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Sunshine, Snow and Skeeters

My friend Mary came to visit from Montana last week. You might remember that we went to visit her and Brad last month when we went to Big Hole and Bannack. She brought her dog, Gus and we had our pack of black dogs to accompany us on our adventures around the Methow.

One day we hiked to Maple Pass, a perennial favorite hike in the North Cascades. It is a great loop hike offering some of the most easily attained stunning views of our rugged landscape. On the top of the ridge there was lots of snow to cool the dogs and even a nice pond for swimming. Unfortunately all this melting snow produced a bumper crop of mosquitoes and they were hungry for new blood – ours. Even the dogs were going nuts. All of used some herbal bug repellent which gave us a little relief but still we hardly ever came to a complete stop. That didn’t stop us from enjoying the sun and the views and having a good time.

The trail climbs steeply and the views unfold in a grand way
Luna cools off in the shady heather along the trail
Even Sky needed a break
Rainy Lake
Lots of water flowing off the mountains
heather
Western anemone seedhead
Luna found a little seep to cool her belly
Luna loves snow!
Ahhhh!
There’s the top!
A few switchbacks gets us up there
Even Sky got into rolling down the snow patches
Gus jumps for joy!
Luna is just happy!
Glacier Peak
That had to be cold water.
And so quickly we went down.
Lake Ann
Altogether on the trail

Wanderer’s Moon

My husband, Ken is a singer and songwriter, specializing in folk songs that tell stories, some of them close to his heart and many of them about the nature of this place we call home. He has been working for the last year and a half with Chris ‘Breathe’ Frue to produce a CD of his original songs. Many of Ken’s musician friends joined him in Breathe’s studio to lay down tracks to go with his guitar and vocals and finally, it is finished.

Wanderer’s Moon was released at a concert at the Merc Playhouse last night to one hundred happy fans and listeners! Six of the performers who are featured on the CD were able to join Ken and the show was outstanding! This is a once in lifetime event because getting this many busy people together in one place is always a challenge. The other performers last night were John Weeks, of Chicago on violin and viola, Bill Weiler, of Lyle, WA on the keyboards, Egon Steinebach, of Twisp on harmonica, Julie Ashmore from the Okanogan Highlands on vocals, Don McIvor, of Twisp on guitar and Richard Wassen, of Winthrop on drums. It was a fun evening full of music and celebration. Don Ashford, owner of KTRT radio in Twisp and Winthrop introduced the program. Breathe did the sound. Thank you Don, Breathe and everyone else who helped to make this evening a success!

If you’d like to get a CD, contact me and I will will tell  you how to get it!

Don Ashford, KTRT
Ken
John Weeks
Julie Ashmore
Don McIvor
Bill Weiler
Egon Steinebach
Richard Wassen

 

 

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A Few Good Bird Sightings and Some Wet Weather

The weather forecast indicated about 20% chance of rain in the mountains yesterday. Around here, that means it’s not likely to rain. It was sunny and reasonably warm at home when the girls and I left for the 6500′ Freezeout Trailhead and the hike to Tiffany Mountain. The temperature was 46 degrees Fahrenheit and it was sunny when we started walking. Good weather for an uphill hike to the 8242′ summit.

In the burned forest (this is part of the Tripod burn from ten years ago) I heard and saw numerous birds, including lots of young ones with adults searching for food to feed the nestlings.

When we walked away from the trees, the sky was solidly overcast but still no sign of rain. Nearing the top, I started to feel occasional pelts of small hail. At the top, it was obvious that the weather was going to take a turn for the worse. We shared my peanut butter sandwich and I put on my extra layers (two coats, gloves and a wool hat) and tucked my camera away. Normally we would linger on the mountain top and look around for more birds and flowers and maybe ladybugs but not this time. It was hailing pretty solidly by then. And as we walked downhill it was soon raining. We didn’t notice the birds or flowers much on the way down. Still, it never got too cold and it wasn’t windy and I had the right extra gear with me. Overall it was a nice day.

Roger Lake is a real gem
Lots of downed lots on the lower part of the trail but they didn’t slow Sky any.
Paintbrush
A very young grouse – either a Dusky Grouse or a Spruce Grouse, depending on who I ask.
This game camera is aimed right at the trail. Are they counting hikers and dogs or looking for something else?
Lupine
Lupine
Mountain Bluebird nest hole
Male Mountain Bluebird feeding young
Male Mountain Bluebird at the nest hole
Female Mountain Bluebird feeding young
I think this is a Savannah Sparrow
Reliable water following rainy summer days
Luna was wet before it even started raining
Horned Larks nest on the side of Tiffany
Near the top looking back at the trail
Approaching storm
Approaching storm
I was hoping it would go towards the Okanogan and not towards me
See the storm on the other side of the ridge past Tiffany Lake?

A Short Break

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

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.