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Tag Archives: Patterson Lake

On the Water

What fun to finally get my kayak back on the water. It’s been a challenging spring with lower back pain slowing me down at every turn. It is on the mend and while it’s not pain-free, it’s mostly tolerable. The weather is improving this week too. Yesterday was even what you might call warm. Well, depending on where you live and what you’re used to!

I moved stuff around the garage on Saturday and dragged the boat outside to hose off the dust and other winter accumulations; yesterday I put the racks on my car and finally, finally I loaded my boat with some trepidation anticipating that spasm of back pain. I managed without causing anymore pain so I took off for the lake. Ken and the dogs followed a while later with the fishing boat. I saw some Wood Ducks and a pair of Hooded Mergansers and Canada Geese, in addition to lots of singing Yellow-rumped Warblers and other song birds. It was nice to get out if even for just a short while. Today I’m a little sore but mostly tolerable still.

 

 

Patterson Mountain, still covered in yellow
A male Hooded Merganser trying to get a female’s attention.
Sky just now noticed me
Ken teaches the dogs about fishing tackle.
Sky was very interested in the fishing. Luna was along for the ride.
He caught several trout
Supper?

Puppy’s First Mountain

On Wednesday, the dogs and I hiked to the top of Patterson Mountain. It’s not a long hike or particularly challenging but if you are a three month old puppy, it might be a big event in your short life! According to the hike report it is 1 1/2 miles from the lake to the summit, gaining 1100 feet elevation. Enough to warm you up. Sky was a trooper, staying on the trail and keeping up with no problem. We encountered one other group of hikers on our way up – the Wednesday hiking ladies. We stopped and had a nice visit with them and I was warned that if my puppy went missing that I might want to check in Chris’s backpack! As usual, Sky attracted a lot of attention. We started and ended the hike with a visit to Patterson Lake and Sky almost, inadvertently, went swimming!

 

Sky considers leaving her comfy crate
Following big sister Luna
Look! I got you a stick!
Wait for me
Hurry up youngster
Tug
Finally heading up the trail
Don’t get lost
Magic forest
I was the only one that had to use the stile
Mt Gardner. I love when the snow returns to the mountain
Gardner over Patterson Lake
It was a glorious day!
On the mountain top
No puppy in her pack
Sun Mountain in front of the upper Methow
Luna
Watching Luna swim
I can catch her
Ooops. Maybe not
I’ll watch from here
Now I’ll get it!
Hey! Wait up!

Back in the Boat Again

Last week there were several good weather days and twice I managed to get my kayak in the water. Last year I hardly used it due to persistent lower back pain from gardening. I am trying to really take care of my back this year with more yoga and being very aware of how I move when I am carrying heavy stuff and trying to get help when I can. So far, so good for the most part. Of course with kayaking there is the business of getting the boat on and off the car to take it to the lakes. That worried me. I was able to do it and paddle two days in a row and I am happy to report that I didn’t have any pain! What a relief. Here’s hoping it stays that way all summer. Here are some highlights from two lakes near Winthrop.

Patterson Lake is my favorite

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Interesting rock formations

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Non-native trees line one end next to hay fields

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Last year’s cottonwood leaf

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Folks keep adding to this lakeside sculpture

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You can tell from the line on the rocks that the lake is not yet full

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These trees died after the lake level was raised some years ago. Now the snags are good habitat for nesting swallows and other birds.

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Red-necked Grebe

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Pair of Wood Ducks

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Patterson Mountain reflected in Patterson Lake

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More reflections near the boat launch

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At Pearrygin Lake State Park, it’s still cold for swimming

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A pair of Mallards

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The hen decided to go her own way

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The drake had to fly to catch up with her

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4 Bufflehead ducks

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They didn’t like me or the motorboat approaching from the other side

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Pearrygin is a pretty warm lake with different vegetation types.

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The reeds make nice reflections

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This float had broken away from its moorings

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In addition to motorboats, I saw this stand up paddler and a rowing scull

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Killdeer on a mud flat

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The mouth of Pearrygin Creek. This creek ‘blew out’ two years ago, resulting in flooding in the state park and the loss of this boat launch. They say that the state will replace it.

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There are LOTS of Yellow-rumped Warblers out and about these days.

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And Osprey are commonly seen above any water that might have fish in it. There were lots of newly-planted trout for the next day’s fishing season opener.

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Letting Go

Winter is letting go very quickly. Signs of Spring are everywhere. I put away all my ski stuff and got out a hummingbird feeder. Even the light is different. Where it is no longer reflecting off of snow it has a warmer quality. The ice on Patterson Lake has retreated from the shore leaving behind leaves and other remnants of last year.

 

Bubbles frozen in ice at the edge

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Melted snow reveals a crayfish shell

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Tree pollen swirls with meltwater and last year’s leaves

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This one remains firmly in the ice. But not for long.

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A Break in the Rain

It seems that we are already in November weather with cold gray skies, lots of rain and occasional snow/slush falling from the sky. It really is dreary. Luna and I did get out one afternoon last week when the fog dissipated and we had a nice walk along the shore of Patterson Lake. After the long dry summer the lake’s beach is much wider than normal. It’s water is used to irrigate nearby hay fields.

At this time of year, I really relish these days

 

Colors are really magnificent

 

Luna found a new/used tennis ball; probably lost by some other dog.

 

Luna loves tennis balls.

 

I saw several of these old bait jars. This one seems to be acting as a greenhouse for some tiny seedling.

 

Old fishing line like this is a hazard to birds and other animals. It can cause injury and even death. I gathered up what I found and disposed of it in the trash.

 

A broken fishing rod. This had to have been quite upsetting to someone.

 

A few dead fish littered the shore.

 

Beautiful light

 

Hard to believe it will soon be frozen.