2025.6.8. Lake Angeles

6/8, Sunday. The 3 of us met at 6am to catch the 7:10 Edmonds-Kingston ferry. Seems on Sunday, no need to get there so early. The 7:10 ferry was only ~60% full.

Turn right before entering the national park gate on Hurricane Ridge road, soon it's the trailhead for Lake Angeles. Found forget-me-not next to the parking lot, and a fairy-slipper at the begining of the trail. The trail is well-maintained with gentle but steady incline. A nice one-log bridge near the beginning. Large trees. Plenty shade along the way. Not as hot as I dreaded. Seattle today hit about 88°F.

The lake is good size, with nice camp sites. However, the view is a bit disappointing. Yes, good view of the Klahhane Ridge. Almost all melt out. There's a trail going from this lake up to the ridge. Another ~2000' gain. We didn't bother. Too hot. Lots of pollen and quite some logs floating on the water. Found a log to sit on for lunch. Return as we came.

Back to the car, we drove up to Hurricane Ridge. It's always spectacular. Quite some tourists. Some deer munching the grass without any care of the human. We walked a little bit, soaking in the view, also catching some view to the north and the Sound. The northern slope still had a bit of snow left. The nice wooden visitor center building was burned last year. Now two tin sheds.

Driving down the road, we stopped at this pullover (the first real pullover with parking spots). To the left, quite a lot flowers growing on the cliff side. Now I was able to stop and investigate. A lot sedum, tufted saxifrage, some wall flowers and vetch. Found a some Lomatium Martindalei (new to me).

Filled gas in the town of Port Angeles. It was only ~3pm. The return ferry at Kingston was already filling up. Google!Map tries to direct you away from the conjestion. It was quite stubborn, even when we selected the "red" route, it continued reroute us. I guess the algorithm doesn't understand why we want to be stuck in the traffic. Once we parked in the sun baked parking lot. We walked into the town. 88°F now. S. queued in front of the first shop, a creperie. It was slow moving. I walked further, got a scoup of ice cream. When I was back, S. was still in the queue. S.C. also decided to queue up. I finished my ice cream, the ferry arrived, cars drove past ours. The two of them finnaly got their order, we ran back to the car, while they balancing their crepe in one hand. We got on the ferry. ~5pm.

2025.6.7. Easton Ridge with WNPS

6/7, Saturday. A hike to Easton Ridge with Washingotn's Native Plant Society (WNPS) Central Puget Sound chapter. I was picked picked up by the organizer at an I-5 exit. It's a warm weekend, and east of Cascades is hotter. We met late-ish. Also one woman arrived 10+ minute late, and then wanted to use the restroom before we leave. We didn't start hiking until ~10:30am, by then, it was already quite warm. The hike leader is too leniant. Total 8 people 1 dog.

We started very slow. Thankfully, the lower half of the trail is on a west facing slope, and all in trees, so more or less in the shade. I brought my umbrella, but didn't use it until later. We were moving very slowly, spent too much time on species that are common in our own backyard, because the lady who was late doesn't know anything about any plants. After about 1.5 hour of this, I asked permission to go ahead and wait on the ridge. There's a horticulturist in attendance. She and I took off, and a young guy followed us. Both of them drove independantly and waited for us at the TH. I asked the horticulturist questions about plants a couple of times, but she only knows latin names, so I don't remember any.

We reached the end of the trail at some nice looking rocks. The young guy got a message and told us that the slow group was turning around. We stopped for lunch on the rocks. Two other guys with a dog also arrived. There is a geo marker, some remnant of a lookout?. Open view to all directions. Teanaway mountains, most prominently Stuart. Rainier to the SW. Cle Elum Lake to the east, Kachess Lake to the west.

This year, it's very dry. The blue-eyed Mary that I promised to the group is there, but in far less quantity. Just small patches. Low elevations: snowberry (even on the road, now fragrant - I don't like its smell), thimbleberry, star flower, vanilla leaf.
Mid-high elevation, in the shade: some lupine, some white phacelia (the horticulturist saw some blue ones), sandwort, pussytoe, silver crown, both white and red currant. Near-death trillion. louswort.
Out on the ridge in bald areas: yellow sedum, buckwheat, rock pentemon.
The highlight is Oregon Anemone almost at the end of trail.
Here is a plant list kept on WNPS.

We managed to overtake the slow group on the way down. Went to chill by the creek while waiting for the group. The water is very cold, but feels good to dip my feet in it. When everyone arrived, we walked out together to the cars.

2025.6.6. Project Day at Seattle University

6/6, Friday afternoon. Annual Project Day of college of science and engineering at Seattle Univ.

2 floors, about 6 classrooms, presentations every hour (3 groups of 15 minute each, with 10 minute break), simutaneously. Maybe 40 presentations. It showcased what the student did in the school year. Some projects are continuation of last year's students. Each project has a poster table staffed by one of the team members, some with models, some with prototypes.

I missed the first hour. Listened to ~9 presentations, talked to a few more: soil quality, ramp design, stock pick app, many AI projects, Amazon Rover, excersise machine... Each project has a sponsor, who has a topic for a team of kids to do. Some sponsors are state government agencies, NGOs, or individuals. A good idea for donations that make direct impact. All quite interesting. The kids are a lot more capable than when I was at that age.

2025.6.4. Jim Donini speaks at Feathered Friends

6/4, Wednesday, 6pm. Jim Donini talked about his new book Survival is not assured and showed old photos at Feathered Friends. Books were also sold there, where Donini would sign it. However, no Q&A section, as Donini talked a lot. Many interesting ancedotes, photos from his climbs for the past 50 years, as early as early 70s. The endurance is remarkable. They would climb in snowy windy conditions. I only climb on perfect sunny days. I'm only displeased that I was late, missed half of his talk. It was a full house. Many climbers in audience.

2025.6.1. Rattlesnake Ledge

6/1. Sunday. Sunny and warm. A short hike to Rattlesnake Ledge, which I haven't visited for 10+ years. It was busy before, now busier. A short trek starting from a nice big lake to a very good view. Rock Penstemon on the cliffs. Bright pink.

Just 10 minutes further is the 2nd ledge. Better view, a lot less people. You can see the 1st ledge, where I circled in red in the left photo.

It's a very warm day. Many were enjoying the lake: human, dogs, geese. This photo is just one of the beach areas. The other one is busier.