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Tag Archives: hike

Hiking with Sky

We got out in the mountains this past week for a really pleasant hike. The air was cool and fresh. It wasn’t windy which was a mixed blessing. In some places, the mosquitoes were quite annoying but they thinned out after we got above the trees. Clark’s Nutcrackers were everywhere and Horned Larks were singing from lots of rocky perches. Ladybugs were emerging from the rocks and once again I wonder, what do they do all winter? Sky found a stick and she posed, on her own, in front of an old growth juniper, for a portrait. And the clouds were amazing! Fog filled the valleys to the north and east, eliminating half the views but it would pour up over the ridge line making outstanding aerial displays! We found big piles of black bear poop. I wonder what it was eating? The snow only recently melted so there were few flowers. We will have to return soon! With the warm weather, they will pop out in a hurry.

A Damp Hike

Last weekend we went to a new place in a light rain. It burned some years ago and the trail has not been maintained this year so we had many logs to clamber over or get around. At 5500′, we found the small lake still partially frozen. A Spotted Sandpiper did its characteristic bobbing on the ice. We had the place to ourselves til we turned to leave and then we encountered three different parties. Mostly it was quiet in the burned forest.

A Slippery Path

New snow on a busy trail made for some treacherous walking. We should have had micro spikes for our shoes. We managed to get up and down without injury but were concerned for other hikers less prepared than we were. The redheads joined us for this one. They are less than impressed with Sky’s ability to ‘sit pretty’ but Sky doesn’t care.

It looks like fall in the mountains is coming to an end. It has continued to snow up there this week. I imagine the larch needles are falling to the ground.

Ahhh, Fall

Sky and I continue to enjoy the fall weather and fall colors too. Larch madness has lured us up and down many a trail in the last week and a half.

This trail began in the deep dark forest. There were stream crossings and an occasional glimpse of mountains across the way. Finally, we popped out into the sunlight and views of the subalpine larch trees in all their golden glory. Soon we were walking through the yellow trees, along with many other people. Everyone was going ooooh and ahhhh. It was breathtaking. And the mountain views, including Glacier Peak, were outstanding too.

It was a good day to be out.

Camp Robbers

If you spend much time hiking or camping in the Cascades, sooner or later, you will be surrounded by Camp Robbers and I hope they are the avian kind. Canada Jays (formerly known as Gray Jays) are pretty birds that enjoy people. They know that people come with food and the jays seem to know if they are sweet and cute, eventually, someone will give them a handout. Sky and I saw this group on one of our hikes last week.