Saturday, July 28, 2007

2007.7.28 Johnson Ridge

2007.7.28. Johnson Ridge. Originally planned to go to Blanca, but the trail head was not accessible due to the wind storm last winter. Suggested by the ranger in Skykomish. Started hiking at 4pm! Ended at the Sunrise Mt (5,056 ft), where a small clearing offers a better view, and more mosquitoes. Mount Fernow and maybe Captain Point to the south, Glacier Peak and some interesting peaks to the north. Otherwise, except for the beginning of the trail (see the top image), no view to speak of: obstructed by the trees. Sunscreen is not useful, at least not till this point.
This is only half of the trail. Too bad, had to turn back due to the late start. The last mile of the trail (close to Scorpion Mt) should provide flowering meadows at this time of the year. Back to the car at 7pm.

Saturday, July 21, 2007

2007.7.21. Trail's Fest at Rattlesnake Lake 3 miles south of I-90 exit 32. First time I went to this event, don't know why. Went to a talk about Olympics Peninsular shortly after 10am. The sun broke out during lunch break at Rattlesnake Ledge. Lots of booths of environmental organizations, outdoor groups and equipment / food maker. Saw two "wheel chairs" used on trails: one wheel, reclining, hauled by one person in the front, and one pushing in the back. Looks very comfy for the one who sits in there. One the way back, the rain started dropping. Perfect timing.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

2007.7.18. Bravo Club's kickoff party for the 2007/08 Season at Olympic Sculpture Park, PACCAR Pavilion. Selected arias by a tenor, baritone and a mezzo soprano from Seattle Opera's Young Artists program, catered hors d’oeuvres, a DJ and dancing. I mostly went for the food: salmon and chicken on skewers. Fine but not plenty. The performance was identical to the previous days' season preview at Town Hall for general public.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

2007.7.14-15. High Camp at Mt Adams

2007.7.14-15. Mt Adams wilderness. Gorgeous views. Few people. Aggressive mosquitoes. Flowers are out! Sandy (dusty) trails.
Direction: From Randle, take FR 23 (largely paved) -> FR 2329. About 3.5 - 4 hours from Seattle.
Day 1.
Lunch at Takhlakh Lake (4600 ft). Pretty. I got about 20 mosquito bites in less than 5 minutes. 4 miles further, Killen Creek trail (#113, 3.1 miles, 6100 ft.), which ends at PCT.
Heading further up along High Camp trail (#10, 1 miles, 6900 ft) to set up the tent in the high alpine meadow. Lots of dwarf lupines with silvery leaves, phlox covering a few slope. I wanted to touch the glacier before calling it a day, which seemed so close. Well, that's another hour, if not more (~ 8000 ft) of rock scrambling and ice trekking. Tied and COLD, but worthwhile. Saw some interesting miniature rock plants (e.g. mountain sorrell, pussypaws, and the very fluffy pale mountain dandelion). Peeked into a couple of deep blue crevasses. Expansive views 360 degrees. Majestic South Cascade mountain range extends to the horizon. Down below is vast green forest shrouded in the sunset. Awe inspiring.
It was already past 8pm back at camp site. A streak of orange cloud broke through many dark menacing ones. Mt St. Helens almost seemed to be lit within, as one little bright cloud lingered there.
Day 2.
Woke up to see some cougar prints next to a creek, steps away from the camp site.
Down along High Camp trail, turned right to join PCT (#2000) for about a mile. There we encountered the sweetest of all meadows: wide, seemingly tended grass land, tarns alive with tadpoles, fields of lupines dotted with paintbrushes, two waterfalls. Idyllic if not for the mosquitoes.
Soon after, followed High Line trail (#114) for a number of ups and downs, until reached Muddy Meadows trail (#13, 4 miles). No view of Mt Adams, soon lost Mt Rainier to the woods. Many beargrass, bunchberries and mariposa lilies. Muddy Meadow at the trail head is simply grand, plus a fabulous view of Mt Adams. Picked some mushrooms here! That's 2 miles away to the car.
Start heading back to Seattle around 3:30. Terrible traffic near Tacoma.

Friday, July 13, 2007

2007.7.12. Seattle Symphony, conducted by Carolyn Kuan.
  • Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto in D major
    Joan Kwuon, violin
  • Orff: Carmina burana
    Maureen McKay, soprano
    Stanford Olsen, tenor
    Lucas Meachem, baritone
    Northwest Boychoir
    Seattle Symphony Chorale
Fabulous.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

2007.7.4 Bandera Mt

2007.7.4. Bandera Mountain and Mason Lake by I-90 exit 45. The slope was entirely covered with beargrass flowers. Standing close to the top of Bandera, the tip of Mt. Adams loomed into view. Bandera's north side still had two patches of snow, where I refilled my water bottle. Two half-liter bottles of water is not enough when the temperature went above 80.
After coming down the steep slope on all fours, the short trail to Mason Lake appeared to be a breeze (literally too). The lake itself is uninteresting.