Teri J Pieper

Author Archives: Teri J Pieper

A Short Break

July 10, 2016 – 5:25 pm
Posted in Harts Pass, Uncategorized
Tagged Harts Pass, hike, North Cascades, snow, Swainson's Thrush, wildflowers
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To the mountains. The season to visit is short and seems shorter each year. Maybe because of aging and the sense that time flies ever faster each year, or maybe because of the impact from fires on our small community. Whatever it is, I always feel like I don’t get enough time in the mountains. So on Friday I left at noon, knowing it would be a long drive and I’d not have too much time, but it was worth it. The dogs were ecstatic to play in the old snow and I relished the early summer mountain wildflowers – some so similar to what bloomed here months ago and others much different. The weather was cool and there was a little bit of rain. We didn’t care.

The dogs really enjoy running and playing in snow. They take turns being the chaser and the chasee but Luna gets to decide when it’s game over.

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The flowers and the views were outstanding. Swainson’s and Hermit Thrushes sang from the tops of trees and under the brush.

A thrush, I think it is a Swainson’s Thrush.

Anemone?

Monkshood?

Phlox

Heather

Buttercup. These bloomed at home in April!

Arnica peaking out of the talus slope

A very interesting buttercup

I got a raindrop on my lens.

Fourth of July in Twisp

July 4, 2016 – 8:11 pm
Posted in Twisp
Tagged 4th of july, dogs, horses, parade, Twisp
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I am quite certain that Twisp hosts one of the best small town parades around. It has horses, music (played by small children with violins), dogs, political causes and lots of fun. What more could you want?

County commissioner candidate

A blast from the past.

Another candidate for county commissioner.

Methow Recycling team

We love our firefighters.

We remember the ones we have lost.

Always training for ski season!

Last year when it was one hundred degrees, this was the most popular thing in the parade.

Despite the Best Laid Plans

Sometimes a hike doesn’t go as planned. This one was thwarted by wide, cold creeks. I removed my socks and shoes and crossed one only to find another one just around the corner! Then I remembered that last fall these two creeks were tiny and also, there were many more tiny creeks so after just an hour on the trail I turned back. I could still go to the lake that I had bypassed to save for later. Ready to cross the creek again, I saw a group of friends who I’d seen at the trailhead with their three dogs. They too, had been thwarted when they tried to get to the lake. One of their dogs was old and could not make a necessary log crossing. Three of their group had gotten across the same creek where I was and upon hearing it wouldn’t be the last one, they turned back too. Not before we attempted to get a photo of the five dogs. It was probably the worst circumstance for a group dog photo. Two of the dogs are black; two are blonde and one is a light colored basset hound. And the lighting was mottled shadows in the forest. Oh well. It was a fun attempt.

After the photo attempt, we parted company and I took a short spur trail that went to the near side of the lake. It had some hard packed snow on it and then there was some mud that I tried to skirt around. Well, that was a bad idea. I slipped and found myself ankle deep in mud with my socks and shoes soaked and dirty. The dogs, in the meantime were at the lake wondering what was taking me so long! I was able to rinse the mud off and left the socks and shoes in the sun to partially dry while I ate my sandwich and threw sticks for the dogs.

It was a beautiful day and the dogs had fun and the scenery was lovely.

Highway 20 approaching Liberty Bell and Washington Pass

One creek crossing had a nice bridge

Lots of water!

Brrrr.

Even Joolz thinks the water is cold.

Some dogs are not paying attention

Good. They are all looking the same way.

Hey – did you know there is a lake just around the corner?

Sure enough

Throw the stick. Now. I’m not kidding.

White pine

Columbine

What Happened to June?

June 25, 2016 – 8:21 pm
Posted in summer
Tagged birds, fawn, home, lupine, mariposa, raven, smokejumpers, sunrise, sunset, vernal pond, wildflowers
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June 25 and what have I done this month? One hike. Two sets of visitors. Designed the cover for Ken’s soon-to-be-released CD. Walked my dogs. Two weddings that you can see here and here. Time flew by and now it’s nearly July.

We had one week of hot weather and then it returned to often windy and cloudy and even some good June rains. The grasses on our hill are taller than the dogs. Lupine continues to bloom along with the beautiful mariposa lilies that I cannot quit photographing. Bluebirds and swallows have fledged. A raven family spent a couple of weeks terrorizing the nesting birds. I do admire ravens but really I wish they did not eat eggs and other baby birds. Smokejumpers from the airport across the valley trained in the hot weather and in the windy weather.

Sunrise

dew drops on spider web

Tiny fawn

Raven breakfast

The vernal pond is still there

Eastern Kingbird

Sky

wild aster

Lupine and a dusting of new snow on the mountains across the way

Serviceberries

Currants

Dusky Grouse displaying to me and the dogs

Tree Swallow

Western Bluebird

Buckwheat

Mariposa

New growth on sage

Lupine and yarrow

tall grasses and yarrow

Lush grasses and dead trees

sunset

Goat Peak

On Saturday there was a lot of rain and I was able to finish up most of my work inside. Sunday I worked outside. And so that gave me a free day yesterday to go for a hike! What a relief to get out in the mountains again. Isn’t that what summer should be all about?

I guess today is the first day of summer and yesterday didn’t feel particularly summer-like, but on this hike, it is good to have a cool day. The trail climbs steeply, going pretty much straight up the north face of the mountain. It’s not a long hike – five miles round trip but for me it seems grueling even going down. My knees complained with every step on the downhill stretch.

But the views. They are terrific. And that’s fitting for the site of a historic lookout that continues to be staffed in the summer months. The trail also provides lots of opportunities to look at wildflowers early in hiking season. Later it will be dry and dusty. And there was lots of old snow to satisfy the dogs.