2019.6.30. Bandera Mountain

6/30. Sunday. Mostly sunny with looming thunderstorm to the east. Bandera Mountain was my regular July 4th hike before I moved away. Beargrass on the slope is the main attraction. They sure didn't disappoint today. Rainier was mostly buried in clouds. Heard thunder, but rain didn't dump on us. Lots of flowers, from bunch berry and twin flowers along the trail/road, to paintbrush and tiger lily on the beargrass slope.

I didn't expect so many people. On the way out, I counted 122 cars. That was less than when we arrived. Wasted quite some time for parking.

2019.6.22-23 PCTA Trail Skills College at Snoqualmie Pass

Heard about this event at last Trail Skills College in April at Cascade Locks. Signed up on 5/20 for 2 days out of the 3 day event. I emailed the coordinator for a carpool request. After a couple of email exchanges, a week before the event, my email address and carpool request was sent in the last reminder email to all the participants. A few days later, I received one email offering a ride.

5/21, Friday. I met with Derek from Lake Forest Park at 6pm, traffic in Seattle, and more traffic on I-90 10 miles before the pass (due to construction: 2 left lanes were closed), we arrived at the registration tent ~7:40pm! Guye Cabin, property of Washington Alpine Club, is right by the highway, but hidden in the woods, so you don't see it. Parking lot is large enough for a dozen big vehicles. From the front door and up: entry way (2 benches and storage), a bathroom fronted with a ping-pong table, and a shower (works!), kitchen with eating area, boots-off area, library with multiple couches and a ceiling fan, door to the outside deck, family dorm, female dorm, male dorm. There's only one other girl in the female dorm. I dropped my bag on a bed close to the window. There are 16 beds with little room between each, vinyl covered mattress, hooks on top. My roommate, Oceana, is hiking PCT southbound in a week. Went to the kitchen to get some left-over food from the fridge. Not many people stay overnight in the lodge. PCTA employees are staying at the hotels. Some people camped outside (I saw 2 tents). Around 9pm someone brought out 4 pies: marionberry, blueberry, apple, cherry. I stayed in the library until 11pm. I brought a book -- totally unnecessary. The library has a lot of books, most on climbing/hiking.

5/22, Saturday. Up at 6:30am, when breakfast starts. When I went to the kitchen ~7, hot food wasn't yet ready, cereal + mile, coffee and standard crappy lunch bar was laid out. I packed sandwich for lunch. 3 casseroles: egg with ground meat, egg with something else, spinach with potato and cheese (quite good).

7:30 announcement at the fire-ring, and we had a raffle (as usual, I didn't win anything). 4 classes today. My camp-cooking class is small: only 5 students. Many handouts. Tonia, our volunteer instructor, is also in charge of this weekend's meal. I'm surprised to know that this weekend's budget is $20/day/pp. Seems rather high. There's a lot of preparation needed, survey dietary need/allergy, plan out a week long menu, shopping. How to layout the camp, dig a latrine and sump, store food and utensil, washing. Since we were in the kitchen, I ate yesterday's tuna salad for lunch. Sun broke out, and we moved the class outside. We planned a week-long mock menu, discuss the pro and con of each.

We finished before 3pm. Wasted some time contemplating on what to do before the dinner at 6pm. Finally went to Kendall Katwalk trail, without hiking pole, and ~1/3L of water. The trailhead is close by. I started ~3:30pm. Typical to PCT, the trail is well graded, fairly flat. At 2 miles (~45 min), hit the boundary of Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The view opens up a bit, a short boulder field, a lot of bleeding hearts, strong scent of false solomon's seal, even a few trillium. The rocky trail goes slowly down until a small waterfall in 15 min. Soon junction with Commonwealth Basin trail. Keep right. Unfortunately, all in the woods now. Another talus field, back in trees again. Reached a ridge (~4 mile) by 5pm, a couple of small snow patches. Some beargrass. Trail follows the ridge to the left, but too many trees and clouds to see anything interesting. I got bored, and turned around at 5:20pm. Probably 5 miles in, so just 1 mile shy of the catwalk, supposed to have great views on a clear day. No view view on the way back: clouds too thick.

Back at the kitchen at 7pm, leftover shrimp yakisoba (also a gluten free version), miso soup, spinach sesame ball. All quite good. At 7:20, dinner was cleared away. A lady took the whole tray of the gluten free yakisoba home. ~8pm, 5 different ice cream boxes and sugar cones, and leftover pies. I took a shower today, good hot water. Went to bed ~10pm, maybe the last one awake. Still two of us in the female dorm.

5/23, Sunday. Rain at night, light rain in the morning. Breakfast burrito with some leftover. I packed the shrimp yakisoba for lunch. Another morning raffle, in the rain.

My power-brushing class has only 3 students, 4 no-shows. Karen, the photographer, decided to join us. Bigfood Jim (tail name on his 2012 thru-hike) is our instructor, Ray the assistant. We first learned to replace the blade in the entry. Then we drove to Silver Peak TH, less than 6 miles away, but took ~35 minutes. The road is gravel with some rough sections. We had 2 saws, a garden rake, a lopper, 2 pitch forks. We wear head protection with hard mask, ear muffs (too loose, I use soft ear plugs), safety glasses. A harness to hook the saw on. I initially used too much of my arms, as they got sore quickly. The saw works very well. We used other tools to toss the debris we generated off the trail.

We stopped ~1pm, and was the first class who got back. By then, the rain had stopped. I'm actually grateful for the gloomy weather today, otherwise it would be too hot without shade. Waited for Derek's class to finish, and then Danny, who wants a ride to Seattle. Tonia laid out leftovers for us to take. I took more yakisoba and some nuts.

No traffic on I-90 early afternoon. Traffic in downtown Seattle. Danny claimed no cash, so cheated out a free ride. He was heading to downtown for a date with a girl from Internet. We were dropped off at Westlake. I blend well with the homeless crowd with a big backpack :)

2019.6.15-16 Teanaway overnight

6/15, Saturday. Overcast in Seattle, sunny in Teanaway. In fact, it was too sunny. 75°F when we arrived Esmeralda Basin trailhead, around noon. Felt much warmer in the sun. Last Saturday's scramble picked my appetite for flowers in the area. This weekend, we hit the jackpot of Jeffery Shooting Star. The heat deterred me from my original plan: a very aggressive loop linking Earl's Peak and Navaho Peak, considering the trails here are often dry and exposed.

Had lunch at the picnic table, yes, with my umbrella. The trail to Esmeralda Basin is easygoing, except for the first 0.5 mile which is lined with ankle-turning rocks. After the junction with Ingalls Lake trail, the trail gets somewhat lush with a few minor creek crossings. There was a goat hanging out near the junction, just hid when we walked by. The trail was lined with yellow grousel, silvercrown and arnica, lots of penstemon (at least Bush and Cliff). Later buttercup, candytuft and dried glacier lily. Of course, the basin was filled with shooting stars, buttercup. A bit past prime here.

On the way to the Fortune Creek Pass, along the zigzag over the rocky slope, a lot of phlox, Lewsia Columbiana, some Lomatium Cuspidatum and Douglasia Nivalis. Found one small patch of snow and a tent on the little hill just south of the pass. The commanding view is stunning.

Back at the TH around 4:30pm. It was ~80°F. I devoured a watermelon. My partner had blisters on both feet. Skin was rubbed off by tight socks and new boots. After surviving this 7 mile ~1800' trail, donned with new band-aid and old boots, we headed to Bean Creek Basin for a short one nighter with our full packs. Even though only 2.2 mile measured by Caltopo, elevation gain is 1900'. On this hot late afternoon, it was slow going. I was sincerely hoping that the meadow I never heard of until last night was worth our effort.

The short access road (1-1.5 mile) was rough and narrow. I was surprised to see over a dozen cars in the parking lot, and spilled by the road. Being here late has an advantage. Some day hikers already left, leaving a couple of good spots to park. First half a mile (same as Berkley Turnpike Trail) is a logging road. Easy. Now lined with penstemon. The next 1.5 mile goes up along Bean Creek. The crossing of the creek was relatively easy now. You'd see a small waterfall in a small red rock canyon. More arnica, lupine, and balsamroot, some nice scarlet gilia and columbine. The surrounding gets more lush as we went higher. At the next main creek crossing, took the left fork to continue up to Bean Creek Basin. The right fork goes to Earl and Navaho. It's only ~0.5 mile to the basin from here. We began to see pink carpets of shooting stars, in better condition than in Esmeralda Basin.

Alas, we reached the lovely Bean Creek Basin, filled with pink shooting stars. I had never seen so many shooting stars in bloom. It was a difficult decision as which way to walk, so to tramp less on the flowers. Multiple small streams flow in the meadow. Green with pink top layer. As the last ray of sunshine disappearing from the hills across the meadow, the full moon rising, a Grey Partridge walked by with 3 baby chicks trailing behind. What a idyllic place to call home for the night!

6/16, Sunday. The moon was bright all night. Even though the sky was bright at 5:30am, only ~7:40am, our little paradise was filled with sunlight. After breakfast and packed, we took small day packs up north to the ridge. There's a clear trail all the way up, getting steeper and steeper. ~0.5 miles, 800' gain. Green meadow gives away to rocky slope and vegetation change.

Saw some very showy alpine springbeauty, other than the endemic douglasia nivalis. The view once you crest the ridge is fantastic. I wanted to go along the ridge to Earl Peak. We managed to scramble for quite a bit, mainly staying at the south of the ridge. Can see Rainier better here. Maybe we should stay on top of the ridge, but it goes down. The slope got too slippery and steep. Gave up, gingerly scrambled back down to the camp, instead of back-tracking.

Took a siesta at the camp. I finished two old issues of Backpackers magazine. Ate. Hiked out around noon. Now refreshed, I enjoyed the trail better. Took more photos. In an hour, we were back to the car.

Stopped at Cle Elum for gas, 20-30% cheaper than in Seattle. However, I-90 westbound was congested (east of the pass). Didn't see what was the cause.

I sure want to come to this area again, especially this time of the year for another show of shooting stars. I bet Navaho Pass camp is equally pretty. Need to scout other meadows here to call a night without the crowd.

2019.6.14. Seattle Symphony - Till Eulenspiegle

6/14, Friday. Attended another concert of Seattle Symphony, conducted by the departing Ludovic Morlot in his last month of being the artistic director here. Quite a tour de force. Except for the first prelude, all are new to me.

Richard Wagner    Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin
Richard Strauss   Oboe Concerto (Mary Lynch on Oboe)
Claude Debussy    Jeux
Richard Strauss   Till Eulenspiegel

2019.6.8. Miller Peak - Jester - Iron Bear

6/8, Saturday. Partly sunny. 4 of us met at Eastgate PR at 7am, and picked up the 5th at North Bend. We are doing a modified version of Miller Peak Loop in the Teanaway. We start at the Miller Peak / Iron Bear trailhead ~9am, crossed the bridge on Iron Bear trail. Follow for a very short distance along Miller Creek, we climbed straight up the ridge leading to Miller Peak. Only about 10 minutes bushwhacking got us out of most trees. Scramble along the ridge. In less than 30 minutes, we were already trying to negotiate the first rock peak. Easy to get up, harder to come down with slippery side slopes on most of these. After a few small peaks, I followed the trail for less than a mile to the 6400-foot summit of Miller. Along the way, flowers galore.
Notably along rocky ridges' arid slopes, a variety of flowers unknown to me, including this puffy one.. A lot of buckwheat of different colors, balsamroot, lomatium, lupine (a couple of them very purple), different penstemons, some Death Camas, Jacob's Ladder, Lewisia Rediviva, maybe Lewisia Columbiana, a couple of Scarlet Gilia. Maybe saw one Henderson's Fawn Lily. Douglasia Nivalis is the highlight today, endemic to Wenatchee mountains. Many of these little peaks we embarked on have sweeping view of the surroundings: Stuart, Enchantments, Rainier, Adams, Goat Rocks, logging roads and clear cuts. Soon we were hearing and then seeing ATVs. We also walked by or on a couple of ant hills.

Finally our ridge scramble intersects Miller Peak trail, so I took it all the way, maybe ~1 mile. Much easier, but no more solitude. At Miller Peak, a guy with ham radio was broadcasting loudly non-stop. A lot of people here, a few trail runners. Storm was looming close by, and some hail landed on us. Chilly. Elevation ~6400'. An hour long lunch break, partly waiting for Papermoon and Stephanie. Papermoon and Lesley brought some stuff animals, and here they are in the photo.

We scrambled down east (was steep and loose) and then south along the ridge separating Chelan and Kittitas Counties. There's a County Line trail, and some logging road, which we took from time to time. Only one short stretch (on the trail) was steep. About 2.5mi, we are below the unmarked, flattish and more meadowy 5510-foot Jester Mountain. The clouds also cleared up in the 2.5 miles. Found a geocache tube here. There were still 2 small snow patches, can make a good camp area before they disappear. Underwhelming. View is half obscured by trees.

Next, a short step to the SW (still atop the ridge) landed us on Iron Bear. It's more rocky, so better view. We met Hillary from Leavenworth who id-ed some flowers for me, including Douglasia Nivalis. She's going to camp tonight all by herself and her quiet dog.

To descend, we scramble down the western ridge of Iron Bear, to the confluence of the north and south forks of Bear Creek. Just below Iron Bear, on the slippery slope, I saw a couple of small dark red lomatium, could be Lomatium Cuspidatum. There was also a small lovely meadow. Quite a long steep descent, often on loose sand or rocks. Had to wait for Stephanie multiple times. Then in the trees bushwhacking. Good way of getting ticks. Once on the trail, it's an easy 1-1.5 mile out. Encountered ATV riders again. Reached the trailhead shortly after 7pm.

The group decided to dine at a Mexican restaurant in Cle Elum and drink magarita. We were back to Eastgate PR shortly before 10pm, but I had to wait 40 minutes for bus 554 to Seattle, as it runs only once an hour in the evening.

2019.6.1-2. Summerland, Mt. Rainier

6/1, Saturday, partly sunny. Lazy morning. Left for Mount Rainier not much before noon. Thanks to a last minute cancellation, just as the lady at the wilderness center was looking for availability, we got a backcountry camping permit at Summerland. Lots of climbers for Little Tahoma, which goes by Summerland. It's about 4 miles in. Saw a few groups hiking out, most carried their skis. Intermittent snow on trail up to the bridge, then solid snow all the way. There was a bear and her cub about 2 miles in, unfortunately we didn't see them. The view really opens up after the bridge.

Pitched the tent above Summerland. Set out my chair, but my weight on the chair legs punched the snow down, so it was too low. Probably won't take it out to snow, instead sitting on the backpack is better. Lazied around, enjoyed the view from this splendid location. Only saw one tent lower at Summerland proper. It has 5 sites and 1 group site. Not sure where were those people. After dinner, I hiked up higher for sunset. Not enough cloud to make the sunset red. Stars were brilliant at night, no moon. Not very cold, however, sleeping on the snow made my back cold. Should have blown the mattress more.

6/2, Sunday, Sunny. Lazy morning. Laid out tent and socks on trees to dry. Not much condensation. Saw a blackish marten-lookalike (maybe a fisher) running around in the snow. Went to check him out, and sure he disappeared before we reached him.

After an early lunch, we packed up and hiked towards Goat Island Mountain. Saw more skiers coming. Dropped the packs on the way. Arrived at the rocky ridge facing Mt Rainier, without not a sole around. Few little waterfalls melting from the snowy scary face. Absolutely gorgeous. Very pleasant temperature. Didn't want to leave.

Picked up our packs and hiked back to the car. Saw more hikers coming. Uneventful driving home. Not much traffic today.