My Everyday Photos

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.

Rather dismal trailhead

That’s the mountain but you can’t see the lookout.

North Cascades

I enjoyed watching this bee on a flower that looks like groundsel.

Noisy Hairy Woodpecker. I wonder if she had a nest nearby.

Glacier lillies tell you that the snow just melted

Nice to see you on the trail Luna

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Finally past the steep part and now a view of the lookout

Mt Gardner. I was worried about the misty rain that moved around but never did get wet.

Looking down valley, more light rain

This took about ten tries.

Outhouse with a view

Crazy clouds

Penstemon

Larch

Buttercup.

Spring beauty and glacier lily

Buckwheat

How many kinds of plants are in this small patch of ground?

Forget me not

Clematis

For more information about this hike the WTA website.