2014.8.30-31 West Vancouver

Visiting relative during Labor Day weekend. I went up to Cypress Mt twice (with different relatives), picking huckleberries and hiked to quite a few small lakes. Drizzle on Saturday. The short hikes don't get much view. Tons of berries. One working crew later told me that we were not supposed to pick any in class A provincial parks. But I saw many people bringing buckets to pick, and seems that they come often. No where on any posts in the park, or Website mentions about this. So, don't know. The view points along the drive is quite lovely.

Visited WhyteCliff Park. Fun trying to walk over to the little island, without getting wet. Saw one family of 5 going all the way: the mother wearing flip-flop, and carrying her small daughter over these boulders. Great view of the Sound, if not a bit low.

2014.8.28 Waterfront Concert

8/28 Thursday. Oregon Symphony free waterfront concert starts quite early in the afternoon by other perfomance groups. I didn't get there until after the intermission. Surprised to see tanks and cannons, because I didn't read the program. They came in handy in the finale: 1812 Overture. The sound quality is pretty bad, being open air. But the real cannon fire makes it up. The Pas de Deux by 2 Oregon Ballet dancers up close was quite nice. One of former mayor, who was a trombone player, conducted one piece. The fireworks immediately followed the musical program. A bit thin, but shined the night sky and Willamette river for a good 10+ minutes.

2014.8.25. Ecola State Park

Monday. Left work at 2:30pm, picked up my nephew, food and my neighbor, we went to the coast for a picnic and sunset.

First stop: Tillamook Cheese Factory. ~1.5 hour drive. Lots of people, big parking lot. Big factory machine. You can see the conveying belt, but everything is in giant stainless steel barrels. Of course, we stopped for ice cream. I lined up buying the ticket, while the other two sampled ice cream flavors. Cell signal weak in the factory.

2nd stop: Blue Heron Cheese Factory, almost next door. Much smaller, no view of any cheese making. It's really a store. Only about 5 brie cheese to taste, and you have to ask the girl to cut a slice. Quite some jams and sauce to try, most are not made by Blue Heron. I bought a small bottle of Walnut Fig jam for dad. $8.

3rd stop: Ecola State Park, my favorite park on the coast. ~1 hour drive along the coast. Ate, walked on the "closed" short trail. Finally we decided to walk to Crescent Beach. My neighbor is old and just had a hip surgery, so couldn't keep up. The trail is short: 1.25 miles one way, but rather steep when close to the beach. A short ladder helps you go down. Only the two of us. Thick clouds formed a blanket just above the water. No real sunset. But still lovely.

2014.8.22-24 Snowgrass Flat at Goat Rocks Wilderness

Friday. Drove 4 hours, including 1 hour on the 16 mile gravel road following the signs (the sign says 20 miles) to Snowgrass Flats trailhead south of Packwood. Large parking lot. All but ours are SUVs. We hit the junction to Berry Patch trailhead quickly. Ignore that, continue Snowgrass trail (#96) 3.6 mi to the junction with Bypass Trail (#97). Instead of turning left heading uphill to the Flats, stay straight, passing a creek (over small logs or rocks). It started raining in earnest. I decided to stop at Bypass Camp: a good size camping area in the woods next to a small lupine + huckleberry meadow with a stream (not far from the creek). A group of 3 friends from Olympia (yes, work for the state government) scattered their tents in the area. We asked for their consent, of course. Setting up tent in the rain is a bad idea. Got everything wet. I had my nephew change into dry clothes in the tent and stay inside. Katie came and invited us to their camp fire, which I happily complied. They roasted hot dogs! My nephew had a couple. We swapped some other food items. I'm mostly impressed with the aluminum saw Evan brought. It's large and lightweight. Despite the pouring rain, they kept the fire going. Rain tapered off after 10pm, but we chatted until midnight. Very nice people. Bright stars amidst dark tree branches. Cold night.

Day 2 - Got up to make breakfast. Soon John rose and started fire with wet logs. I don't know how they do that. My nephew sat by the fire, while I packed. We continued on the Bypass Trail until hitting PCT. Turn left (north) on PCT, to steadily increasing views. Settled off PCT at the next major trail junction. Sunny, very few clouds. This time, I showed my nephew how to setup a tent. Then I went down ~10-15 minutes to fetch water in a tiny stream. The view here is great: Adams and St Helen to the south, and grassy meadow all around, now full of white bistorts and pearl everlasting. Not much red or blue. Lupine is mostly in seed. I laid our wet stuff on rocks under the sun.

After some rest, we headed north on PCT with just a day pack. Grass soon turns to rock and snow. Clouds move in, but still sunny enough and not cold even on snow patches. A large crew of elderly people were doing trail work here. My nephew stopped at the junction of two PCT alternatives (he took a nap!). View is splendid. Goat Lake, Mt Rainier, a beautiful basin with some sheep looking white dots. I continued on the leveled trail to the next junction to see McCaw Basin. Equally beautiful, and you can see both! On the way back, I decided to take the original PCT (not a good idea). It goes up on a razor edge of rocks, and continued up more rocks. When I saw the down slope, I was already half way to Old Snowy. So, Old Snowy I went. ~6,400 ft. More rocky and snowy on the east side, somewhat bleak. But the view of Gilbert Peak and Ives Peak is quite nice. Of course, once you reached the top (hands come in handy: I left my poles somewhere lower), it's a 360° view + an animal skull. Too bad, so much clouds, that Mt Rainier can be only seen its bottom.

It started raining on our way down, and then it hailed, for at least an hour! The rain continued off and on till ~6pm. My stuff got wet again. My nephew crawled into the tent, changed to dry clothes and stayed there. He ate his dinner in the tent, even though I had been telling him NO food inside tent. Around 7:30pm, I made him come out of the tent. With all the clouds, sunset was quite colorful, but not good for stars. I need to come back on on a clear night, maybe a week earlier for the flowers.

Day 3 - sunrise is too early for kids. I enjoyed it very much, even though too many clouds. We packed up, and down along PCT all the way to Cispus Basin. Another lovely basin - my nephew's favorite of this weekend. It's a flat 1 mile from the junction, if not less. Green, waterfall. We picked up our packs at the junction, backtraced all the way, and arrived at the car ~2pm. Uneventful driving back to Portland, except that it rained for a couple of hours: that's a weekend forecasted sunny on NOAA!

This is my nephew's very first backpack trip. Despite the rain and thin sleeping bags, he said he would come again if the weather is better. I'm very glad.

We stopped at International Rose Test Garden before going home. To my surprise, still so many roses. Lovely!

2014.8.16-17 Jefferson Park overnight

Saturday, 8/16, 6 of us drove through clouds, but arrived at the busy (~50 cars) Whitewater Trailhead in the sun at ~11am. Stopped by Droit ranger station: closed for weekends and holidays (why? defeats common sense).

Easy grade through old-growth forest. At 1.5 miles turn right (or rather go straight) at the junction. A wooden sign for Whitewater Trailhead. The trail becomes more rocky and dusty from this point, but not bad. There will be views to Mount Jefferson from to time and pockets of flowering meadows. At mile 4.0 there's Whitewater Creek crossing - your first water source. Right now, it's passable by all. ~0.2 miles later, turn left at PCT junction, which crosses 2 small creeks on a bridge and a couple small meadows. Soon the trail levels (or slightly lowers) when enter Jefferson Park, and a couple of rangers there to prevent you from taking short cuts. There're myriads of small paths, leading to a campsite, or nowhere. My original plan of Bays Lake is fully occupied. It's lovely. Maybe on a weekday. Now it's too crowded. Finding a campsite big enough for 6 tents is a challenge. I went around a couple of lakes, eventually claimed the middle of the 3 sites on the southern shore of Russell Lake by scattering my stuff there. It took some persuasion to move the others, as 2 of them had already set up their tents. From Scout Lake (the first one you encounter), Russell Lake is ~0.8 mile north on PCT. There's only 1 site on its northern shore, and I was just 10 seconds late for it. I'm quite happy with my choice, view of the water and Mt Jefferson, just not at the same side. By then, it's past 4pm. At about 7:30pm, Veda agreed to go to the northern shore to see sunset.

We had an unhappy episode of snoring vs. complaint around midnight. A surprise when you go camping with strangers.

Sunday, I woke up Jennifer and Veda at 5:50am, and walked again to the northern shore to see sunrise. The same guys with tripod last night were there too at the same spots!

After a slow breakfast, 2 of us went home. The rest hiked up with me to Park Ridge along PCT. It's definitely worth the trip. Only ~2 miles to the top of the trail. Great view and more meadows. Some snow too. View Hood to the north, and Russell Lake + Jefferson to the south. Met a girl PCT through hiker doing south-bound solo. What a courage. A couple who just turned 30 the previous day going north bound. The girl was on the trail for 4 months by now. The guy joined her 2 months ago. I offered them some fruit peel, and was happy that they accepted. All 3 of them seem to carry less weight than my backpack for 1-night! Uneventful getting back to camp. The ladies decided to cook for lunch! We then hiked out.

Total ~15 miles for 2 days, ~2500' gain/loss. An easy weekend. Flowers are on their last legs. Quite some huckleberries to pick. For other hikes in the area, click here.

Direction: Highway 22 east of Salem at milepost ~60, go left on Forest Road 2243 (Whitewater Road) for ~7.5 miles to its end. Pit toilet, a picnic table, a trash can.

2014.8.10. Summerland at Mt Rainier

8/10 Sunday, warm, sunny. My favorite hike in Mt. Rainer is Summerland - Panhandle Gap - Indian Bar, with 1-2 night backpack. For today, I'm perfectly happy to be just in Summerland, even though it's as crowded as ever. 8.6 mile RT, 2000' elevation gain/loss.

Much nicer trail compared to yesterday, smooth and gentle. Frying Pan creek is nice too. Lots of mountain asters before reaching the big bridge. Lupines are already seeding. Heathers and monkey flowers are painting patches of pink. Mt. Rainier looms close enough to see cravasses. I dipped my towel in the creek, and then put it on my head, so I could sustain the toasting sun. The view is too good to hide in the shade.

Stopped at Packwood for beer. A few deer hanging out right by Hwy 12 in town in broad daylight. 4 hours drive to home :(

2014.8.9. Enchantment Lakes through hike

Saturday, sunny and a bit hazy. Enchantment Lakes one way hike. Started hiking at 7:40am, finished at 9:20pm. Total ~19 miles, 4400' gain, 6000' loss. As beautiful and as crowded as I remembered. I still like the golden fall color better.

Friday, 3 of us drove 300 miles to Eightmile Campground on Icicle Creek road, passed many dry landscapes, wind turbines, and smokes (too dry and hot: fire!). It's only a mile or 2 past Snow Lake TH, but it was full when we arrived at ~6:30pm, even though the sign at the entrance said "campsite available". The next campground is a small campground next to Icicle Creek, right after turning left on the gravel 7601. Each site reasonably big, but not isolated from each other. Only 5 sites. After crossing a bridge, a narrow short spur goes down left to a camping area. Flat and big enough. No water, no toilet. Walkable distance to the previous campground for water and toilet. There's a small hill, with additional space for 2 tents and a cooking space, where you can get a bit of cell signal. I was able to send out a couple of txt only when standing on a rock, but couldn't receive any. Had to coordinate with the 4th guy who left work late.

Saturday, 6:40am, we picked up our 4th guy at Snow Lake trailhead, drove on 7601 for ~5 miles to Stuart Lake trailhead. To Colchuck Lake is straightforward. At 2.5 miles, take left at the trail junction (clear sign) over a foot bridge and take an immediate right after the bridge. A few boulders, then forest. Easy grade, but soon deteriorate. 1.6 miles later, you see the beautiful green-blue Colchuck Lake. Quite a few campsites around the lake, which create misleading trails. At one point, retracing my steps back to the main trail, I stepped on a loose rock and fell, got 3 bleeding spots on my hands, and a scratch on my leg. Once circled half of the lake (~1 mile) to the other side, you are in front of the Aasgard Pass scramble: a rock chute with water running down, 2300' in 3/4 miles. Stay mostly at the left of the rock pile. Steep alright, but not as difficult as in earlier or later season when it's icy.

A goat as we cross the snow on the pass. A blue tarn under sharp teeth rock face. We had lunch in front of the double Tranquil Lakes, with the company of a goat. As we moved down to mid basin, more trees and grasses, blue-green lakes. Creeks crisscross. Goats waiting outside of toilet. Tents here and there. Trail runners. Vivian Lake is the last. Coming down isn't easy, nor terribly difficult. Some rebars were nailed into granite slabs to help the traction. Elevation drops quickly.

Snow Lake is big, looks like two lakes with a low concrete dam between and lots of dead logs. This 1.5 mile is rather flat. Lots of campsites. Then the trail zigzags down to Nada Lake. In between, water was shooting up. A break in the dam? Controlled water flow? Saw 2 grouses. Down from Nada Lake was accompanied by many ripen thimbleberries (tasty), otherwise tedious, by then, it was almost dark. After crossing the last big bridge, go up left for the parking lot. We all missed it in the dark and went by some house and to the road.

Pizza and beer in Leavenworth. Crashed into B.G.'s cabin. A shower felt quite refreshing. Re-bandaided my bloody knuckles.

2914.8.2-3 Tatoosh Ridge

Saturday August 2nd. Didn't have to get up early for this hike. After 1 gas stop on I5, 1 sandwich stop at IGA at Packwood, and 7 slow gravel miles (at the turn, watch for the sign for Tatoosh Ridge), we didn't start the hike until 12:45. 7-8 cars already parked at the trailhead - with an obvious sign and a box for wilderness permit. The WTA guide is misleading in a couple of places, made me wonder if the author visited this trail recently.

The first 2.5 miles is a steady upslope, gaining over 2500'. Air was still and sultry. It rained earlier, you could still smell it in the air. The reward comes in less an hour: flowering slopes in small doses, with view of trail on distant green slopes tainted yellow. Sometimes, can see the tip of St Helen, very faint: too hazy. More flowers as we went higher on the slope, and the flowers never stopped. Few zigzags crossed a small creek to wash sweat off. A couple trail junctions to ignore, one with a sign nailed on a tree after you walk on it, past a tent site: abandoned trail. Do NOT turn until you see the official wooden trail junction post. We took the left fork UP towards the lake. It's a short walk to a saddle. As soon as you reach here, you see the north side: Mount Rainier takes up 1/3 of the view. Absolutely beautiful. I immediately renounced my plan for a 2nd hike the next day, so I could stay here longer. We took 2 nice camp sites on the ridge left of the saddle, each with its own semi-privacy. Small but adequate sites: my pegs were pounded on the path. Many more campsites lower at the plateau still with snow patches. We simply sat at the ridge for over an hour, drank a can of beer and drank in the view as in the above photo.

At 5ish, I said I'm ready to check out the lakes. Due to the snow, we couldn't find the proper trail. All seem to lead to a camp site. So I started bushwhacking down a stream bed, until it became a small waterfall. We then slowly moved down a flowering slope. The plants were thick even though the ground is almost sandy. I couldn't see where my front foot was landing. That 500' hike is somewhat difficult, but we made to the lakes. First a small pond, its water perfectly still like a mirror. Then a bigger pond surrounded by steep slopes streaked with snow. Quite pretty. The water is clear and cool. Because a stream was rushing into it, reflection isn't good. The lakes are buggy like hell. I gave up my plan of getting into the water. We walked back up, now on the proper trail. Steep, but no longer difficult. Lots of avalanche lilies.

Ate dinner at the saddle, overseeing all other tents: at least 4 groups, only one group has multiple tents. Patiently waited for the sunset. Heard thunderstorm just east of us. I had to put my fleece on.

Sunday. Got up at 5:30. Could hear flies/bees buzzing around my tent. They are big. Watched the sun rise. ~6:30, we headed back to the trail junction, and turned left, continued south towards the ridge. It was cool, and we were in the shade. Millions of flowers, miles long, more or less leveled. Passed another tent site next to the trail. At some parts, the trail was a bit rocky and slippery (sandy). A few turns. After 1.5 miles, getting into a bit woody, there, a trail sharp left headed up a gentle slope. Here's what heaven should look like: views on both sides, endless of flowers, a few snow patches to the east (I filled my water bottle), Mt Adams to the south, Goat Rocks, layers of green ridges, a green basin below. At the top is the remnant of a lookout, with 3 posts, a geological survey bottle, melted(?) glasses, a cloud of bees circling a short pinetree, and... Mt Rainier. A few snow patches showing shallow blue water. We sat there for a long time. Not a sole in sight. What a view!

On the way back, we were in full sun. Flowers are more colorful. There's a 4 way junction which we didn't explorer earlier. Now, I took the side trail (right) going up an unknown peak, and the other side is short. Somewhat steep. At the top, I could see the lakes below and Rainier in front.

Back to the camp, packed, and headed out ~12:50pm. Uneventful. Total, encountered ~15 people, 2 dogs today, and about the same on Saturday.

An absolutely beautiful weekend.