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Category Archives: hike

Perfect Day for a Hike

The girls and I and Molly and Mary went to Blue Lake last week. It was a perfect day for a spectacular hike. The weather was just right – sunny and not too hot. The flowers were just starting along the trail. There will be many more days of flowers in the North Cascades. We were grateful for a light breeze that kept the bugs away. The water was cold and Molly showed that she was smarter than Sky when she declined to jump in the lake after a few times. There were small chunks of ice floating in the brilliant blue water.

This was the first time Molly got to jump off the rock into Blue Lake.
She handled it with enthusiasm.
Sky jumped with style.
Blue Lake and the back of Liberty Bell
Luna tried to maintain her dignity
Tired dogs are good trail dogs.

Walking in the Mountains

Yesterday summer arrived! It took its own sweet time this year. Temperatures in the valley rose above 90 but up high, they were in the 70’s – perfect hiking weather.

The girls and I made the long drive up to and beyond Harts Pass to walk up to the lookout at Slate Peak. From there we had a 360 degree view of the North Cascades! Seeing the peaks and basins, I could choose where we were going to go hiking and I chose my favorite – the stretch of the Pacific Crest Trail that goes towards Grasshopper Pass. Since we’d already been enjoying the day, it was a bit of a late start on the hike and we only made it just past Tatie Peak. Still, a wonderful outing full of grand vistas and charming wildflowers and a few animals too.

Mountain goats frequent a salt or mineral lick on the way to Harts Pass.
The goats are not very attractive this time of year.
Silky phacelia
Mount Baker in the distance
Old snow
Anemone occidentalis
Snow in July! What could be better?
Shooting stars
Lomatium
Phlox
Yellow violet. I’m not sure which one.
Ballhead waterleaf. This bloomed at home months ago.
Glacier lily
Heather – white and magenta
Castilleja sp
A very alert ground squirrel
Lewisia columbiana
Saxifrage
Oh, look who found a stick.

A Short Steep Hike

We joined Lindsey and Little Bear for a hike to Lookout Mountain, the site of a US Forest Service fire lookout. I wonder what came first – the mountain’s name or the fire lookout? The trail is only 1.3 miles but it gains 1100 feet up to a high point of 5518 feet overlooking the Methow Valley. Distant views were hazy with lingering smoke from prescribed burns. One of these days I will get there on a day with bright blue skies and snow-capped mountains but not this time.

I love these lichen covered snags.
Oh look, Sky brought us a stick.
Haven’t you seen enough flowers yet?
What a good group.

McLaughlin Canyon

The girls and I traveled to an agility event Friday, stopping on the way for a hike and then lunch with friends near Tonasket. It was a perfect spring day. Sunny and warm. At the start of the hike it was still frozen in the shadows but that changed while we were out. A creek tumbled down the canyon wall disappearing into the ground before it got to the canyon floor. Buttercups were blooming. Canyon Wrens were singing. A Golden Eagle stirred up all the Rock Pigeons. A fine outing.

We saw or heard these birds: Chukar, Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Rock Pigeon, Northern Flicker, Say’s Phoebe, Black-billed Magpie, Common Raven, Canyon Wren, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Western Meadowlark. There were also lots of marmots.

Such interesting geology
Water in an otherwise dry place
According to this sign, much of the trail is on private land.
Buttercups
Sky wrestled with a sagebrush. She lost
Waited for someone to pop out of the hole but no luck.

One Day, Two Lakes

Mid-October and the days were getting shorter. We managed to get in two short hikes to two beautiful lakes – Cutthroat and Blue. Next year I think we ought to add Ann and Rainy Lakes and have a four-lake day. I think this may have been the sixth or seventh time I went to Blue Lake in 2017. And I went to Cutthroat a few times in the last few months. Such pretty places and so close to home. I feel lucky.

Yellow is the dominant color. Soon it will be white.

Cutthroat Lake
Still hunting season so they were still wearing their orange.
Blue Lake
Larch needles
So long til next year!