2010.7.24. New York in 12 hours

Landed at JFK at 6am. Took the Airtrain + subway E to Guggenheim Museum which opens at 10am. Bought a pastry recommended by the cashier at Le Pain Quotitien (didn't know it was a franchise), and went to wait in the leafy Central Park. 8:45am at least 85°F, the park was busy with hundreds of joggers / bikers / rollers, and free hand operated bikes for handicapped (every weekend, I was told). Drinking fountain and benches near the 90th St entrance. At least here, New York city is humane and lovely (except for the heat).

Tried unsuccessfully to nap on one of the many benches along 5th ave. A long line formed in front of the museum by 10am. More than half foreigners. $18/15 is hefty for such a small exhibition. By noon, I was outside trying to resume my nap. The building itself is more interesting than what's on the walls (currently modern photographs and videos, mostly senseless). Only its Thannhauser Collection is worth some time. The two small exhibitions drawn from the permanent collection: Broken Forms and Geometry of Kandinsky and Malevich, are not too bad. The circular exhibition space allows continuous viewing. Not enough restrooms, each accommodates only one (big enough to be wheelchair accessible). Not enough benches. The complementary audio guide is sub-par (slow to load, and not mediocre content).

My uncle was able to find a parking spot right outside of the entrance. We went to lunch at Ze Cafe upon my request. I found it on Yelp, rated top one for brunch. The food is not as impressive as the premise: a small brick house tucked between two handsome grand buildings, sky light shines on center table laden with viennoises and flowers, walls adorned with little trees. The interior looks like a court yard. Well prepared dishes, pricey, small portion. I am very glad to see him well and chatted about our relatives. It's been over 5 years since we last met.

The purpose of this trip is J.C.'s funeral. Signed my name. Brought a bouquet of white lilies and roses. The wife and son were surprised to see me. Met one other person I know (who kindly shared these photos). Helped to put up some of J.C.'s photos on the wall. It's nice to see that everyone was in good spirit, after a long battle with cancer. I left at 3:50 before most people showed up.

I got a little disoriented trying to locate the subway station. After seeking answers from 3 people in vain, I talked to a police, who also didn't know where the station was, but at least know where the street was. Amazing! After 15 minutes' walk, I was drenched in sweat. Luckily my train changed its route so I didn't need to change trains. Arrived at JFK at 5:15pm. The plane left the gate promptly, then sat on the runway for an hour, causing delay of subsequent flights. Arrived in Seattle in time for the last Light Rail train. Got home ~1am, exhausted.

New York has an efficient and frequent public transit system. However, both trains I took changed their routes. So pay attention to what the conductor says. MTA's Trip Planner is extremely helpful. Subway trains have AC, but not the stations (very stuffy without any ventilation). $2.25 per ride. $8 for 4. Airtrain $5. Parking is not difficult to find in uptown and even midtown. $2.5 per hour. Avoid JFK if possible.

2010.7.17. Esmeralda Basin

A warm sunny Saturday. Way too many cars and people for the good sized parking lot, equipped with 2 honey buckets and 1 dry toilet. Nice flowers along the drive and almost all the way along the Esmeralda Basin trail. But nothing like a carpet. Starting from smelly Ceanothus, Lupines, Strawberry, Columbine and Manzanita, then Scarlet Gilia, Jeffery Shooting Starts, pink and white Paintbrushes, even a few Glacier Lily. Good view of the southern mountain range. The best is at ~3.1 miles from trailhead by a small creek, filled with blue Jeffry shooting starts. Trees are not dense (impossible to find a secluded spot) in the lower elevation. Dry and exposed later.

At 3.5 miles reached the barren Fortune Creek Pass with good views and a good camp site.
A bit before the creek, County Line trail #1226.2 climbs north to another meadow and more camp sites. Then steep and loose rock. Mt. Rainier started to show up. Eventually 700' higher to a grand pass (6400') above tiny ugly Lake Ann. The 360%#176; view is well worth the sweat.

Exit #85 of I-90. SR 970 north to Teanaway Road (0.5 mile north of Teanaway River bridge). Veer right, follow North Fork Teanaway Road to 29 Pines Campground where the pavement ends. Take the right fork, FR 9737, 10 miles to its end.

I went to this hike with a meetup group, total 13 people. Lots of waiting around (at least an hour wasted). Some are nice, some silly. Overall a good way to get out without a car.

2010.7.11 Mt Jupiter

Clouds were low and thick today. From the Mt. Jupiter trail head, looking south to the Duckabush valley, only one hill had its head barely out of the clouds, looking like a small green island. Simply lovely. Brothers can been seen here, all the way till the end. Brothers were named after Arthur and Edward Fauntleroy in 1856 by a pioneer US coastal surveyor George Davidson.

14 miles RT. Starting elevation 2000 ft. The first 0.4 mile is up a logged slope, no shade, reach the ridge line ~2600 ft. Then the slope levels off, ups and downs, in the woods. At about half way, a rock formation outside of the woods offering a perfect snack stop with clear view. Wild rhododendron were flowering, covering the entire slope sometimes. Bunch Berry flower, Tiger Lily, Columbine, then, Paintbrush, Lupine, Phlox and Penstimon. At the very top, Heathers. Upon entering The Brothers Wilderness at 5.5 miles (elev. ~ 4000 ft), the trail goes up relentlessly. Soon above the treeline. Dry and open, loose rocks at times. HOT! Luckily still some small patches of snow in the last mile (shall be gone in a week). The 5701-foot sunny summit is at the end of 7.2 long miles. 360° view: the entire eastern peaks of the Olympics: Mount Constance (a Fauntleroy sister) and The Brothers. East across the sound, the tiny Seattle cityscape. Beyond, poking out of the clouds: Mt Rainier, and the faint Mt Adams. The fog started to dissipate around noon. Can see (definitely hear) the Duckabush river. Dosewallips valley to the north, Jupiter Lake directly below.

Started at trail head ~9:30am, reached the top ~1:40pm. Turned back at 2:15, reached the car at 5:30. Total 8 day hikers, 7 backpackers this Sunday. White daisy covered both sides of the road.

On US 101, 13.5 miles south of Quilcene (2.5 miles south of Dosewallips State Park entrance) or ~22 miles north of Hoodsport (0.8 miles north of Duckabush River bridge). Turn west to Mount Jupiter Road, 3.5 miles later, take the left fork for 3 miles. Road impassable for front-wheel drive car. I was too slow to catch other hikers for a ride back. Had to walk an extra 30 minutes to the car.

2010.7.10. Blanca Lake

. A hot weekend. Temperature over 80°F.

My 3rd to Blanca Lake. At the top of the trail, Glacier Peak can been seen to the south. Temperature was much lower here due to the snow. The normally mosquito infested little pond, Virgin Lake, was still covered with half melted snow. A bit red hue. With snow covering the top, and foot prints going to all directions, it took a group effort to find the right way: need to walk north of the lake. Just 3 days previously, the surface was still half covered with snow. Now all melted except a little bit along the edge. Still utterly beautiful. A distinct powdery emerald color.

7 miles R/T, 2700 ft gain in the first 3 miles, 500 ft drop to lake. We had an early start: arrived at the trail head ~ 9:30am, chilly, however the snow consumed at least an hour. Back at trail head ~4:30pm. 74°F. Back in the city ~7pm, 83°F.

US 2, ~ milepost 50 (east of Skykomish). North on Beckler Road #65 for 15 miles. Right on FS Road #63 for 1.8 miles.

See earlier posts on this trail: 2006/7/16, 2005/7/3.

2010.7.5. Bandera

I've been hiking Bandera Mt. around 7/4 for a few years. I never hiked to the end of the trail. Always up to the ridge where I could see Mason Lake. But not today. Foggy and chilly. Dew formed on my hair. Couldn't see half of the slope. The flowers are just coming, needs at least a week, maybe 2, of high heat. This spring has been colder than normal. As soon as we returned to Seattle, sunny & blue sky.

Starting tomorrow, we'll have a heat wave, surpassing 30°C on Thursday.

2010.7.4. Fireworks

Rain. Had 6 guests over for dinner and then watched fireworks on the roof of my building. Started at 10:15. Fortunately, by then, it was no longer raining. The wind was blowing south, half of the show was blocked by the smoke.