the south end of the lake.  I must have hung out on a rock formation just a foot or two above the lake for an hour or more and I had it all to myself.  An easy side trail takes you down to this vantage point off the loop trail.

Incredible place.  Just 4.4 miles round trip, excluding the tarn loop trail and scrambles, and just over 1,000 feet of elevation gain.  If you haven't been there, this is a must do hike and accessible for most of us.  The trailhead is also easy to find with excellent signage and located just west of the Washington Pass summit along the North Cascades highway.

 

Fall Colors - Why & Where

So many people we know identify the fall as their favorite time of year in the northwest.  Cool but comfortable temperatures, often sunny days and bright intense colors as the leaves turn.  It's a great time of year for taking pictures too.

Why the color change?  During the spring and summer, leaves serve as factories producing the food needed for plant growth.  Leaf cells contain chlorophyll which absorbs energy from sunlight used in transforming carbon dioxide and water into carbohydrates.  Chlorophyll contains pigments with a variety of colors including green, orange and yellow.  Green is dominant most of the year but as the days shorten and temperatures cool, chlorophyll begins to break down and the other colors come to the fore.  Other chemical changes cause the development of red anthocyanin pigments adding to the color palette. 

Dry weather and cool (not freezing) temperatures are best.  It's a great year so far.

Along the trails up in the mountains, we also are seeing quite a few low growing bushes and plant leaves with some really intense colors.

These trail pictures are on the way up from Eleanor Lake to Grand Park.  The leaves on huckleberry bushes are among the brightest red we saw here.

And no surprise for photographers, colors are the most intense during the first couple hours after sunrise and before sunset.  The angle of the sun brightens without blowing out the colors.

Almost predictably, we find color wherever a trail goes through an area of a previous rockslide or washout.  The trees that grow here are generally deciduous, including the "pioneer tree" Red Alder.

Where to go right now?  Most anywhere in Mount Rainier National Park is great right now and along the Chinook Pass highway.  The very best I've seen so far - Hwy 23 between Randle and Trout Lake.  The Trout Lake side is absolutely amazing.  One word of caution, however, about Hwy 23.  It's 60+ miles of logging road including about 40 miles "bumpy paved" and the rest gravel.  The good news - the road is recently graded.  Great views of Mt. Adams too.

Off Road Vehicles Circa 1950

Off Road Vehicles(ORVs) are very popular these days, both in the mountains and on the flats.  Closest dedicated location that I am aware of is the Evans Creek ORV Park on the road to Mowich Lake.  This site, which includes 45 miles of designated motorized trails and 6,400 acres, includes a campground and offers some great views of Mt. Rainier too.  The range of All Terrain Vehicles we see up there is pretty amazing and sophisticated, though they can look rather beat up too.

Are dedicated ORV parks something new?  The recreation part of it - yes, dedicated areas set aside for ORV use can be controversial and there are few such parks now in the state.  On the other hand, "ORV" public and private "parks" in the form of logging roads have been around for some time.  Here's what looks to be a 1950's vintage Kenworth ORV.

Photo courtesy University of Washington Libraries, CKK0946, Clark Kinsey photographer, n.d.

The above photo was taken at one of Weyerhaeuser Company's logging operations.  Not exactly road worthy.  Should we have places set aside for ATV's like Evans Creek.  Personally, I think it's a good idea.  These vehicles have a dedicated following and I would much rather see their use limited and managed versus the damage done if left untethered - just like logging roads used to be.

Here's a view from Evans Creek.

 

Hiking to Lake Eleanor and Grand Park

Fall colors are showing well right now and should peak over the next couple of weeks in the central Cascades.  Time to take a hike to Grand Park via the backdoor through Lake Eleanor.  Starting from Sunrise to get to Grand Park can be a slog for many - 14 miles roundtrip and a bit of a climb back up through Berkeley Park.  Starting at Lake Eleanor is shorter at only 8 miles round trip and moderate, gaining just 1,100 feet in elevation.  You can also be at the trailhead in less than an hour from Black Diamond.

Lake Eleanor is a beautiful destination itself and only 2 miles from the trailhead.  It also has a couple of campsites, though they are currently closed due to concerns about the health of some trees.  How would you like to wake up to this morning view?

Crystal clear and just like glass.  Back to the trail and on to Grand Park.  As you begin the last 1/2 mile up to Grand Park, you begin to see lots of color.  The trail is surrounded by it.

If you can, hiking in the morning is best to get the sun before it is overhead and the colors become too harsh.

When we reach the high point of the trail, I never cease to be in awe.  Grand Park is huge and the views amazing.

Going a little further, the expanse becomes even broader.  I had to stitch 5 pictures together to get this one.

Depending on the lens you are using, it's pretty hard to fit all of the mountain in the photo.

Now visualize these huge meadows full of wildflowers blooming, particularly lupine which seem to thrive here.  Late June and early July are typically best for wildflowers at Grand Park.

On the way back, hiking model Vanna (aka Judy) posed for a picture.

To get to the trailhead, take Hwy 410 through Greenwater, take a right at Forest Service Road 73 and continue on 73 for about 10 miles.  You will pass Huckleberry Creek after 6 miles and then reach the trailhead at Eleanor Creek where there is a pull out for about 5 or 6 cars.  The sign for Eleanor Creek is easily seen as is the trailhead on your left.  Hike for about a couple 100 yards before you reach the official boundary and enter Mt. Rainier National Park.  Signs very visible.

Photos of the Week

Fall officially began on Saturday Sept. 22 and the signs of change are in the air.  As our evenings cool, we still have flowers blooming but they are just hanging on.  Our sunflowers and cosmos seem to be the hardiest of the lot right now.

Sunflowers bring a smile to my face every day while cosmos may have invented the colors in the pastel palette.

It's a little early for birds to be migrating through or bald eagles and osprey to begin building their nests, but old faithful great blue herons continue to hold down the fort.  This one was practicing his/her "fancy dancing".

We no longer have to get up in the wee hours of the morning or stay up late to catch sunrise and sunset.  The angle of the sun is also flatter, leading to more and more colorful displays at Lake Sawyer.

Sunrise and sunset have both moved further south and rise at about 90 degrees to the east and set at 270 degrees to the west.  I guess that signals the start of fall.  Weather has also remained warm and nice.  It's not often that you will see sunrise reflecting on  Mt. Rainier in the morning without a cloud in the sky.

We also had a rare event with the moon setting right behind Mt. Rainier and the Milky Way also right over the mountain at the same time.  I had to hike up to Dege Peak to stay above the clouds initially.

And then the moon set and you can see some of the Milky Way behind it.

Looking forward to some great fall colors in the weeks ahead.

 

 

Pinnacle Peak Lookout - About To Be Reborn

The trail to Pinnacle Peak in Enumclaw is one of the more popular local hikes for those seeking elevation gain and exercise.  Also known as Mt. Peak and Mt. Pete, the trail takes you up 1,000 feet above the plateau in 1.8 miles.  The Peak also has an interesting history dating back to 1921 when the first fire lookout tower of 30 feet was built, expanded later to 60 feet - offering great 360 degree views across the plateau and cascades.

Photo courtesy WillhiteWeb.com

As tower manning gave way to new technology for spotting wildfires, the tower at Mt. Peak was deemed to be surplus and torn down in 1966.  Unfortunately, as the tower came down so too came the loss of plateau views that were so stunning from the tower.  As you hike up today, you can find peeks (no pun intended) here and there but not the expansive views tower visitors once had.

Following is a video taken of the tower in 1961.

Video courtesy of Pat Roberts

Fortunately, a group of area citizens have taken up the cause and begun fundraising to rebuild the tower.  They have already produced an architects rendering of the new tower.  It looks pretty close to the original design.

Image courtesy of Pat Roberts

The challenge is funding.  Completing the project is estimated to cost $500,000 and project sponsors could use all of our help in contributing to this very worthy local project.  It would be so cool to stay close to home, yet climb 1,000 feet while hiking 3.6 miles round trip and be rewarded with some special views you'll find nowhere else.

For more information about the project and how best to contact project sponsors, following is a link to a July article in The Courier-Herald.  Also, if you haven't hiked Mt. Peak yet, add it to your must do list.  The following map provides directions.

You can also find more of the history of Pinnacle Peak/Mt. Peak/Mt. Pete at the following link WillhightWeb.com.  

 

Mika the Pika

Meet my camping buddy Mika the Pika.  A member of the rabbit family, pikas hang out at higher elevations in the cascades, living in burrows where they can stay warm when the snows come.  Cute little guys.

I found several of them feeding on a variety of grasses growing just above their den at the Mowich Lake campground.  Because they don't hibernate and stay active all year, they need to store plenty of food in their dens to tide them over through the winter months - a process called haying.

As you can see, short legs and no tail.  Looking pretty "plump" this time of year.  Don't be deceived by their body build, pika are fast, fast, fast and would be tough to catch by predators such as eagles, foxes and weasels.  

Though they do drink water when it's available, there is sufficient water in the food they eat that they don't need to find a source of water other than that contained in their food.  Apparently they are quite picky about what they hay away for the winter.   Keep your eyes open when out and about up at Mt. Rainier.  Chances are pretty good that you might see some.

Easy to identify by their ears.

Best Backpacking Campsites

If you are looking for a campsite for your next backpacking adventure, I've got three "must do" recommendations.  My criteria include (1) the campsite must be a site specifically permitted by either the Forest Service or National Parks, (2) must have a privy, (3) be located along either a designated Forest Service or National Parks trail and (4) have a "spectacular" setting. 

3.  Lake Ingalls - The hike to Lake Ingalls is a fun adventure, 4.5 miles one way with 2,500 feet of elevation gain and a real "scramble" the final 1/4 mile up to the lake.  Fortunately, you won't need to carry your full pack up to the lake since there is no camping here.  The designated camping areas are located along a side trail right after you summit Ingalls pass and before you reach the lake.  They are spread out over a fairly large area providing lots of privacy and making it not feel crowded.  Here's the view from my campsite.

The views of Mt. Stuart and North Cascades are pretty amazing.  As a destination, the lake is impressive.

The only disadvantage is that camping is located about 1/2 to 3/4 mile from the lake, making it somewhat inconvenient to go back and forth.  On the other hand, you will often find mountain goats in the area - a real treat and good reason for keeping campers some distance away.

2.   Snow Lake (Mt. Rainier NP) - There are several lakes named Snow Lake in the area, including the one in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness trail out of Snoqualmie Pass and my favorite camp site of the same name in Mt. Rainier National Park.  There are only two campsites here, so you have plenty of privacy.  These campsites are also located at the north end of the lake and away from the main trail crowds.  At jsut 2.5 miles roundtrip with only 610 ft of elevation gain, the hike is perfect for young families.  What impressed me most about this site is the amazing view looking south across the lake from one of the campsites.  My mouth dropped when I first saw it.

The biggest advantage to camping here, I believe, is all of the area around the lake available for exploring - including Bench Lake and all the area around the Snow Lake.  There is not much of a view from Snow Lake of Mt. Rainier.  To get a glimpse, you have to work your way around to the southeast part of the lake (upper left in the above picture).

The real bonus is Bench Lake, only 0.7 miles from the trailhead.  This is one of the best views of sunset you will find in the Park.

1.  Shriner Peak (Mount Rainier NP) - This is my all time favorite backpacking camp for Judy and I.  Just 8.5 miles roundtrip, you climb 3,434 ft. to an old fire lookout.  Given the climb, this trail is one of the least traveled in the park but the views are spectacular.  Here's the view from our tent at sunrise.

In addition to Mt. Rainier not shone is this pic, you can see both Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens to the south.  We were blessed with great weather and views staying just above the clouds.  Here's the view at sunset.

If you are into night photography, this is a must do location.  The Milky Way as I opened our tent flap:

Another panorama above the clouds.

On this night, we even got a little of the northern lights.

One other advantage to camping here is that it won't be crowded.  There are only two campsites.  However, you won't find any water up here either and by late July and August, the closest stream is nearly back at the trailhead, so you will have to carry a heavy back.  It's well worth it though.

We are blessed in the northwest.