Saturday, November 5, 2011

Summer's best hikes

Fred asked me if I would be willing to post my favorite hikes of this past summer. Since we actually had eight extra hikes (usually on Monday) added to Thursday's regular treks into the High Country, this was quite a few to contemplate. There were no favorite hikes in June or July because of the late snowfall. The picture above was taken on our trip to Thornton Lakes on August 8th, the first of my favorites for the summer. (Each link will take you to the original post.) Special thanks to Mikey for the picture. Notice that even on that August date, there was lots of snow. This was a new hike for us.
Next comes Welcome Pass, which we did on August 18. It's kind of amazing that we chose this particular one, because in years past, just the name of this hike would cause people to stay away. The 67 switchbacks in a very short distance is part of the reason, but this year the late snowfall also caused the wildflowers to come out in breathtaking profusion. Both spring and summer wildflowers were everywhere, making it feel like we had walked into the set for The Sound of Music. (In fact we were singing and smiling all day long.) Thanks to Diane for this picture.
And then on the 25th of August, we went up Church Mountain, one of our usual trips into the High Country. Another beautiful day filled with sunshine and warmth, with amazing wildflowers yet again, this was perhaps our third attempt during the summer to reach the summit. We not only got there, but we all enjoyed this hike much more than we have in the past. It's interesting how different a hike can be from one trip to the next.
Another exciting and new (to us) hike was Stujack Pass. That's Fred trying to pull us slower hikers up the last grueling and steep switchbacks to the top of the pass. This was the fourth favorite hike we did in August. This was on the 29th, almost into September. Four of my favorites ended up being in August. Just look at those flowers in the foreground.
Although the weather wasn't as beautiful as we had on the August hikes, the trip we made up Mt. Dickerman, another first for me, was simply extraordinary. We had been warned that it is a hard hike, and we must have been ready for something much harder than it turned out to be, because we simply cruised right up. (All those extra hikes in August might have had something to do with it.) This one was on September 19. We also saw seven mountain goats!
And even though this final hike was technically during the fall (October 9th), our trip up to Hidden Lake Peaks was also stupendous. I'm running out of superlatives, and this is the final one I've chosen for the season. We have had some great hikes so far this fall, but I don't want to get too far out of the summer season for this particular post. This one was special not so much for the wildflowers (although they were still out when usually they would be completely gone), but for the amazing variety of views, weather, and a cool lookout cabin.

The other four extra hikes we had this summer were also truly great (Monte Cristo, Cow Heaven, Goat Lake, and Mt. Higgins) and I would definitely revisit some of them, but the really outstanding ones are the six I've mentioned here. It was a GREAT summer and we can only hope for one this good again.
:-)

22 comments:

  1. that last picture is amazing...love the perspective of it is wonderful...nice to revisit these with you...still dont know how you could pick

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  2. I hope I get to do all 6, and more, next summer!!!

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  3. The wildflowers just blew me away. And the scenery. Thank you so much for taking me to beautiful places I will never see for myself.

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  4. What beauty you see each week.. and sometimes twice a week. I would be hard-pressed to select a favourite outing because they each seem to have their own magic. The scenery.. the flowers and of course the company. I'm just so glad that you share it with us. Thanks for that.

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  5. I told you I liked looking at the flowers in your posts on hiking. Today your pictures are perfect for me. I have never seen such beautiful Alpine flowers with my own eyes and so enjoy looking at yours, through your own eyes.
    You have cataloged your hikes very well. I'm sure this will be a popular post.

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  6. You have had a great hiking summer! And so have we by going along with you! You've whet my appetite for the tracks again, making it easier for me to get up there this Fall... thanks for that! And thanks for sharing all these fabulous adventures with us! :o)

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  7. Loved that pic of Fred way up there, waving his arms at you. How in the world did you get up there? The mountain was so steep I can't imagine climbing it.

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    I can't post this comment by using OpenID. Let's see if Name/URL works.

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  8. You've got the right idea DJan...the best hike is the one that has the most things going at the time. So weather, conditions, plants all factor in. I am sure all of them were great hikes.

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  9. It was fun to revisit pictures and see new ones of these amazing hikes! I'll be looking forward to our (vicarious) high mountain hikes again next year, Djan! I wonder if the flowers will be as profuse next year. What glorious scenery!! This was a fun post. Tell Fred it was a good idea. :):)

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  10. Oh wow! I can't even choose which is my favorite because all the photos are spectacular. I just love those Sound of Music type places. Siiiighhh....

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  11. I think the picture of Church Mountain is very appealing, but there are no bad pictures among the ones you post. It seems like a wonderful experience to enjoy wildflowers and snow at the same time. The vistas are stunning. Of all the hobbies I have heard from retired people, yours are very unusual. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Outstanding photography!! And I also must leave a comment on the post below this...all the Autumn foliage on the pathway.

    Simply gorgeous.


    Off the Pier...shadows is my link, if you'd care to view.

    Have a great day.

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  13. I admire you so much, this hiking you do.

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  14. What an amazing summer you've had! I love all those wildflowers - especially the picture of the columbine.

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  15. Pictures looks inviting! I can hike in that bed of flowers all day and sit, read a book and enjoy the cold breeze but wait I'm supposed to hike hahahaha. Thank you for sharing your adventures DJ!

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  16. I love your next to last photo with the field of wildflowers. You certainly had some great views this summer DJan. I'm bettin' those extra hikes will become a regular habit in the summer months.

    We now have snow on our Blue Mountains, down to about 1500', so the Cascades must have a lot of fresh snow too.

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  17. All the trails look gorgeous and magical - and challenging!

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  18. I'm just green with envy.

    Beautiful pics and great hiking!!

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  19. DJan - Great selections and beautiful photos. I love all the photos, especially the last one. Aah, isn't Mother Nature kind to us with views like this. Nice ReCap.

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  20. The Church Mountain photo is stunning! I enjoy all your hikes:)

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  21. The third and last photos are my favorites- so beautiful. Hiking is such a great gift to give ourselves- out into nature challenging ourselves and seeing what so few ever see. It fills the heart.

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  22. I just can't imagine having an opportunity for such consistently exhilarating views. Stunning, especially that photo of the wildflowers in the foreground.

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