Garfield Ledges. 2.2 miles. 800 elevation gin

 The infamous Middle Fork Snoqualmie Forest Service Road.  Who knew that by driving past the main trailhead just 1.4 mile, there was more trails!  Happy to find one that I haven't done before with a VIEW that was easy to obtain.  Steep but short.  Rain and mud the whole way, with mostly fog at the "top".  

Middle Tiger

 Thought Spring was here, not yet!   4 miles seems to be my max lately but I will take it!

Squak Mtn. May Valley Road

Exit from Hibernation

Middlefork Snoqualmie - Pratt River connector

Got lucky with a dry weather patch between atmospheric river floods. We only stopped when the river crossings became too much. We met some new (prehistoric) friends!

Goal today was to absorb the pretty before it get too cold.

Cougar Mtn. Clay Pitt

My first hike since Feb 22, 2020, Really. The first year was by choice. The second was not (ANOTHER INJURY!!) Fall is my favorite season to hike! Just 3 miles today and feeling good about that. This is now my official -go to- to start over each year .......

Squak Mtn. Bullitt Fireplace trail.

When I told my brother lunch was included, he mentioned he stopped eating PB&J in 1978. I thought a bagel w/ cream cheese would be ok, but he wasn't impressed with that either. Hopefully he will still hike with me again.

Not my first time to this Mtn, but just the second time to this random fireplace in the woods. About 4 miles, with a gain of 1100. The last .4 is going to turn my body to cement in about 17 hours.

Teneriffe Falls

A repeat hike from 2016. There was a brand new sparkly parking lot!. Giving myself credit for about 5 miles today. Extra credit for navigating root and boulder fields too.

Mt. Si

Grueling 4 hours. Because I like to torture myself. But it's worth all the rewards. Mt. Si > 1.8 miles up. Talus Loop on the way back, with a pit stop towards Mt. Teneriffe. (and back).

Granite Mtn

(8.6 miles, Elevation Gain 3800) 

The Neanderthal in me hasn’t been here since I was a kid. I needed something with a kick and something I haven’t done in a while. Happy to say we made it to the second avalanche “chute” Climbed about 1700 feet and went 4.4 miles. 

*phew*  Only had 2100 feet in gain to go!

Big Four

Why would one drive such a long ways for a short hike? Because it's pretty. A short hike is perfect for one who has had a chest cold for 3 weeks. Perfect if it's a downpour, or snowing, or 100 degrees. They keep a forest ranger on site these days, to keep people out of the caves!

 

Cedar Butte 6 miles 900 ele

A party of 4 turned into 2. A 3 mile hike turned into 6. It's been awhile since Ive been here. The trail head was a mile from the parking lot (add two miles) Taking a wrong left turn (add 1 more mile) Elevation gain was 900 in 1.5 miles. It was foggy at the "summit" but perfect weather, 60 and over cast. I may be hurting tomorrow.

Dirty Harry's Balcony

It's been several years since Ive been here.  Back in the day, there was no official parking. No outhouse. No sign for the trail head.  One had to walk 1/2 mile to find the obscure trail like a treasure hunt.  Today, there is official parking.  There is an outhouse.  There is clear signage.  AND the trail moved.  The entire trail has changed.  In a good way.  It was like doing a brand new hike. 

Coal Creek Falls

There was a time when I would hike every weekend and walk everyday (with Banda) Those were happy times. Now I'm lucky if I go once per month, black out a day far in advance and just say no to anything that would get in the way. I'm thankful for hiking buddy Amy, who has not once bailed on an adventure and who is up for anything, like changing destinations at the last minute like today. I plan and pack for a hike the same no matter if it's two miles or 10. Cant help it. As always - soul restored -

“Many of us feel a loss of connection, a distancing from the natural world that surrounds and maintains precarious toeholds within our cultivated, civilized areas. And so we bring the natural world into our homes—plants, fountains, dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish—to share our space with us. And we do this because it makes us feel good, perhaps not consciously realizing that what we seek is a return to balance, harmony, and connection with All Our Relations.”

—Rose De Dan, from Tails of a Healer

Lake Dorothy - Dorothy Lake 3.8 miles. 800 ele

800 feet of elevation gain doesn't seem like much.  It is when it's squished into a very short distance consisting of stairs.  A lot of stairs. 

Lake Dorothy, according to the website. Dorothy Lake according to the sign. I hiked here once before in the heat of summer several years ago. With Banda. As Im remembering this, I reached into my pocket and found one of her cookies. Funny thing, since I’ve worn this jacket several times since then. Never found the cookie before. She is always with me in her own way.

Sometimes the best part of a hike, is the aftermath. Coming home soaked to the bone. Sometimes limping. Hot shower. PJ’s. Pigging out and looking at pictures. That is complete contentment.

Denny Creek to Keekwulee Falls

Much needed.

Heybrook Ridge 3.3 miles Ele 760

Not to be confused with Heybrook Lookout.  In utter disbelief, found a hike I haven't heard of before AND it was within easy reach for a reward at the end. 

Cougar Mtn: Clay Pitt is going green

Messed up the ankle (again) right before Christmas. First outing since then. Hooray!

Happy 180th Birthday John Muir!

"Take a course in good water and air; and in the eternal youth of Nature you may renew your own. Go quietly, alone; no harm will befall you." John Muir

Wallace Falls 3.8 miles

Let's just go around one more corner.  Going forward when your body says to turn back.  No regrets at the moment.  Forgot how steep this bugger was for the old bones.

Middlefork Snoqualmie; upper river. About 5 miles

Came back to the beautifully paved forest service road.  Just one small spot left that hasn't been finished. Feels like another world has opened up.  My body has been angry for not hiking lately.   Due to many excuses such as summer heat, smoke from wild fires, car trouble and stress  ......  stress. 

Granite Creek - about 4 miles

I looked for the elevation gain and could not find it listed anywhere.  The entire trail is 11 miles and being next to MailBox Peak, I thought it might be high.  With 20 + cars parked at MailBox Peak, only 3 cars were parked at this one.  And we only saw 3 people!  It was too hot for a hike today but we got lucky and most was shaded.   It was overgrown. Really overgrown.  Luckily,  most was soft grass-like and not prickly.  No breaking out in hives by some random plant.  Elevation gain was kind going up.  It was sneaky though, as it was certainly felt going down.  

Barclay Lake 4.4 miles RT

A loud noise is heard going up the steep 3 mile Forest Service Road. Once parked at the trail head, Amy says "ummmmmm" as she gets out of the car. And then I hear a loud sssssssssssssssssssss noise. Crap. A few bandaids, some mole skin and kinesiology tape (not pictured) should help keep the car upright long enough until after the hike. We left enough Karma out in the world to be offered some help after our hike. A nice family of 4.  Thankfully I had a spare, and a jack and we were on our way with 6 people working on it.   (I don't know this dog but just thought he was really handsome)