Thursday, January 27, 2011

Mt. Erie and Sugarloaf 2011

Finally, a Thursday with no precipitation! It seems a long time ago, since the last few weeks we have hiked in weather than didn't allow for very many good pictures. Last year's hike to this same destination was in February, and I just peeked at the pictures to see how different they were. Very, to say the least. You are looking at Mt. Rainier brought a little closer with my telephoto, but it is the first time I've even SEEN it from the top of Mt. Erie. We had low fog making for some spectacular shots, and the sun only peeked out now and then, but the weather was quite mild and, as I said, there was no rain.
Looking across the water at the Olympics, you can see the low clouds and the view with these clouds was so beautiful it took my breath away. If you enlarge it, almost in the middle of the picture you can see a bird, probably an eagle looking for a quick meal. We had eighteen Trailblazers on today's hike, many of them on this excursion for the first time. Although we trekked from Heart Lake through the Anacortes Community Forest Land south of Bellingham, there is a paved road that goes all the way to the top. We were the only hikers up there, but many people had come for the view, wondering why we had trekking poles and packs, I expect.
Pointing my camera to the east, looking across the Skagit Valley, I could see many of my favorite and familiar mountains, Glacier Peak among them, with the fog drifting across the valley to make my pictures particularly interesting and mysterious. These three pictures cover 180 degrees, looking east, south, and west from the top of Mt. Erie. I took a picture of the whole gang below, with the Anacortes refinery in the background.
 Fred and Norm are in the front row, kneeling and crossing their swords -- I mean their trekking poles. As usual, you can see that we are all in various stages of dress for the weather, except for Mikey on the right, sans umbrella but dressed for his native planet, which I believe is Pluto. There was a lot of up and down on this hike, and by the time we reached the cars, my knees were unhappy because we had covered eight miles and gone up and down 2,300 feet of elevation. However, now that I am home safe and sound, and I think of the more than 1,000 extra calories I burned during this hike, I am very content.

I do want to say thank you to all my readers who have mentioned their adventures with thyroid problems. It did occur to me that maybe part of the reason for the weight gain is this unwelcome guest hanging out in there. I'll know the full story soon, but now I know myself to be in extremely good company!
:-)

25 comments:

  1. Looks like a large group today. Do you think it's unusual, in a town the size of yours, to have a hiking group as active as this group? Does the group stay fairly stable in size?

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  2. Your pictures are so beautiful! Sounds like a great day! Glad you had good weather!

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  3. That first picture is breathtaking. The fog and the lighting combined make it so beautiful. What a big group you had today!

    It sounds like such a lot to do, all the up and down and around. I am not sure where you get all your energy. Is it your diet? Do you sleep more than I do? I swear, sometimes when I read your Thursday posts I feel like the biggest slug! Oh, well, it's something to aspire to. Or maybe just enjoy vicariously.

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  4. That first photo is spectacular! So gald you had andry day for a change, and with views!
    That was a long, hard hike!

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  5. gorgeous view...and thank goodness for no rain eh?

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  6. Glad you burned "1,000" calories today, DJan. But, you know me, I would have driven a car up that paved road to see the view rather than -- you know!

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  7. What a wonderful group of hardy souls this is. You were rewarded with sights that the rest of must just see in the photos you share.

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  8. What wonderful photos and great adventures. Hats off to you, DJan.

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  9. You walk in such beautiful landscape with a great group of people – thank you for talking us with you. Many of us will never see tops of mountains like this.

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  10. I can't say anything when it comes to your endurance in hiking! How many more mountains will you explore? I'm so glad to see all of you enjoying each other's company. More power to you and the rest of the group!

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  11. I would hate to be you, DJan....and 'Have' to pick my most favorite view! You could never do it! Visuals like that first photo will keep you forever young...hiking to view them.

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  12. My wife and I drove into Mount Ranier National Park last fall on a misty day and missed the majestic views unfortunately. That's an incredible shot of it in the imposing distance. We must get back there some day.

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  13. D-Jan,hope your having a lovely day.The pictures are spectacular!Everyone seems to be wrapped up in warm clothes...but for one guy in shorts :)It must have been sooooo cold.

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  14. Oh wow.. that first photo is stunning.. and actually, so is the last one when you consider Mr. Shorts and Tee's style. ;)

    I love going along on these hikes with you. Now if only I could burn the same calories this way.

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  15. Thanks for your fine posts about our hikes. (I'm the one in the cat burglar outfit, third from the right in the photo.) To give an idea of the clarity of the air yesterday, Mount Rainier is almost 120 miles away as the crow (or eagle) flies!

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  16. I just got treking poles for Christmas. We almost forgot them in our rental car in Belize!

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  17. It's true that once you tell people about an ailment you're suffering, it's amazing how many others have the same complaint! Very helpful and reassuring. I will exclude dentist stories from that comment though.
    The pictures today are wonderful as usual. I've run out of words to describe the sights that you show us on your weekly hikes. None of the words that I use do the views justice.

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  18. Pardon me for being more than a little slow to compliment you on the new header. Great job!
    There isn't a hike that I wouldn't do again. That's what you do here and show the differences. It's what makes hiking so awesome.

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  19. It's easy to understand why you hike with fab views like those in any direction you look. Beautiful mountain photos!

    I'm interested to hear more about the thyroid situation. Friends say doctors are wedded to a test results chart that is antiquated and doesn't adequately diagnose marginal thyroid inadequacies. My results fall in the low spectrum, but doctors don't want to discuss the possibility of treatment even with the typical symptoms present. It's too easy to say "old age" and not bother to try to balance thyroid with medication. Good luck.

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  20. What beautiful sights you see and what amazing photographs you take...you are so lucky to be able to hike with such a dedicated group. Course I'd probably be dedicated too if I had scenery like yours!

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  21. So lovely. It is wonderful that your group continues to grow.

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  22. Good looking bunch of people even with the crossed "swords" in front. I envy people who have the wind to climb mountains and have the wind to play 90 minutes of running soccer. You must have good wind.

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  23. I love your first photo DJan, the clouds create the illusion of water surrounding islands. Glad to hear you weather has improved, we had some snow flurries today.

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  24. What a wonderful hike! The views are all fantastic..I enjoyed the photos very much. That was quite a hike 8 miles..no wonder your knees are tired:)

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  25. Absolutely incredible photos, I enlarged one on the screen to just BE THERE. My exercise consosts of shoveling at this stage, and boy are there a lot more different muscle than one would expect used doing that as opposed to my hiking. Ow?!I am walking though, everywhere. Can't get the car out! Gave up on the reusable grocery bags and emptied my day pack, I now trudge home with it full of groceries! My 'views' consist of seven foot snow banks with pieces of broken cars jutting from the edges, SRSLY!
    Saw an entire bumper this morning and didn't have my camera. Keep on truckin' cause I'm right there with you, in spirit at least :}

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