2008.08.23. Cascade Pass - Sahale Arm, my all time favorite day hike.
The trail starts at a huge parking lot (3600 ft) facing the hanging glacier of Johannesburg. Cascade pass is 3.5 miles into the hike at 5400 ft. Gentle yet steadily up slope, mostly in woods with occasional glances of Johannesburg Mt (8200 ft). As the trail approaches the pass, it emerges from the forest, several small streams and a traverse across a talus slope. Crowds gather at the pass, content with the view: absolutely breathtaking, overlooking Stehekin River valley and opens up Trapper Peak and Magic Mountain to the east.
Sahale glacier beckons. In 1 mile and 800 ft, reaches the side trail to the lovely Doubtful Lake. Incredibly green slopes, dotted w/ pink heather, lupine, partridge foot, only 1 patch of paintbrush, many low lying blue berry bushes. Pikas and Marmots abound. Continue up and up, range upon range of ice and spires to the south, finally Rainer and Glacier Peak. To the west, huge glistening glacier on El Dorado, and later Baker pops its head. Greenery now gives away to rocks. Final scramble, and 4.5 hr after the start, I reached the foot of Sahale glacier and some camp sites.
Practicalities: 3+ hr drive from Seattle (23 miles on gravel from Marblemount), 5.7 miles, 4000 ft to the toe of Sahale Glacier. More pictures.

2008.8.17. Skyline Divide at Mt Baker

2008.8.17. Skyline Divide. All the elevation gain was in the first 2 miles. Not steep, but the hot weather makes it hard. Once reach the ridge, it's time to wander and soak in a 360 degree view: to the east Baker and Shuksan are most prominent, Twin Sisters to the south, Cheam Range in Canada and mountains on Vancouver Island. Flowers are in peak, mostly white and blue, some yellow, covering some slopes. Still some small patches of snow. Otherwise, dry. A couple of rain drops menaced an upcoming foul weather, but the rain never developed.
A long drive: 2.7 hrs. Almost 13 miles on gravel, where I had an accident 2 years ago. This time, I forgot my book in the bathroom of a gas station, and had to turn back, which wasted at least 15 minutes.

2008.8.10-11. Grand Valley at Olympic National Park. Immense beauty: profusion of colors, towering peaks, countless deer, grouse, whistler and fat marmot.

8.9. Saturday afternoon, 2 hr wait at Kingston Ferry. Picked up a bear canister at the Visitor Information Center, camped at Heart O'the Hills next to the park entrance.

8.10. Grand Pass Trail: start at Obstruction Point (8 miles scenic gravel road, 6200 ft) off Hurricane Ridge. First mile along the crest of Lillian Ridge is grand, then steep decent to the floor of Grand Valley. At 3.5 mile is the junction (5000 ft) to Grand Lake. Straight 0.5 mile to Moose Lake (5100 ft), secured a perfect spot for the tent, on a little buff by the lake. Some mosquitoes.
After dropping off the load, continue 2.5 miles over flowering fields and napping marmots, then some lingering ice to Grand Pass (6300 ft) and Grand Peak (6701 ft). View from here to Cameron River Vally and beyond is outstanding, albeit the cloudy sky.
Back to the tent, time to relax: loaded the fishing rod (I accidental dropped into the lake, and had to lay my t-shirt and sweater to dry on branches) and entertained the deers by peeing (they just wait next to you impatiently).

8.11. Sunny. Return via Badger Valley Trail in 5.5 miles. Retrace 1 mile to Grand Lake (4750 ft), then descend along Grand Creek to 4000 ft in mundane forest. The trail now picks up through Badger Valley. 2 hrs after the start, a large and beautiful meadow emerges, full of white Cow Parsnip. Couldn't stop long due to the overwhelming mosquitoes. Back to another tiring up stretch (~45 min) of dull forest, finally the most amazing flower display. Elephant Head were at their final glory, but what a glory. Snow melts into waterfalls clinging to the wall, carpets of pink, blue, white and yellow for a mile long. Zigzag up to the grand ridge, and 1 hr later back to the car.
Nothing beats a sweet slice of watermelon and change of saddles, facing the snowy peaks towering the southern horizon. Back to Hurricane ridge for a short stroll, the northern view towards Strait of Juan de Fuca was a sea of cloud. But back down the mountain, all was clear and blue. Monday ferry was such a breeze. Over the blue water, Rainier, Baker and the Olympic Ridges seemed genuinely alluring.

2008.8.8. Verdi's Aida at Seattle Opera.

Aida - Ana Lucrecia García
Radames - Rosario La Spina
Amneris - Margaret Jane Wray
Amonasro - Richard Paul Fink
Conductor - Riccardo Frizza

All great voices (Amonasro is a bit weak in comparison). Chorus is fabulous. A small troupe of dancers did a good job. The trumpet for the grand march was not forceful enough. Dallas Opera's costume is elaborate, San Diego Opera's sets are efficient and elegant except for the floor, which looks like bamboo.

2008.8.2. Company picnic. Was fun. Not as many games as last year.
Vancouver "celebration of lights" fireworks. My bus arrived a little before 9:30pm. By the time I got to English Bay, it was so jam-packed, that squeezing through inflicted many verbal abuses.