Pacific Crest Trail...Section J. Kendall Katwalk+++

  Once the summer turns in the Pac NW, there is no where better. Imagine sunny days in the 70's and 80's, no humidity, no bugs, and views of mountains everywhere you turn.  Take that image, then crank it up 10 notches and you would find yourself on the PCT.  Something every person should experience at least once in a lifetime, if not multiple times. I can only use amazing or wow so many times but it would not register by picks alone.  At times during the hike, the sights that lay before me cannot possibly be real. Too many times before have I thought this very sentiment during my adventures in the Pac NW and yet something inside tells me the exact same thing...This cannot be real, I cannot be living and experiencing such unbelievable sights.
  Yet, this is my life.
  Several years ago I turned to nature as my life, seemingly turned from great to downright terrible. Love lost can hit a person hard. It always hits me harder for some reason.  My saving grace was going out, seeking the beauty around me that I see everyday, the Cascades, Olympics, Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, Puget Sound, Lake Washington...etc. I called it my 'weekly medication,' as it seemed to work better than any anti-depressent could ever do. When I am on the trail my troubles leave me behind, if only for those moments that I am in nature.
  I wanted to return to Kendall Katwalk, since this was one of those defining times that brought out the best in me during a depressed time in my life. Looking at my trail book; "The Best Hikes within 85 miles of Seattle, BEYOND MOUNT SI" and the date I was last here, it was almost 2 years to the day that I was here last.  I am not sure if coincidental or just by fate but I wanted to go further than I have the previous time, past Alaska Lake.  I wasn't sure how much further, but enough to set in my mind that I have become better, I have progressed further than I ever thought I could, and to seek the beauty that is just around that next corner, having faith that unseen beauty exists and it is present right in front of us if you choose to seek it.
  I went further than I did previously, by several miles and the amazing beauty that I saw was far more than I ever thought I would see or imagine.
  I found this quote about the same time in my life that I try to put into practice, even though it can get very difficult to do so...
  "We are all capable of things we never believed, but first we need to believe..." Jesse Itzler.

Joe Lake and Me! 

                                           

                                                        My companion on my adventures.

Beautiful wildflowers everywhere! 

Mt. Rainier looming large and blustery.

About to go over the Kendall Katwalk

The PCT in the beautiful forest.

Halfway across Kendall Katwalk to the right, beauty to the left.

Surreal alpine views and the PCT continues.

Ridge Lake is a beauty.

Reflection on Gravel Lake.

Gravel Lake.

Above Alaska Lake.

A Marmot! 

Wow! 

Joe Lake with PCT half way up the mountain above Joe.

Me :) 

  Until next time my friends...

Adventure on!!!

Hiking Little Ranger Peak w/my Dad & Miss Lucy!

  I did a little research to find this hike as it is not mentioned all that often or is that popular of a hike with regard to other's in the area. I wanted to find a hike that had a good view at the top, the right length in distance/elevation so Dad could hike it without too much pain the day of and the day after, as well as a new hike that I have not done before. I do not get down to the eastside of Mt. Rainier that much so a change-up was due.
  I personally did not like the drive past Enumclaw as the entire mountain range seemingly was clear cut at some point in the not so distant past. Talking percentages, I would say 95% was clear-cut...ugly destruction. The good thing about going this route from Bothell is that one does not have to drive I-5 through Tacoma or Olympia. It is always a gamble driving north or south on I-5 which can add hours to travel on any day at any time.
  As for the trail itself, it was in great shape without any major areas of rocks or roots on its path. I would personally like to come back to this trail and include a trail run past Little Ranger Peak. The grade is not that great which make the switchbacks long and easy to hike or run for that matter.  But, this day was strictly hiking to Little Ranger Peak. Most of the trail included some secondary old-growth with the last major cutting probably around 40 years ago or so. Thankfully, some of the older trees were spared the sawtooth.
  I did read somewhere that this trail was very green and lush. I would say that it was not as it is on the eastside of Mt. Rainier therefore a large percentage of the rainfall is sucked up on the westside of the mountain. It is green but not much and not a lot of ferns and moss that is typically found in wetter climates of the west side of the mountains in Washington.  Beautiful none the less. There was one slow running stream that you will cross about five or six times on the way to Little Ranger Peak and a bigger stream; Ranger Creek on the lower portions of the trail.  Although the trail does not go directly to Ranger Creek, a short and easy scramble will lead you to a beautiful section of this stream. I would love to do a little trail blazing and follow Ranger Creek out towards the trailhead near White River for a few miles. I am sure it is a constant array of beauty along this stream with a few challanging falls along the way!

Until next time my friends...

ADVENTURE ON!!!

Fremont Solstice Parade!


  When I first moved to Seattle, Fremont is where I stayed, thanks to my sister who had an apartment in Fremont overlooking Lake Union, downtown and Mt. Rainier on those clear Seattle days. I miss living in Fremont; "The Center of the Universe" as it is another great little neighborhood within Seattle. I miss running up to and around Green Lake or grabbing a coffee at Peets. So, I am glad to return to Fremont whenever I am near by.
  Seriously, the Fremont Solstice Parade is something every person that lives in the Seattle area or travelers need to check out at least once. The parade always is the third weekend in June which for me happens to fall on Grandma's Marathon weekend in Duluth, MN and the Mt. Hood Scramble. This year my friend Carissa was going to be in town so I decided it would be a good time to skip the Mt Hood Scramble, stay in town, hang with Carissa and finally get on down to Fremont for the parade. This is one time of year that anyone can ride through town naked on a bike or on rollerblades and not be arrested. Thought about it...maybe next year.
  So, is it all about the naked people that gets people like myself to come on down to Fremont to watch? Well, let me just say, it doesn't hurt to have hundred's of painted naked people head to toe on bikes, unicycle's, rollarblades and scooter's in a parade for about an hour to get my attention! What other parade can offer that? I said to Carissa, "There is probably only one other place in America that you can see naked people in parade, and that is probably Portland." I am thinking it something about the Pacific NW that must do it to people. There is more to the parade then a free show, different organizations in the area, dancers, bands, belly dancers, kids on stilts, art on wheels, the fair aspect of the festival and seemingly everyone with a smile in the parade and watching as well, except for those in the beer garden. They just looked like they were in a cage, separated from everyone else, looking out through the fence wondering what is going on.
  After the 2 hour parade, Carissa and I strolled thru the fair checking things out, seeing some nice artwork, live music, great smelling food, and great people watching as well. I really enjoyed the band, Project Lionheart so we watched them for a bit. I was bummed that a wonderfully named singer, Thaddillac would be preforming the next day. Maybe I can hunt down a t-shirt with "Thaddillac" on it. Can my nickname be, Thaddillac? Hmmmm? Ha!

  Anyways, here are a few factoids from the Fremont fair website... 

• Founded in 1972, the Fremont Fair is one of Seattle’s most beloved neighborhood street festivals, featuring a weekend of eclectic activities that celebrate the quirky community of Fremont, the self-proclaimed “center of the universe.”
• Held annually in mid-June to coincide with the Summer Solstice
• The event draws more than 100,000 people to shop, eat, drink, mingle, groove, and enjoy all manners of creative expression.
• Artistic highlights include craft and art booths, street performers, local bands, wacky decorated art cars, the free-spirited Solstice Parade produced by the Fremont Arts Council, and many other oddities that personify Fremont’s official motto “Delibertus Quirkus” – Freedom to be Peculiar.
• If you are ever in Seattle in June check it out! http://www.fremontfair.org/

A look across the street to Lake Union and D-town Seattle.



Carissa and I seaking shelter from the rain of nakedness.
Btw, the Rosemary shrub in back of else smelled so good!

Popeye and Olive Oil.

She's Ubercute!

Superheroes need loving too.

Carissa and Cee Cee :)

I will call her Bubbles.

Nice!

A little love from the balcony.

Not in the parade, just a cute spectator.

Not sure.

Dalmations and friends.

Whatever works to get the job done.

Some hunk.

If I was a kid I would be scared.

Superheroes. Yeah Baby!

Crazy kids...very impressive!

Happy Soltice!

"Put on your red shoes and dance the blues."



Buggin' out.

Until next time my friends...

Adeventure On!!!



Last but not least...The Fremont Troll!