Mrs.Hoosier and Hoosierdaddy met up with Foggy at the Tacoma REI on Wednesday AM and after a bit of shopping there, they headed over the hills to Leavenworth to our place that we are building. It's just a couple of miles out of town in a pretty valley with a killer view of Icicle Ridge.(Alpine Lakes Wilderness) The 3000 sq.ft. log home is coming along very nicely and will be perfect for all future Posse get togethers! YAY!!!!  :)

They met up with us and got to meet little Maddy for the first time! Dug was grungy after a day of working on the house and the only water for him to clean up in before we all went to town was to hit the creek / beaver pond that is right behind the house! (Brrrrrr!) Lynne and Hoosierdaddy set up our tents behind the house on some flat ground, and then we drove to Leavenworth. We ate Schnitzel at the obligatory German restaurant complete with waiters in Lederhosen, massive steins of real German beer, <Yeah, baby!!!> (That beer was YUMMY!) and a German minstrel wandering the restaurant playing his squeezebox and really obnoxious "Oompah music" while we tried to eat. Afterwards we walked over to Coldstone Cremery and ate decadant, gooey, calorie engorged, bellybustin' ice-cream!

We returned to the house, built a cicular fire pit and bonfire down by Dug's bathtub and stayed up till way after dark having a traditional Posse "meeting". (For those that have attended the "meetings", well.....you know how it went!) Ha!! :)

Next morning, after an oatmeal breakfast made a-la-freezer-bag-cooking, Rumidude shows up! We pile into the cars and head to the Ingall's Creek trail head which is about a 20 minute drive away. No one is in the parking area. The trail heads very gradually up the narrow valley that is carved by Ingall's Creek. The "creek" was more of a rushing torrent of a river though, what with all the snow run-off in the mountains far ahead and above us! The further we went, the more flowers we found starting to bloom. RumiDude dubbed one of the falls "Maddy's Falls." I'm sure we'll be visiting this special spot many times in the future.

  

In bloom? Lupine, Star-flowered Soloman's Seal, Glacier/Avalanche Lilys (done blooming), cherry, service berry and some sort of parsley family plant I need to look up. 

After about 3 miles we decided to have lunch and found a nice little nook among the huge boulders next to the river to eat. Maddy had been a little fussy on the way there, and after chowing down on her bottle, she promptly fell asleep. I hadn't gotten a chance to eat yet, so Hoosierdaddy got to hold the newest member of the Posse while she slept. <Big grins!!>

Foggy found a tick on her. ICK!!!! Shreck's ears showed up, giving Mrs. Hoosierdaddy her new trail name. The Pope made an appearance and even though there was much animated and evangelical praying involved, (As you can see in one of the photos) the skies began to spit a little rain.

  

We decided to head out, and after a short while we made it back to the cars without getting seriously wet at all. (Wouldn't ya know, the sun came out then!) We said our goodbyes and while Rumi went back over the pass toward home, I went back to the house to check in. Shreck, Foggy and Hoosierdaddy went into Leavenworth and poked around all the tourist shops for awhile and eventually found a little outdoor beer garden tucked into a corner. I tried to find them in town, but didn't have any luck, so I left a note on Hoosier's truck and headed back to the ranch. He later saw the note and thought he got a ticket. LOL! Then they drove out to the house one last time to say goodbye to Dug (and me & Maddy) and hit the road to home.

It was a great trip! Very laid back and relaxed, with other stuff besides hiking thrown in for the heck of it! I loved it!

Yup. The Madster and I finally boots on the trail again! Ahhh... lovely. I even convinced Dug to join us.

Sarbar invited us along with her, Ford, ldyblade & Berrypicker, Catzia & her man. Marzit was supposed to come too, but he bailed?

We all met up in North Bend for caffenation before going to the trailhead. Ford is so enamored with Maddy, he insisted on riding with us. Too cute. She thinks he's hillarious. When we got to the trailhead, I passed along the food and books Sarbar was to take to Trailhead. And one for her too, of course. We did a quick changing of shoes, diaper and then loaded the Madster into the pack and we were off! This is one of the few trails I return to again and again. Good for newbies, and accessible early in the season. It is one of my favorites. It is only 2.3 miles or so each way, but a perfect Spring leg-stretcher.

Having never actually hiked with Catzia and her man before, I quickly discovered that he and I could talk plants and stuff... Woo hoo. Ford was busy talking Dug's ear off about Boy Scout stuff, so I was free to admire the Dicentras and Corydalis that were in FULL BLOOM. I love this trail in the springtime! Bright shots of pink all through the edges of the trail. Nice nice. In bloom, on that trail, right now is Dicentra formosa and Corydalis scouleri. Beautiful lipstick pink blooms sticking up through the ferns and duff. The maidenhair ferns are starting to unfurl too. HUGE ass trees on that trail. Douglas firs for the most part.

The trail climbs gradually to a lookout of the lower of the twin falls. They've replaced the bench since I've been here last. Now there are two very nice benches. A beautiful spot.

Ahhh... More uphill. I don't think Catzia's man won't listen to Sarbar's "we're almost at the top..." ever again. LOL! We skipped the second lookout on the way up and headed straight for the bridge. The water was rushing so fast and high, we could see a THIRD waterfall up and behind what we thought was the top one. Awesome! The pool in between the two was filled with really cool little eddys. Sarbar really liked these! After many photos and Dug offering to schlepp the Madster (woo hoo!) we headed back down.

We changed our minds and decided to go to the second overlook afterall, since the water was rushing so wonderfully. Beautiful, but man is it steep coming up out of there.

So up, down and out we went. Big trees, flowers in bloom... Cooperative, not too hot, not too cold weather. What a perfect day. We stopped by the river, at a point almost at the trailhead so that some of our party could cook lunch. Dug ended up going back to the car first to deal with a stinky diaper, and I joined him a few minutes later. The Madster did actually set foot on the trail, if only for a few yards. It is hard to hike when you have to hand Mommy a rock every other step. LOL. At least we were entertained as we waited for the others to make their way down the trail.

Then it was off to the North Bend Bar & Grill for some awesome hamburgers. BURP.
Ahhh... so good to get out.

Ahhh... kid-free hiking!

Me and two girls met up at 8am. After a quick gas-stop we were off! When we got to Leavenworth, we were going to stop and get a day-pass for the trailhead, only to find out that it was National Trails Day!! Woo hoo!! I actually went HIKING on Trails day! lol. By the time we got to the trailhead, it was at least in the mid 80's. Dry and HOT! We changed into our boots and hit the trail...

The first plants we saw that were in bloom were a lilac bush and some purple irises. I'm wishing now that I had taken a closer look at the irises, b/c our native ones ARE purple (not yellow, like I thought). Oh well.

Onward, and slowly upward we marched. VERY slowly! We kept stopping to look at plants... Yeah, I was hiking with someone who enjoys the plants as much as I do. This was GREAT!! I got to be all geeky, and no one was getting bored. LOL. And Carrie wanted to know about edible plants... I *made* her eat some wild onion and Oregon Grape flowers.

Lunch was at Maddy's Falls (named the last time I was here by Rumidude) We also filtered water. Mmmm... ICE cold creek water. Man! Is that wonderful!  Back on the trail... Dry, not too dusty (yet) and in FULL FREAKING BLOOM!!!  The trail winds slowly towards Mt. Stuart, through HUGE boulders.

We saw the biggest grasshopper I've ever seen West of the Rockies... We also saw some sort of lizzard. I surprised him as he was sunning himself on the rocks in the trail. He was too quick for me to get a photo of him.

I found a plant that I didn't recognize. I had to look it up when I got home. Columbia Clematis. Beautiful!  We saw three different species of native orchid, several species of native lilys... The lupine was absolutely AMAZING...

     

My plant list... There was NO way I could have taken photos of all of it!
In bloom: lilac and purple iris, Orange honeysuckle, red elderberry, snowberry, mountain ash, service berry, Nootka rose, another rose, thimbleberry, red-flowering currant, red osier dogwood, snowbrush, Oregon box, Oregon grape, false Soloman's seal, star-flowered Soloman's seal, Hooker's fairybells, death camus, mariposa lily (how the heck did I NOT take photos of that??), yellow violets, calypso orchid, spotted coral root orchid, columbine, vetch, LUPINE, PAINTBRUSH, penstemon, wild strawberry, yarrow, coltsfoot, 2 kinds of arnica, balsamroot, rosy and wooly pusytoes, delphinium, lomatium (???), dogbane (???)

Almost in bloom: Hooker's onion, tiger lily
Just finished blooming: Trillium, avalanche/glacier lily, bead lily, lousewart, waterleaf, meadow rue

We did about 8 miles total... Just enough for me to feel it the next day. After burgers, fries, onion rings, beers and terrible service at Gustav's (I'm NOT going there again) we hit the road home. It was almost midnight by the time I got home. I didn't get to see Maddy at all on Saturday. She was asleep when I left, and asleep when I got home. But I felt SOOOO good having a kidless, hiking day, I can hardly feel guilty about that.

I had forgotten to print out the plant list off of the WNPS site, but when I got home, I realized it was already in my plant book from the last time. We saw several plants that WERE NOT on the list! Cool.

We were all starving and ready for a good break by the time we reached the lakes. Lunch was great! We talked about food (duh!) and I got some great lunch ideas from Trailhead. THANKS!  Maddy had a good time at lunch too. It must have been nice to get out of the pack for awhile. She was SUCH a good girl today! Very patient and well behaved. LOL!!  Lunch... my lunch wasn't very exciting... some cheese, mini bagels and shelf-stable milk (for Maddy), pretzels and apple slices with peanut butter for dipping, home-dried mangoes, water... BUT... We did have some REALLY good chocolate!! Dark chocolate with lavender and blueberries. YUM!!

I had a blister when I got back to the car! I haven't had a blister in years. My feet must not be used to hiking. MUST DO MORE!

Sarbar, Catzia and I  rode in the Pimp Mobile this morning to Rainier. (Ok, that'd be the diesel Benz that Sarbar acquired recently) Our goal was back up to Chinook Pass on Hwy 410 to some secret lake that Sarbar knew about.

Mt. Rainier was out in her brilliance, though she wasn't our goal today. My goal was a set of lakes set in sub alpine. The route was a trail at one time, disguised at the start, but quite very much a trail still. It may have been a trail, but it was STEEP and not maintained. The heat of the day didn't help matters either.

    

We reached a pass where the snow had just melted out that week. Turning around, we had views of Naches peak, which was also losing snow quickly. Alas, the lakes were not to be reached. We hit snow on the backside of the pass, and after going cross country through alders and evergreens to scout for the trail, Sarbar impaled a piece of huckleberry bush above my right knee. Yeah, OUCH!

Catzia has been having a lot of fresh ink done, so she wasn't going X/C with us two. She alerted us to a bunch of guys coming over the pass. With dog in tow.....They got a lengthy and windy and preachy lecture from Sarbar about having their do on the trail with them. They were in the NP once they crossed the pass. Lucky them

Coming back down to the PCT, we found a lot of Bear Grass starting to pop out. Other flowers in bloom? spirea, phlox, Sitka valerian, false soloman's seal, bear grass (amazing!), delphinium, both white and yellow glacier/avalanche lillies, miner's lettuce, western anemone...

We wandered back through another basin and back up to Sheep Lake, where we had a yummy and lenghty lunch. My "appetizers" were a black olive-sun dried tomato tapenade with a little romano cheese mixed in just before serving. Just a little something new I made up. Served on black pepper and olive oil triskets. Dessert was dark chocolate with lavender.

The hike back down was a quick one, but we stopped several times to tak in the views and enjoy the flowers. I thought it was a wonderful day. It felt so good to get out (sans kid!) with the girls. :)

 

Hoosierdaddy picked up GoBlueHiker from Sea-Tac yesterday, from Colorado. GBH had a 22 hour or so layover on his way to Alaska for his major trip.
HD and GBH headed over to Sarbar’s place. We are facing an actual heat wave this week...and starting hiking at 1 pm is never fun  So we decided that doing something easier might be a *good* idea. Good choice! We met up with everyone at Snoqualmie pass.

We headed Southbound on the PCT from Snoqualmie Pass. This isn't an area that people consider wilderness, it isn't protected. But it has it's own charms. The fake sub alpine at the start is worthy: Awww... Maddy's first trek on the PCT.  My little hiker girl! She did sooooo well. She actually HIKED for a change. Went about 1/4 of a mile! You go kiddo!! She even fell several times, but that didn't stop her. She just stole my trekking poles and was hoofin it down the trail

A short little trek in the heat. Up and over to Beaver Lake, near the top.  Bog bean and water lilies, in bloom on the lake.  Neat!

Then just a leetle bit further to Lodge Lake. It is prettier than I remembered. And buggier! But such a nice stand of old growth!   

We took a break at Lodge Lake in the shade, away from the water. Bugs are just starting to come out and it was much too muddy to sit near the lake.

Sarbar, Ldyblade, RumiDude, Ford and I went to Rainier today. Our Destination was the Freemont Lookout. I had picked this trail because I had walked passed the junction so many times, on my way to other things... And I just *knew* the view from the lookout of Grand Park was going to be amazing...

We all met up at Sarbar's early this morning. A quick packing of the cars and we were on our way to Sunrise, but not before stopping for the requisite coffee! As we head up the mountain, I am noticing clouds rolling in, and wishing I had packed just one more layer. It was chilly at the trailhead! After a quick switcharoo of shoes, we were on the trail.

Normally this part of the trail, on a weekend in July, is touron central. Parts of it are literally two lanes. Today it was fairly quiet. The mountain was teasing us with views today, never quite revealing itself. After a quick stop at the first junction, it was up up up...

 

The views kept alluding us, so I had to entertain myself with the little things. Flowers were in full force. Phlox, pentsetmon, cinquefoil, 3 different heathers, avalance lillies, anemone, valerian, bistort, buckwheat, asters...

We hiked passed frozen lake and finally to the *real* trail junction... The further we hiked, the more we were in the fog. The trail steadily climbs, through meadows and scree on a very exposed slope. Sarbar, Ford and Ldyblade chose to go back down and wait for us at the junction (I'll let them put their own report in if they want) while Rumi and I continued to climb to the lookout.The lookout had lost its roof this winter, but it looks like a new one will be on soon.



The views that I was expecting, were nowhere to be seen. Instead of peaks and meadows, I got nothing but grey, unyielding fog. Rumi and I did have a nice, but quick lunch. Mine was a sort of tabouli thing and some trail mix. He pulled out his stove and made a hot lunch. I was wishing I had thought of that, but I wasn't expecting fog and cold!  Then it was back down to meet up with Sarbar, Ford and Ldyblade. The clouds were giving us glimpses of the mountain, but not much... Then it was back to Sunrise and the car... when the sky finally broke open and we got some nice views of the moutain.

   



Now I must return to the Fremont Lookout because I didn't get what I came for! 

Sarbar convinced me to come out with her and Trailhead. Destination: Carbon River to see how the destruction from last winter is repairing itself.

A long drive to the isolated trailhead. It is so beautiful here. Huge trees and moss hanging from virtually every branch. Our "trail" was the washed out road. I had left the jogging stroller at home, thinking the Madster would walk (she goes for long walks almost every day at daycare)...

    

Nope. It was cranky time! We got a little ways down the trail and she started to have a meltdown. Sarbar even gave her a piggy back ride. I jogged back to the car and got the regular stroller that I always keep in the back of the car. We got her bundled, and things were good. It was a bit tricky going in some spots because it was sandy. So we carried the stroller over the mushy bits (Thanks again guys! Spoiled kid).

My fellow mooches helped me eat my lunch... grapes, crusty ciabatta bread, canned meat and chocolate. 

  

This Sunday, The Madster and I met up with some of our favorite hiking friends for a day of fresh air and yummy food. First stop was the Olympic Bagel Company in Port Angeles. This is the ONLY place I buy bagels. I swear, they must put crack or something in them. They are soooo good!

Then it was off to the trailhead at Whiskey Bend. Destination: Elwha River Trail. After changing shoes, and getting the Madster situated in her carrier, we hit the trail. I love this trail! I haven't been here since I hiked the whole thing back in 2003, when it poured rain the whole time and I broke my wrist.   It was good to be back. This is one of my favorite, special places.  It was cool as we started hiking, but by lunchtime, we had shed layers and put away the hats and gloves.

    

We took the Rica Canyon trail and dropped quickly to the river, leaves crunching under our feet. It was beautiful. At the Krause Bottom Junction, some of us wandered the short distance to Goblin Gates. It is here that the Elwha river makes a 90 degree turn. The river is an icy blue. AMAZING. One of my favorite trees is on the edge of the trail here, above the river. It is an ancient Pacific Yew. They don't usually get very big because they grow so slowly, but this one is large for what it is.  This is really a special place. 

  

Then it was back down the trail to meet up with the rest of our group. This part of the trail meanders along the river, giving us views downriver. The cottonwoods and alders lining the banks of the river were all decked out in sunshine yellow, and the maples had already dropped their leaves. Our path was lined with orange leaves, crunching under foot, reminding me how much I like hiking in the fall. 

From Krause Bottom, the trail climbs up to Humes Ranch were we intended to have lunch. It was a slightly steep, but gradual climb, with view of the river most of the way.

Lunch was a feast! I had several recipes I wanted to test out, so I packed in a stove. This group of hiking friends make great guinnea pigs. We had a four course lunch!   Except for the pasta itself, everything was done freezerbag cooking style.

  

The spread: crackers, Rica Canyon spread/dip which was served on angel hair pasta, Corn and Lentil salad, Goblin Gates Tapenade, Roasted Red Bell Pepper and White Bean spread/dip. (Recipes are posted on the onepanwonders website) Dessert was another experiment. Trail Tiramisu. This is vanilla wafers, layered with espresso and vanilla pudding. YUM, but it still needs a little work before I post a final recipe.

 

After a lengthy lunch, we started to head back the cars. We took a brief break at Cougar Mike's cabin to admire the repairs that the park service is doing. Sarbar and I had to promise Hoosierdaddy's 10 year old daughter that we would teach her how to cook on the trail. Daddy's PB&J wasn't impressing her. LOL. That made my day. Well, that and getting out with awesome people and my darling daughter.   Yeah, I need more trail time in my life. It does good things for me...  Turtle and I are already talking about hiking the whole thing again next summer. She said she'd go if I planned the food. LOL. I think I can manage that.