Saturday, August 25, 2012
Cape Mountain hike
On Saturday, Guy, Chad, Brittany, and I hiked the Cape Mountain trail. We've hiked this so many times before it was like seeing an old friend again. It was surprising how much the trees in the old clearcut have grown. We used to be able to see above them, and now they block the view.
When we got to the top, we lay around in the grass and enjoyed the warm sun, then we started down.
Friday, August 24, 2012
Oregon Dunes Overlook Trail
For my 2012 vacation, Guy and I drove to Florence where we visited Chad and Brittany, who are renting a small house for August and September. On Friday, Guy, Chad, Brittany and I hiked the Oregon Dunes Overlook trail.
It was a sunny day but it was windy. We hiked out to the beach, then south on the beach to the Takenitch River, then back through the dunes. hiking in the soft sand was pretty tiring, but we all enjoyed it.
It was a sunny day but it was windy. We hiked out to the beach, then south on the beach to the Takenitch River, then back through the dunes. hiking in the soft sand was pretty tiring, but we all enjoyed it.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Royal Basin hike
I started out my 2012 summer vacation with a hike with Guy into Royal Lake in Olympic national Park. Guy and I started out Sunday night by hiking a mile from the trailhead to a great campsite along the Dungeness River.
Our campsite along the Dungeness River
On Monday morning, we started up the trail to Royal Lake. It begins fairly gently as it follows Royal Creek though the big timber, but after a couple of miles it gets steep and stays that way all the way to the lake. It was a tough day of hiking, abut 6 miles. We arrived at the lake about 3:00 and dumped our packs. The are is heavily used and the Park Service has strict rules about where you can camp. We found a good campsite and Guy took a nap while I explored the meadows around the lake.
Guy arriving at Royal Lake.
On Tuesday morning, I hiked up to the upper basin while Guy slept in. I hiked around a beautiful glacier-blue tarn and marveled at the peaks above me. What a beautiful alpine bowl. On the way back, a group of hikers pointed out six or eight marmots on the hill above the upper meadow.
Breakfast the first morning.
On Monday morning, we started up the trail to Royal Lake. It begins fairly gently as it follows Royal Creek though the big timber, but after a couple of miles it gets steep and stays that way all the way to the lake. It was a tough day of hiking, abut 6 miles. We arrived at the lake about 3:00 and dumped our packs. The are is heavily used and the Park Service has strict rules about where you can camp. We found a good campsite and Guy took a nap while I explored the meadows around the lake.
One of the avalanche chutes on the way up to the lake.
Arriving at Royal Lake.
Guy taking a break on the way up to Royal Lake
A meadow with late afternoon shadows.
On Tuesday morning, I hiked up to the upper basin while Guy slept in. I hiked around a beautiful glacier-blue tarn and marveled at the peaks above me. What a beautiful alpine bowl. On the way back, a group of hikers pointed out six or eight marmots on the hill above the upper meadow.
As I looked back toward Royal Lake, I could see low clouds moving up the lower valley.
After I got back to camp, I took a few pictures of the lake in the early morning.
After I got back to camp, Guy had breakfast. We started out about 10:20 and got to the trailhead about 1:30. It was a great hike!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Hike to Silver Lake
This weekend I decided to hike in to Silver Lake. Since I'd worked every day the previous week for Vacation Bible School, I took Monday off. Silver Lake is a side trail off of the Mt. Townsend trail. I figured this would be an interesting addition to that hike.
I had a couple of extra things to do after church on Sunday, but I left as soon as I could. Got home at 3 pm, packed up and left the house by 4:30. I left the trailhead at 7 pm, later than I would have liked. I hiked at a good pace because I wanted to get to the lake before dark.
I made it to the trail junction and then continued on upward to the pass. Then down the other side, with the sun shining on the ridges above me. I was getting tired as I came down to the creek. I passed a young family, a mom and dad with four little kids. They were all very cheerful.
I struggled up to the lake, arriving just before dark. I was surprised to find that there were many campsites filled with people. Luckily I found a small meadow and laid out my sleeping bag. I hung my food in a tree just as the family I'd passed on the trail arrived. I offered to share the little meadow with them and they were grateful.
It was nice listening to them making camp because the mom and dad were very patient and the kids were so cheerful. No complaining, no back-talk. They dad asked two of the older kids to get water and they took off into the darkness, coming back shortly with a pan full of water.
I slept under the stars, watching the meteor shower. One flared into a bright red streak before burning out. There was a cool breeze all night and my bag got slightly damp. Luckily I slept pretty well anyway.
In the morning I made breakfast and was hiking by 7:30 am. I left my pack and hiked up the pass above Silver lake. The views were wonderful and the morning felt fresh and cool. What a beautiful place!
I got lots of photos:
At 8:45 I picked up my pack and started back to the car. I was tired and hiked considerably slower than the night before. By 11:45 I was at the trailhead.
I had a couple of extra things to do after church on Sunday, but I left as soon as I could. Got home at 3 pm, packed up and left the house by 4:30. I left the trailhead at 7 pm, later than I would have liked. I hiked at a good pace because I wanted to get to the lake before dark.
I made it to the trail junction and then continued on upward to the pass. Then down the other side, with the sun shining on the ridges above me. I was getting tired as I came down to the creek. I passed a young family, a mom and dad with four little kids. They were all very cheerful.
I struggled up to the lake, arriving just before dark. I was surprised to find that there were many campsites filled with people. Luckily I found a small meadow and laid out my sleeping bag. I hung my food in a tree just as the family I'd passed on the trail arrived. I offered to share the little meadow with them and they were grateful.
It was nice listening to them making camp because the mom and dad were very patient and the kids were so cheerful. No complaining, no back-talk. They dad asked two of the older kids to get water and they took off into the darkness, coming back shortly with a pan full of water.
I slept under the stars, watching the meteor shower. One flared into a bright red streak before burning out. There was a cool breeze all night and my bag got slightly damp. Luckily I slept pretty well anyway.
Making breakfast
My camp at Silver Lake
In the morning I made breakfast and was hiking by 7:30 am. I left my pack and hiked up the pass above Silver lake. The views were wonderful and the morning felt fresh and cool. What a beautiful place!
I got lots of photos:
Looking down onto Silver Lake
At 8:45 I picked up my pack and started back to the car. I was tired and hiked considerably slower than the night before. By 11:45 I was at the trailhead.
The switchbacks on the west side of the pass. Silver Lake is just below the patch of snow on the saddle.
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