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I made a quick hit-and-run trip down to California a couple weekends ago, where we had a grand time visiting the Marin Headlands, seeing family, doing a couple little walks, going to see King Tut and Cartier diamonds at SF museums, and just hangin. Mom and I also made homemade tortillas for the first time - yum!
I will not subject you at this time to my photos of moss, because I have been too daunted to edit them myself!
I will not subject you at this time to my photos of moss, because I have been too daunted to edit them myself!
I went snow tracking for the second time this year (despite the junky / nonexistant snow). (First trip of the year.) This time we saw tons of bobcat tracks rather than the majority of coyote tracks last year.
Bobcat tracks (female?) east of the pass.
What was this bobcat doing in such a hurry?
This bobcat was light enough to walk across the frozen lake, so we couldn't follow it.
Bobcat tracks (female?) east of the pass.
What was this bobcat doing in such a hurry?
This bobcat was light enough to walk across the frozen lake, so we couldn't follow it.
As part of a buildup to my hopeful pass to pass backpack this summer, we backpacked 10 miles in to a natural hotsprings in the Alpine Lakes wilderness, Goldmyer Hot Springs (note: I didn't take any pictures of the hot springs since it was full of 'clothing optional' visitors - flickr photos here).
It was way further than I was prepared to do carrying a 30+ pound pack, so I hobbled out the last five miles. Typically the trail is only 4.5 miles each way, but the road was washed out before the official parking lot by 5 miles.
It was way further than I was prepared to do carrying a 30+ pound pack, so I hobbled out the last five miles. Typically the trail is only 4.5 miles each way, but the road was washed out before the official parking lot by 5 miles.
For Winter Solstice this year, Mom and Dad took Robin, Daniel, CJ and me to Kauai for a week long trip. Hiking, snorkeling, lounging, and hot tubbing was enjoyed by all.
I'm volunteering doing snowtracking with Conservation Northwest again this year, and we had our first day on Saturday, hiking at Snoqualmie Pass.
Our transects went quickly, so we hiked cross country for a bit, then took a well groomed trail up to the top of the ridge, then back down.
At one point we spotted squirrel tracks in the snow traveling down one hill and up another, and determined that it was traveling north. Then, on closer inspection, we realized it was actually traveling south - the distance between groupings of four tracks would be longer going downhill!
Labels: adventure, environment, photos
We went hunting for mushrooms on Sunday up in the North Cascades (off the Middle Fork) and found a ton of chantrelles, as well as some edible boletes and puffballs! There was plenty of fresh (still shiny) elk droppings, and CJ found large cat feces - too small for cougar I'd say, but it'd be a big bobcat... There were also a lot of pretty things in the woods.
Pacific Tree Frogs have a distinctive "Y" on the top of their heads between their eyes.
CJ's in the background foraging. He has an amazing eye for spotting mushrooms!
Tentatively identified as a Western Redbacked Salamander, with a broad stripe of red-orange (perfectly the color of old needles) down its back.
Pacific Tree Frogs have a distinctive "Y" on the top of their heads between their eyes.
CJ's in the background foraging. He has an amazing eye for spotting mushrooms!
Tentatively identified as a Western Redbacked Salamander, with a broad stripe of red-orange (perfectly the color of old needles) down its back.
I forgot that I took pictures when I was home! I went on a bunch of hikes, apparently.
Wow, Photoshop's "Smart Sharpen" tool is amazing! Definitely helps since I have trouble focusing perfectly with my glasses and all.
Dad by the sad dead Big Madrone.
View of Mt. Tam from Lake Lagunitas.
Future Big Madrone replacement? Yeah, in 200 years...
Dad and I hiked out by the Inkwells, where they'd done a lot of trailwork so it was easy to see the pretty waterfall.
Wow, Photoshop's "Smart Sharpen" tool is amazing! Definitely helps since I have trouble focusing perfectly with my glasses and all.
Dad by the sad dead Big Madrone.
View of Mt. Tam from Lake Lagunitas.
Future Big Madrone replacement? Yeah, in 200 years...
Dad and I hiked out by the Inkwells, where they'd done a lot of trailwork so it was easy to see the pretty waterfall.
I rode a sloth (with Dad's help) at the La Brea Tar Pits. (OK, this was April.)
Robin had her hair and makeup done by a fancy salon who used her as a model.
We had a nice picnic at the headlands after visiting the de Young.
I've created a shrine to Art Nouveau over my bed in my new room.
I visited the UW arboretum on my last free day before starting work since it was a gorgeous, hot day.
A huge patch of the arboretum was devoted to different varieties of azaleas, separated into the historical periods of hybridization. This red flower was from the 60s-70s.
I saw these turtles as I followed an indistinct path along the waterfront.
Saturday, I rode the other direction to a beach with a grand view of these sailors in front of the Olympics. The hill back up was a challenge.
