Lost Creek Ridge

Start of Lost Creek Ridge trail

Yesterday, Monday, the Trailblazers went on our first "extra" hike of the season. I don't know where anybody had heard of this hike before, Lost Creek Ridge, but only two of the twelve who went had ever been there before: Mike and April, who only go on our Monday hikes in the summer. We met early in the morning to carpool, and managed to get 7 in Mike's car and 5 in Fred's, and then we set off for the Mountain Loop Highway and our eventual trailhead, a good 100 miles away. We started the hike just before 10:00am.

April and Hank looking at the spiderweb

Someone saw this spiderweb as we were hiking along, and I tried to get a picture of it. Although I really needed some dew or mist for it to be fabulous, I did actually capture it better than I expected. The nice thing about digital photography, you can just snap away and if it doesn't work, it's an easy fix to delete it. The temperature and terrain were quite comfortable as we began the hike, which starts out almost level in the first mile, and then it begins to go upward, without letup.

April, Mike, Chris, Rich,  Diane, Steve resting

You can tell by the way we were dressed that it was hot, and getting more so all the time. By this time it was almost noon and some hikers started up the trail while others proceeded more slowly. I ended up hiking for more than a mile by myself, with some behind me, but the majority ahead of me. I stopped to take a few pictures, but mostly just kept plodding along, enjoying the views now and then of unfamiliar mountains, until I reached Round Lake after almost five miles and 3,800 feet of elevation gain. I was really pooped, but the payoff was worth it.

Frozen Round Lake

It was not only a beautiful sight, but the breeze was incredible, cool and strong enough to keep all the bugs away. You can see in this picture (below) that the sweat on my shirt was nowhere near dry when this picture was taken, and I almost didn't use it because of that, but it's just too good not to. We had our lunch overlooking this lake. We knew that if we had gone just another short distance, maybe half a mile, we would be able to see Glacier Peak, but since it was getting late, after 2:00pm, we headed back down.

Diane and me

The views were stupendous, and we even got a glimpse of our old friend Mt. Baker in the distance, from a side we don't usually see. I didn't include a picture, because it was so hazy in the distance that it didn't show up. But we sure did get some other mountains in high relief.

Sloan Peak and more: Doug, Al, and Hank

It was after 5:00pm by the time we reached the cars, tired and very ready for the day to end with a trip to Granite Falls and our favorite eating spot, Omega Pizza. I had a new (to me) beer called "Irish Death." It was great, and went well with my pizza. We didn't get back home until almost 10:00pm, and I was too tired to do anything but collapse. Hence the post in the middle of the afternoon on the day afterwards. Well, I finally did get 'er done, and now I can pick up my book and do next to nothing for the rest of the day.
:-)

Garden update, and crafty wildlife

Still life with sweet peas

It's really beautiful in this part of the world right now, if just a bit on the hot side (we made it all the way to 82F yesterday), about fifteen degrees above normal, with the first cool-down looking to come at the end of next week. Other than having to keep a close eye on my garden, with all this sunshine and lack of rain, I'm truly enjoying myself.

I was supposed to be skydiving today, but my friend Linny called and told me that she isn't doing very well at all and will try again next weekend. Plus two of my other skydiving friends aren't going to be out today or tomorrow, so I just decided to let it go. It's a long drive down south without my friends to play with. So instead I joined the Fairhaven walkers for my usual Saturday trek around town. We stopped frequently to hydrate and let the slower walkers catch up. We walked down by the bay, so the breeze off the water and the early hour made it especially enjoyable. Then I went out to get some pictures of my garden.

Happy bumblebee

My garden neighbor Nate has allowed his leeks to flower, and this bee is certainly happy to see this blossom. It was simply vibrating with delight, or at least that's what it seemed like to me. Everything is going pretty darn well in my neck of the woods. The garden has been giving us beets, sugar snap peas, broccoli, lettuce, and more zucchini than we can eat. I've been giving them away to the neighbors, since they are not taking them out of the community garden.

Mr. Big Crow

We have four crows who have discovered the cat food I've been leaving out during the daytime. After a few days of chasing them away, I decided to just let them be. They are a lot of fun to watch. Plus I got a larger container for water, since I realized that many birds are having a hard time finding fresh water as it gets drier around here. This is the biggest of the four, and although it's hard to judge how big he is, with nothing to measure him by, many ravens I've seen are about his size. They are very clever, and they have already figured out that I'm the feeder and watch me going about my business.

I also ran across an interesting YouTube video that was posted by a Facebook friend. I really enjoyed watching this a few times. Some information about the making of it is as follows: "This takes place in England - the owners of the yard added each piece of the Rube Goldberg contraption slowly so that when the squirrel learned one section and got the nuts, they then added the next section. Finally it ended with what you see on the clip! It took over 2 weeks to get to this point."
Enjoy!
:-)

Three weeks later, a different world

Goat meadow on June 19, and the same place today

In these two pictures, in one we are heading up to Goat Mountain three weeks ago, and the other is us descending on the exposed trail today. Night and day. We had nine Senior Trailblazers with us for today's hike, and the ascent to the overlook was ten times easier than it was plowing through the snow three weeks ago. Today the temperatures were warm because of the brilliant sunshine, and back then we had overcast conditions for most of the day, and at least a mile of snow to navigate.

When the snow leaves, the glacier lilies come out

We were all surprised by how much snow was gone, as in almost all of it! The trail in the meadow, which was obscured by snow then, was now completely visible, with only about fifty feet of a single snowfield to cross. And it was all so dry! Since the season is so short here, the flowers are all coming into bloom quickly. Glacier lilies are only around for a very short period after the snow melts, and I was so happy to capture this field of them today.

Lunch spot and Mt. Shuksan

We made it to the overlook, where we had spectacular views of Mts. Sefrit, Shuksan, and Baker. See if you can imagine this: a cloudless sky with incredible views, a light breeze to cool us down and keep any stray bugs away, good company with whom to enjoy our lunch, temperature in the low seventies, and nine happy satisfied people.

Me with Mt. Sifrit on the left and Mt. Shuksan on the right

There was no place in the universe that I would have rather been to enjoy my lunch today. Al took this picture of me when I asked, using my camera and the fill-in flash. If you want to see what it looked like three weeks ago, here's the link. We did this hike for a second time, since the snow has been slow to leave, and our other options were limited. But now, it's full speed ahead! On Monday, we will have our first "extra" hike of the season, and many who were on today's hike will try it. It's a long drive to the Mountain Loop Highway, so we'll be starting early and having dinner together before coming home more than twelve hours after we leave the parking lot.

Heading back to the cars, with Mt. Baker in view

That last picture shows the view as we headed back down to the cars. We ascended and descended 2,700 feet of elevation today, and covered more than seven miles there and back, so I'm tired tonight as I drink my well-deserved wine. My knee is doing pretty well on these hikes, but as I've said before, I could not have done it without my trusty trekking poles and a knee brace.

Me, Doug, Peggy in the back

I know it might be a bit tacky, since I already put in a picture of me, but I took this selfie with my cellphone after complaining that I couldn't get a picture of me AND the other hikers, since Doug is so tall and I'm so, well, vertically challenged (he bent down for this), but I like it so much that I'm throwing caution to the winds. Until next time, be well and CARPE DIEM!
:-)

Books, movies and nice weather

From Wunderground.com

This kind of ten-day weather forecast for the Pacific Northwest only happens in the summer. Some people don't think our summer even begins until after the Fourth of July, and you know, this is making a good case for that view. There aren't even any clouds in the forecast! That's very unusual. Anyway, it's good for me, since it looks like this coming weekend will be good for skydiving (and I'm going), and on Monday the Trailblazers will be having our first all-day-long adventure, a new hike for all of us. It's off the Mountain Loop Highway, quite a distance, so we'll be having dinner together as well.

I also wanted to share some movies I've seen recently. First of all, I went to see Ida after reading the reviews and having seen the trailer. It's filmed in Poland, with English subtitles. Everything they say about the movie is true: it's stunning in so many ways, but it's also not exactly uplifting: a young orphan in taken in by a convent and raised to become a nun. The Mother Superior wants her to contact her only living relative before taking final vows, so she travels to meet her. The movie is about what transpires, set in 1962 Poland. The young woman's journey is very vivid in my mind. Every movie I have ever seen about the Holocaust and its aftermath have affected me very deeply, and this one is no different. That's all I'll say about it, except (1) I'm glad I saw it, and (2) I wouldn't see it again. I felt the same way about "Schindler's List."

Judy and I also saw Words and Pictures, and we almost didn't go because the reviews were so uniformly bad. Well, the movie did have a hard time getting going, but by the end I realized I had enjoyed it very much. It's a story set in a high school, with Clive Owen playing an honors English teacher who has some serious problems. A new art teacher is hired, played by Juliette Binoche, who is crippled by serious rheumatoid arthritis. The movie is about their involvement, hence the "words and pictures" of the title. I would see it again; it's billed as a romantic comedy and fills that role quite well.

Now for some books: I got quite involved with the book Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. I couldn't put it down and finished it in one long day. My only problem with it is that I was really dismayed by the ending. I guess I like my books in the same way that I like my movies: lift me up at the end! I hear it's being made into a movie now, due out in October, and that the ending of the movie is different than it is in the book. Well, that alone will make me want to see it! Wonderful book, well written and memorable characters.

My sister introduced me to another writer,  JoJo Moyes. (The link takes you to her page that gives a synopsis of each book she's written.) JoJo is a British writer who grew up in London. She now lives with her husband and three children in Essex and has written eleven books. She has learned the technique of drawing very believable and unforgettable characters. She also knows how to write a page-turner of a novel. Norma Jean had just read Me Before You, a book that also captured my interest and wouldn't let me put it down. JoJo has a new book out, One Plus One, and I am on the waiting list at the library for it. One book she also wrote was in the library stacks, so I checked it out and read it: The Last Letter from your Lover. I enjoyed it, too.

Well, that's it for now. I simply must go out and do some work in my garden. All the lettuce has bolted and needs to be pulled up, and I've got to thin my beets. Plus all this warm weather coming means I've got to stay ahead of the unwanted weeds! Till next time.
:-)

A fine holiday weekend

Carol sky gazing

Actually, I took this picture on Wednesday, but I think it can still be added to a post about our long holiday weekend. I was so mesmerized by these clouds that I begged Carol to stand there to give the picture a bit of perspective. When she saw this picture, she said it makes our apartment complex to look much more posh that it really is. I had to agree.

My plate at the potluck

Yesterday, the actual Independence Day holiday, I went to a potluck with the Fairhaven walking group at our leader Cindy's house. She has done this Fourth of July potluck for a few years now, and I joined them for the first time last year. It was so nice that I didn't want to miss another one. Notice all the good food on the plate. I was enchanted by the green stuff that looks a little like broccoli, but not quite. Here's a closeup:

Maria's romanesco

It turns out to be something called romanesco, a cross between broccoli and cauliflower, which, according to that Wikipedia link, has been around for centuries. I simply loved it, and Maria told me she grows it in her garden. She picked it fresh that morning, steamed it lightly and brought it to the potluck. From that link:

Romanesco has a striking appearance because its form is a natural approximation of a fractal. When compared to a traditional cauliflower, as a vegetable its texture is far more crunchy, and its flavor is not as assertive, being delicate and nutty.

This morning, after our regular Saturday walk, I headed to the Farmers' Market to see if I could pick some up. I found that it's not available there until the fall harvest, as my grower told me it's best then, more flavorful and abundant. I might have to go to Joe's Gardens and see if I can pick up some starts for my own fall harvest. If it's more delightful than what I ate yesterday, I can't wait!

In a few minutes I'm leaving to go to the movies with my friend Judy. We're going to see Ida at our independent theater. It's gotten great reviews. I've learned not to trust reviews all that much, but many people have said this is one of the best of the year, not to be missed. Then tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, I'll be heading to the Drop Zone in Snohomish for you know what!
:-)

Church meadows, three weeks later

Fifteen Trailblazers headed up the trail today

It was only a mere three weeks ago that we trudged up this same trail to the Church Mountain meadows, knowing we would be seeing lots of snow. It was no different today, except in those three weeks all of the snow was gone from the trail, and it wasn't until we saw the meadows that we had to move from beautiful woodland scenes to reminders of winter.

Native columbine growing next to a tiny stream

Since we thought that the clouds would clear off (they are probably gone by now, but they never cleared for us to see the mountains) we headed upward in pleasant conditions, hoping for a view. In another three weeks, I suspect the meadow will be clear, or almost clear, of snow. But today, we enjoyed the greenery at the lower elevations, and we even saw some mushrooms thrusting themselves up into the light.

Are these... magic mushrooms?

We made our way across the biggest stream crossing before we hit the meadows without incident, even though some of the rocks were slippery. Thank goodness my boots are waterproof! I was careful, though, not to slip and cause me to have wet feet. That's already happened once this season, and that was enough to make me cautious.

Making our way one at a time

And then we emerged from the trees and the trail onto the snow. Although much was gone from our previous visit, it was simply as if we had stepped back in time. The temperature was not exactly cold, but the lack of any sun and the snow itself caused many of us to suddenly feel much colder. We didn't go too far before we decided to stop for lunch.

Trudging toward our lunch spot

I know you can't really tell by looking at this picture, but the amount of snow has diminished significantly from our trip three weeks ago. We could tell, but the lack of any sunshine, not to mention that it's not easy to walk in this kind of slushy snow, meant we wouldn't make it much farther than last time. At least we were all prepared for snow, and many Trailblazers had strapped cleats and other gear onto their boots to keep from slipping. Here's our lunch spot.

Having lunch and donning warm clothes

No sun, although I was optimistic for much of the time that it would clear enough for us to see our beloved mountains. But it didn't happen, and all of us put on jackets and gloves so we wouldn't get too cold. All except Mikey there on the left, he was still in shorts and a t-shirt. But as I've said before, I don't think he was born on this planet.

The only view we had today

As we began our descent back to the cars, the clouds cleared enough for me to get this partial view. Not much, but I realized that it didn't really matter: it was cool weather for hiking back down, we got plenty of good exercise in the beautiful Pacific Northwest wilderness, and we had lots of interesting conversations both up and down the mountain. We will probably attempt Goat Mountain again next week, since the long-range weather looks good for Thursday and we will see what three more weeks of snowmelt looks like up there as well.

Anyhow, it was a fine way for us to spend our Thursday, one which many of us look forward to all week. Feeling pretty darn satisfied on this Independence Day eve. Hope you have a GREAT holiday!
:-)

I want to be like her when I grow up

From Masterstrack, Olga setting a new world record

I just learned about Olga Kotelko yesterday, when one of my Facebook friends shared a link that Olga died on Tuesday at the age of 95. Her personal story is rather amazing, but when I found that she lived in West Vancouver, Canada, a few miles away from me, I felt humbled to think that I might have actually rubbed elbows with her, if I'd only been aware of her existence. Maybe I did and didn't know it.

Olga was a teacher until she retired at 65. She took up slow-pitch baseball at the age of 70, playing five different positions. Somewhere I read that she was quite competitive and enjoyed it very much. But then when she turned 77, someone suggested that she compete in track and field. She didn't realize, she said, that people her age even did that sort of thing. But boy, did she take to it like a duck to water! She has her own web page, and was just getting ready to start on a book tour to promote her new book, Olga: The O.K. Way to a Healthy Happy Life, and she was looking forward to competing in a new age category, since she turned 95 in March. Actually, she went to Budapest and just recently won a bazillion medals in her new W95 age group.

According to that blog post (linked under her picture, from Masterstrack), her Canadian author friend Bruce Grierson called Ken Stone, who writes the blog, with the news that Olga had died this past Tuesday of an intracranial hemorrhage. She was in a coma for a few days before she finally passed away. From the article, a quote from Bruce:

"Doctors say she would have lost consciousness immediately — zero suffering. It was — albeit premature and shocking — the perfect way to go out. She left nothing significant undone or undreamed. Gerontologists talk about ‘squaring the curve’ — i.e., living life ablaze with little or no decline toward the end, and then an abrupt demise. Olga squared the curve with a ruler. It was a real gift to get to know her. She changed my life, for sure.” Bruce published “What Makes Olga Run?” this year and went on tour with her. 

Anyway, she was definitely an exceptional person, and she was obviously born with the perfect combination of genes and personality to become the outstanding athlete that she was. Right now I'm happy to introduce my blogging friends to a real light in the world. The two books just published will ensure that Olga will not be forgotten for a long time. I found this lovely two-and-a-half minute YouTube video on her website.



Enjoy! Blue skies, Olga.
:-)