Thursday, December 30, 2010

Olsen Creek

I took this picture of the frosty field across from the parking lot where we started our hike this morning. It was in the low to mid-20s all day, never warming up very much unless we were in the sunshine. Although there wasn't a cloud in the sky, most of the day we hiked on shady wooded trails. Thirteen of us showed up for the last hike of the year. We were dressed for the cold, so nobody suffered too much, until we had to cross Olsen Creek. The rocks had a coating of sheer ice on them, and a few people got wet feet, but most of us made it across with only a little difficulty.
If you look closely at the rocks, you can see how treacherous the crossing was. And there is fresh snow on the foliage. The water in my Camelbak bladder kept freezing up and I had to suck really hard to get the ice to flow through. After crossing this creek, we had a very steep hillside to climb, more than 500 feet almost straight up, it seemed. We reached a trail we had never hiked before and decided to follow it, since it was rumored to end up at a familiar trail. However, as we began to descend, we realized that we were not going to have much of a view and finally opted to have lunch when we found a moderately sunny spot.
You can see the steam rising from Frank's hot drink and the icy ferns surrounding our lunch spot. I also had a nice cup of hot tea and found it still piping hot even after three hours in my backpack. There's a good reason to preheat a thermos; noting tastes quite as good as a hot drink in the middle of a frozen landscape. We didn't stay long, as we began to feel the cold seeping through our clothes, even with little wind.
We laughed at this moss-covered signpost. I think (but I am not sure) that there is an actual sign under there, but who knows for sure? At least it was interesting to look at, and if you enlarge it you can see a few flakes of snow on it. We knew we were in the general vicinity of a logging road as we began to see a familiar clearcut showing through the trees. When we got to the road, it was the only view we had all day.
These are the Canadian Cascades you are looking at, showing as well as our beautiful cloudless sky. By the time we reached our cars, we had covered eight miles and more than 2,000 feet up and down. We were all very happy to have had such a wonderful hike with good friends as our last outing of 2010.

Tomorrow and Saturday are also projected to be clear and cold, so I think I will head down to Lake Padden on New Year's Day to watch the Polar Bear Club this year. Last New Year's the temperature was in the 50s when they dashed into the water, but this year it will be in the teens! Should make for some excitement!
:-)

21 comments:

  1. This adventure sounds wonderful. I would love to take this hike in warmer weather. I could not stand the cold...haa Gerry

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  2. Jan, you continually amaze me. Did you know about all these hiking opportunities when you were deciding where you wanted to live in retirement? It all seems a perfect match for the two of you.

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  3. I am in awe of your adventuresome spirit and you stamina. This hike was not one for the faint at heart.

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  4. I love your photos, and I think I would watch those Polar Bear Club swimmers too. From my heated car.

    Happy New Year!

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  5. What awesome vistas....
    I would be the one to slip and fall in the creek :)
    The view is worth the climb, nary a truer word spoken.
    You always make me smile with your pictures,
    Thank You !
    Jo
    x

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  6. Your stamina!! Your youth. Love it.

    Happy 2011 to you!

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  7. Another great hike!
    I was going to go for a walk in the sunshine today, but by the time I got freed up, fatigue finally set in, and I realized I needed to just sit and doze in my chair. maybe tomorrow I'll get out there.

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  8. oh man...it looks cold...feeling for those polar bears tomorrow...bet that warmtea was good...but bet you loved every minute of it...hope you have a great new years...

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  9. That looks like a great trail DJan, except for the very icy rocks in the stream. I like the photo of the steam rising from Frank's cup, I'll bet the hot beverages were good about that time.

    My "hike" for the day was up and down the driveway shoveling snow.
    Sounds like you are getting some of the cold weather too. I wonder how many of the polar bears will show up for the real cold this year?

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  10. Even frosty and cold looking your pictures are great. LOL - I have a hard time thinking of your 30 some degree weather as cold though. Until this week we have been below zero with wind chills at -20.

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  11. Hi DJan, Hope you get some photos of the Polar Bear Club!
    Another great hike..the crossing looked slick..but what a view when you got to the clearing!
    Happy New Year to you and Smart Guy! :)

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  12. I so enjoy your hikes from the warmth of my computer. I love the photo of the steamy drink out in that frosty air. So nice that you have so many like-minded friends in your area.

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  13. Those icy rocks -- I wouldn't want to slip and fall and get my feet wet. That must have been uncomfortable for some of your friends. Did their feet get frozen after that?

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  14. You have to be a rugged individual to hike with ice-covered rocks. Glad you made it back safe and sound. Happy New Year, DJan.

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  15. My word, girl, the hike looked awesome! The moss covered sign(?) was interesting and gasped at the beauty of the Canadian Cascades.

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  16. I always enjoy seeing those mountain vistas. You live in the midst of some pretty spectacular topography.

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  17. I was ready to read that YOU were in the Polar Bear Club! lol

    I love it when the fields are painted in heavy frost. What a beautiful way to start the day!

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  18. Just by looking at your pictures my fingers are getting numb!

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  19. We were dressed for the cold, so nobody suffered too much, until we had to cross Olsen Creek.

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  20. Nothing tastes quite as good as a hot drink in the middle of a frozen landscape.

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  21. And there is fresh snow on the foliage.

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