2020.3.29. Kerry Park

3/29, Sunday. Weather turned out much better than the forecast. Partly sunny. Walked up to Kerry Park. Quite a few people here. Olympics Mountains are quite clear, but too cloudy to the south. Good view of the city, as always.

2nd ave next to the park has 2 rows of cherry trees. Now full of blossom.

Took Warren Ave up, has 2 short sections of stairs. Only met one person. An good option for exercise. I even sweated a bit. Queen Anne ave has many people, better to avoid. On the way down, I took 1st ave, and this set of winding stairs.

I continued my walk to Trader Joe's for some grocery. A line outside to limit number of shoppers inside the store -- a good idea. But I don't understand why they still have employees stocking the shelves during shopping hours, which was to increase interaction with shoppers -- not a wise policy at this time (update on 4/10: fewer employees inside the store). Still quite crowded, as in any other grocery stores. No self-checkout here.

2020.3.28. Howe Street Stairs

3/28, Saturday. Overcast, sprinkle at times. Heard about Howe Street Stairs from my climbing companion of last weekend. Decided to check it out. It's 2 mile walk there, partly along Lake Union. Spring is really here, flowers are everywhere. South Lake Union park is quite nice. Quite a few walker/joggers outside. On the way back, the fire at a lower Queen Anne building was bellowing smoke badly.

The stairs start from Franklin Ave. The lower section, 116 stairs, under I-5, is more gentle. Small sections of stairs separated by flat transition for rest, or side track. Multiple paths on the sides, which I walked down. Maybe these are meant for dirt bikes or skateboard. Some benches, and picnic tables. Not many people here. One lady doing rounds, wearing long thermal and down vest. I was down to T-shirt after just one round.

Cross Lakeview Blvd, the upper part is a long stretch of 274 stairs, to 10th ave, separated by Broadway. Side trails to homes on both sides, but no other path to go down. Too many people here, both directions. One guy had a baby on his back (his pregnant wife was also walking up/down the stairs), one walking backwards, two jumping 2-3 steps at a time. Some are totally inconsiderate, in this socially-distant era, walking with their partner side by side, crowding the already congested stairs, which are not even 6' wide, let alone people on both directions.

Overall a good workout, with fresh air. I should have brought more weight, and had more battery. Not sure if I will come back here during the COVID-19 spread. Need to look for other slope with less people. Otherwise, the 112 steps in my building provides some exercise, but not good air.

2020.3.22. Kubota Garden

3/22. Sunday. Hazy. Warm. Anticipating further lock down in the imminent future, I took the bus to check out Kubota Garden in south Seattle. Despite of its near hundred year existence, I hadn't heard of it, until recently at an event honoring George Tsutakawa at Seattle Public Library.

The 20 acre garden is not far, but it took me almost an hour to get to. Minor disappointment that there wasn't any flowering cherry tree, or any other flowers really (a few magnolia and camellia). Cherry blossoms are everywhere now in the city, thanks to the warm winter. No rock garden either. Pleasant surprise to see quite a number of ponds, many paths that made the garden feel larger. A hill high enough to have 2 levels of small waterfall. Koi fish, ducks. Quite a few families here enjoying the spring. A couple was taking wedding photos.

King County buses are now free (I paid fare just 2 days ago). Passengers get on/off buses via the back doors, so not to contaminate the driver.

Update: As of March 23rd at 5pm, Governor Inslee has announced that he will sign a statewide Stay-At-Home order. All gatherings are prohibited. All campsites, roofed accommodations and day-use facilities on state land are closed through April 30, 2020.

2020.3.21. Climb Mt. St. Helens

3/20, Friday. Spring equinox. Sunny. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all meetup events are canceled. A few of us who were on this St. Helens climb didn't want to waste such a weather window on a weekend (mostly sunny, wind 5-9mph), arranged offline. 4 of us met at Southcenter ~5:30pm, drove 3 cars to Marble Mount Snow Park. No traffic, thanks to the virus. I was surprised to see so many cars and tents at the parking lot. It was 3/4 full. Quite bustling. There were cars coming well into the night. The new nice-looking NSFS building was closed. I pitched my tent in the woods next to the parking lot, on the snow, with some privacy. There was a hammock nearby. My 3 fellow hikers slept in their cars. We agreed to start at 5am the next day, instead of 1:30am outlined the original meetup.

First time camping this year. Took awhile to set up my asymmetrical tent. It's difficult to stake down in the snow. Should have brought some snow stakes and my closed-foam pad. My back was cold on the "insulated" air mattress alone on snow. Didn't sleep too well, even though the night wasn't cold at all.

3/21, Saturday. Brilliants stars from the parking lot, a good sign. No moon. No one chewed my foot that was left outside by a tree. I had to get up very early to pack up and eat. A short line at the registration booth. Since it's my 6th climb, they made me the hike leader on the climbing permit. We put on spikes/crampons at the TH. Started shortly before 5:30am. The trail was compact snow. Didn't really need any traction device. Head lamp, yes!

We were very slow. By the time we reached this sign, the sun was already high. I realized that I left sunscreen in my backpack (not day pack). Changed to sun hat, and sunglasses, pulled up neck gaitor to cover my lower face (but had to leave my nose out, so not to fog up the sunglasses). It was warm. I stripped down to base layer. Long sleeves to protect from the sun. While waiting for the others, I also put crampons on, which is not a good idea. They are heavy, and my boots weren't tight enough, rubbing the back of my feet. Fortunately, one of us was so slow, that I didn't develop any blisters. We were starting to meet climbers coming down, already.

Another beautiful blue bird day. At least 200 hikers on the slope. This year, somehow people didn't go straight up the top slope, but zigzaging to the left (W). At the last turn, I decided to go straight to the rim, rather than turning right to the lower rim where everyone else was going. Had to break track, the ground was a bit crunchy (more ice). All of us had crampons on, they decided to follow me. After just 5 minutes, Eugene wasn't comfortable with the terrain. His snowboard was catching the northern wind, not hard, (maybe 10mph), but enough force to push him downhill. So he returned to the main track with everyone else. The rest 3 of us, continued straight up. Reached the rim ~11:30pm. Photo and snack. I love this view from the rim. Today, sea of clouds to the west, clear all other directions: Rainier to the north, Goat Rocks NE, Adams, Hood and Jefferson can be seen all the way up here. I think I might have seen Mt Washington and the Sisters (need binocular to make sure). The bulge in the crater was steaming.

Once everyone was rested, we continued west along the rim, down and back up to the true summit. Some beautiful snow sculptures along the way. Very few climbers come all this way (~10%). Lunch time, more photos. We didn't go down until ~1pm. Retraced our track to the lower part of the rim, then I decided to go straight down, instead of going back to the main trail along the rim before going down, which involves 2 uphills. My 2 fellow hikers agreed to follow me. Again, we broke a new track. A little icy at points. Steep sometimes, but nothing bad. With crampons, we didn't have any problems. Once we joined the main trail, we looked for butt tracks to glisade. Snow was a bit sticky in the afternoon sun. Couldn't slide too fast nor long. Safer this way. Had a couple of very fun runs. On the way down, I met Sam from my last St. Helens' climb. He drove here alone. There were still people coming up, this late. Could be ~300 climbers today.

Signed out ~4:30pm. Much slower than I expected. Took me at least 5 minutes to find my permit entry flipping pages. After one gas stop, txt to Eugene, and to report our safety to the meetup owner, I was dropped off at my building ~8:30pm.

Had a fabulous time, especially making my own tracks. Also glad to see folks coming out to enjoy the nature without fear of the ongoing virus. 33K steps. Bruised butt and ruined pants! Sunburned nose, forehead and part of my cheeks.

2020.3.17. St. Patrick Day decoration

Walked by this front lawn a couple of days after St. Patrick's Day in a quiet Seattle neighborhood.

2020.3.15. Teanaway Butte snowshoe

3/15, Sunday. Forecast sunny, looked through WTA's recent trip reports and picked Teanaway Butte. However, the east side of the Cascades had unusually more clouds than the west side.

Following the instruction of the trip report, parked the car at the end of plowed Middle Fork Teanaway Road, near the last house. There were 2 other cars. Walked the 0.8 mile on the compact snow to the junction of FS road 230. There was one car parked here. "No unauthorized vehicle". We followed clear boot track all the way to the Butte, mostly along dirt roads covered with snow. A few stretches were sandy yellow dirt. Incline is gentle, and sometimes flat. Warm under the sun, chilly if a bit of breeze. Burnt forest. Saw a black and white woodpecker, a group of 2 girls. Open view to the south, which was rather cloudy. This goes on for ~4 miles.

At the last ~half mile, the trail bends west, north of a small butte. More snow here. Put on snowshoes. View to the north is grand, even through trees. Met a couple. The last 200' is steep, and little icy. If your snowshoes don't have side walls, better take them off. Found some building foundation at the top. Relished the 360° view and solitude here. Rainier was cloudy. Many peaks to the north, including Ingalls and Stuart.

On the way back, after ~3 miles, took the yellow trail on my GPS map down (see screenshot. The entire pink route was well-beaten. We saw only one side track to the east, probably to Jungle Creek TH). Couldn't see any track or trail on the ground. Muddy at times. Shorter, less winding. Ended on the road just west of Indian Camp campground, 5 minute walk past the junction to FS 230.

On the drive out, at the junction of West and North Fork Teanaway, saw 5 elks (only 1 bull) at the front lawn of this house.
Further out on Teanaway Road, saw a group of ~20 turkeys by the road, walking into the fenced woods. What a day!

Scratched the car at Cle Elum before getting on I-90:( Sunset over Snoqualmie Pass was quite pretty.

Total about 10.5 miles, 2650' EG. 29K steps.

2020.3.8 August Wilson's Jitney

3/8, Sunday, 7:30pm. Day light saving time started today. So it was still light out when I walked to the theathre. Surprised to see so many people brave the novel corona virus at Seattle Rep's production of Jitney today. Maybe 80% full. Great stage set. This is a long play (2.5 hours) with one intermission, which can be inserted anywhere. Many little acts of a different time frame at the office of this "car service" in a neighborhood that's about to be torn down. You see the 6 cab drivers (including the boss) and their lives through the conversation. A young couple, age conflict, father-son reunion, office gossip, ... Regular life. Well acted and put together.

Up to 5 minutes before the show, when I read the program, I didn't know what a jitney is. I had hard time understanding the words, because the way the actors speak. As time went on, I got used to it, and beginning to like the play. Overall, I enjoy the play. I really like the ending.

Part of August Wilson's American Century, 10 plays show cased the African American life, all but one set in Pittsburgh's predominantly black Hill District. Jitney is my first encounter. Looking forward to seeing the others.

On the way back, took this photo of the Space Needle.

2020.3.1. Mailbox Peak - the new trail

3/1. Sunday. 10 of us met at Issaquah TC at 7am for Mailbox Peak. Took the newly constructed trail up to . Last time, when I did this peak almost 10 years ago, it was only one very steep trail. I don't remember much. This new trail is quite gradual, so almost 2 miles longer each way. Saw a deer by the trail today. Yes, the last half mile or so is the same, going straight up (gaining 960'). We all used micro-spikes. Snow is packed down, but on such a steep hill, going down requires a bit caution.

A bit too cloudy today. Luckily, no wind. It wasn't cold. But we waited long enough for the last person to reach the summit, so I had to put on 2 more layers. The clouds went in and out, so I was able to snap a few photos with some background. When I was back at the higher junction, the sun came out, quite warm. Still chilly in the woods. One guy (not in my group) brought a whole bottle of rye whiskey, drank some, and left most of the bottle in the mailbox. Quite some pieces of food inside. A lot of people today.

~30K steps, 4000' E.G. Claudia gave me a ride home, so I was back home shortly after 3pm. She lives 2 blocks away.