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Tag Archives: North Cascades

Summer is Over

Face it. Many people in the west have had to battle smoke and wildfire for weeks. Even months. Those things stole our summer from us. Now, it’s cool in the mornings and you might need a sweater in the evening. Colors are changing. Not so much with freezing temperatures but endless weeks without any moisture. I don’t expect a big fall colors show like last year. So even though the calendar doesn’t agree, I think summer is over.

Luna and I got out of the car at the trailhead this morning and I was reminded that my brain is still in summer mode. Fortunately, in my car, I had a light jacket and some gloves to get me started up the trail. It did warm up after we got to the lake and the changing colors are beautiful.

Fireweed gone to seed
Luna was such a good dog today.
Larch trees are changing colors.
A tiny breeze disturbed the reflection.
A pika haystack
Trail crews have created a new trail that seems like a highway.
Luna even looked at the camera.
Huckleberries are changing color

North Cascades Hike

Yesterday the girls and I joined with Molly (remember Molly from last year?) and Mary for a nice hike, mostly above tree line in the North Cascades. We drove through a layer of wildfire smoke to get to the trailhead and found perfect blue skies with fluffy clouds. Ground squirrels and hoary marmots and pikas gave their warning calls as we walked by.  At the end of the hike we could see the smoke column from the Diamond Creek wildfire east of us. In the meantime we were treated to vast vistas of mountains in all directions. We all felt grateful to have this in our ‘backyard’. The dogs were most grateful for the last of the snow and a creek of snow melt leading to a clear refreshing pond for cooling off.

A few wildflowers still blooming
a pika haystack
Views and more views
Cool rocks
Sky tells Molly to stand still
Do it this way Molly
Molly remains defiant
Look! All five of us looking at the camera! Ok. So Luna wasn’t exactly looking at the camera, but almost.
Molly leads the way
We were over there!
Tatie Peak
Wildfire smoke to the left of center on the horizon

Dusty Shoes

The girls and I have been out and about on some trails this summer. After a wet and cool spring, we have not had any rain in weeks. The paths are all dusty and dry. I carry water for my dogs and they appreciate it. The streams and lakes and snow patches are welcome sights!

Mine.
I dropped my stick.
Will you get it for me?
Luna, why don’t you care about my stick?
Ahhhh.

Mountains and Wildflowers

The girls and I have not been getting out enough lately. Both of them are still in bed, not even asking to go outside or have breakfast. That is nearly unheard of around here. We had a lovely outing to Slate Peak yesterday but I didn’t think it was overly strenuous. Must have been all that fresh mountain air and the cold streams.

I was told that the road to Harts Pass was open although not all the way to the trailhead near Meadows or to the lookout parking lot. Sure enough, that was the case. Several cars were parked at the last PCT trailhead with lots of hikers and walkers heading north on the well-worn path. Luna and Sky and I simply walked over the snowbanks and up the road to the lookout. It’s only a mile and a half walk and we had it all to ourselves. The flowers were amazing and the mountain views were beyond beautiful. Later we walked near Meadows and saw more wildflowers and clear mountain streams.

It was a nice day.

Looking north to Canada
Silky phacelia, one of my favorite wildflowers
Buckwheat, phacelia and mountains
I don’t know the name of this DYC (darned yellow composite)
Lomatium
Glacier lily
Forget-me-nots
Anemone
Shooting stars
Anemone and buttercups
Buttercups
A field of anemone!
Phlox and lichen
A cooling stream

Winter is Coming

Yesterday before any election tallies were out, we went to the mountains to play in the snow. Ken was getting ready for a long trip and it seemed like a good time to have some fun and maybe get a holiday card photo too.

At Washington Pass there was at least a foot of snow and some groomed ski tracks too! We hadn’t thought to bring skis. Darn! The dogs were ecstatic to play on a snowy surface again. The mountains were fogged in when we arrived but gradually they emerged giving us breathtaking views of the craggy peaks. It was worth the wait.

As we returned to the car we saw families with small and big kids, some who had NEVER played in snow before! That was fun! They didn’t all have appropriate footwear but it didn’t stop them from enjoying themselves.

Luna’s expression!
Sometimes we just need someone to lean on.
This makes me laugh.
What is the name of this mountain?
They love to play rough in the snow.
Liberty Bell
What is the name of this mountain?
I’ll get it!
We are lucky to live here.