2021.4.15. Got my first Covid vaccine shot

On 4/15, everyone over 16 years of age in WA are eligible for COVID vaccine.
4/13, I received an email from SCCA "We are writing today with an update on how to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine. By Friday, April 16, you will receive an email with a link to schedule a vaccine at the Fred Hutch/SCCA COVID-19 Vaccination Program at South Lake Union".
4/14, received this link, and I scheduled right away.
4/15, I packed a sandwich, a drink and a book, and headed to the clinic just before noon.

It was very efficient and orderly. Arrows on the floor and helpers at every turn.
First my temperature was measured at the door and some questions were asked.
2nd, registration table, ~7-8 simutaneously. More questions were asked, data entered into a computer, and I was booked for my 2nd shot (3 weeks from today). I received my vaccination card.
3rd, vaccination room with 10 stalls (each with a shower curtain, looking like a change room). I was given a timer. They wipe everything between each patient. The nurse administer the shot, and set the timer for 15 minutes.
Last, I sat on this comfy chair in the observation room with partitions around each chair, until my timer expired. Someone came to collect my timer, cleaned my chair and raised the blue arrow to mark its availability for the next patient.

Very smooth. I felt nothing, until the evening. My abdomin had bad cramp for ~45 minutes, and then the pain subsided. I was fine the next morning.

update: 3 weeks later, when I returned for my 2nd shot, there was a lot less people (maybe ~1/3?). The vaccine, by then, was widely available. I could have gotten the shot in my neighborhood drug store. Instead, I walked 30 minutes the same facility. Countrary to most people, I had no reaction to the 2nd shot.

2021.4.12. Teneriffe

4/12, Monday. I took a day off, and went to Teneriffe, because it's a short drive. First time this year. I opted to go up via Teneriffe Falls and continue on Kamikaze trail (~3.8 miles). On the way back, I opted for the normal Teneriffe Mountain trail (6.5 mile) because I don't like going down in snow on steep hills without ice-axe.

About 25 cars in the parking lot on this weekday. Many folks just go to the waterfall. I tried to cut some distance by going offtrail a bit. Not sure I saved any time, but defintely avoided everyone. I took this photo of the lower cascade below the view point. Going up from there is straightforward, following the trail. Saw ~6 hikers. Some on crampons and ice-axe. Up to the ridge, was almost snow free. I did put on micro-spikes later on.

The vew is excellent today. Very clear. Can see downtown Seattle, Olympic Mountains across the Sound. This is the summit with 180° view to the north-east-south: from Baker to Rainier. I had the summit all to myself. Ate my belated lunch here (2:30pm), before going down.

Mount Teneriffe Trail is a long detour, towards Mt. Si. It offers gentle grade. On the top of the ridge, it was very flat for awhile, postholing a bit. No need for any traction device. In fact, I lost my microspikes due to postholing. I only realized this when the 2nd one stuck in the snow when I pulled my leg out. Had no idea when I lost the first spike. So packed away the surviving one. All the way, there were footprints to follow. Once awhile, the trail was cut by a creek, where you can see how deep the snow is.

Got back to the parking lot ~5:30pm. Still almost 10 cars.

2021.4.11. Camp Muir

4/11, Sunday. Better weather today (in fact the following 10 days were sunny and warm, warmer, hot).

I have never made it to Camp Muir. So wanted to try it. It's a good workout. A lot of folks had the same idea. A line of people were marching to Camp Muir on this sunny day. More than half of these are skiers. View up to Rainier and down to Tatoosh Range (with Mt. Adams behind) is excellent. Only from higher up, we saw St. Helens. The temperature significantly dropped around 9000'.

At 2:45pm, I opted to have a lunch break instead of pushing to Camp Muir, which needs another 15 minter or so. Reason: the gate at Longmire closes at 5pm. Still winter season. Coming back was fast and easy, a little bit of post-holing. Made to the gate at 5:01. On the way out, saw a Cascade Red Fox sitting by the tree above the road watching the cars leave.

Condition is perfect. Nothing icy. Soft snow. I used micro-spikes all the way. Did use ice axe briefly for a short glissade. The slope is not steep enough. Without sunscreen, we got very burnt.

The gate at Longmire will stay open starting the next day.

2021.4.3. Mailbox Peak

4.3, Saturday, partly sunny. Headed up Mailbox Peak via the old trail and came down via the new trail. The 2 parking lots were full. Since no trail bus running now, we parked by the bus stop.

Ran into V, as he came down the old trail. Inquire about his Hood climb last Wednesday with Y. Compact snow starting ~3500, below the junction. Deep snow once out of the woods. Most had micro-spikes, a few wearing crampons, which is unnecesory. Saw 2-3 hikers sliding down, one head first, another belly down, totally lost control. I tossed the belly guy's jacket to him, and a hiking pole, which turned out not his.

The Mailbox was completely buried under the snow. Someone kindly dug the snow out around it, so you can see it. We walked east to sit and have lunch, so stay away from the crowd next to the Mailbox. The view is quite good, despite of the clouds. Saw one guy coming back from Dirtybox.

On the way down, I tried to glissade, using my tekking pole to control the speed. In order not to bread the pole, I was holding it low, at the basket, which got my right hand scratched on the snow. Got a little bloody. Ended walking down. Next time, bring ice-axe for glissade!

2020.3.31. Cherry Blossom at UW Quad

3/31, Wednesday. I went to UW via lightrail. Walked along Rainier Vista. Could see Rainier, but a bit hazy. The Quad is always beautiful. But this year so many people, more than pre-Covid. Way too crowded. I like last spring much better. Quieter. Maybe I'll try to come here early morning when students are still asleep.