January 6, 2008 by annie.

date hiked: August 15, 2007
distance: 1 miles
highest elevation: unknown
elevation gain: unknown
time: unknown

A completely paved trail imbedded in the network of trails surrounding the vistor center at Paradise in Mt. Rainier NP. Somewhat of a spur trail off the Paradise Glacier trail (which used to lead to ice caves that have since melted), this little juant is a spectacular view of the mountain and falls. However, it is packed with people.

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January 6, 2008 by annie.

date hiked: August 14, 2007
distance: 2.7 miles
highest elevation: approx. 4867 ft
elevation gain: unknown
time: unknown

This easy hike explores the area around Reflection Lakes, which some consider the most photograghed spot on Mt. Rainier.

There are amazing views of Mt. Rainier along the trail, some reflecting in the waters of the lakes. But I loved hiking along Mazama Ridge and looking back to this view of the Tatoosh Range. I think it made it seem like I had come so much farther than I really had.

It was nice to have Tyler come along this hike. Everything was so green and bright. There were also plenty of bugs!

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November 30, 2007 by annie.

I’m taking just a moment (and I really only have a moment) to wish my son Tyler a very Happy Birthday. I’ve set up a projector in our apartment and hooked up the Xbox 360 to it (talk about big screen), rented some games, bought a cake, and cleared the living room out for 6 teenage boys to take over.

I am, of course, secretly remembering his birth so long ago, reminiscing in my head all the years since, and concluding….damn, my son is awesome.

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November 10, 2007 by annie.

date hiked: August 14, 2007
distance: 4.5 miles
highest elevation: unknown
elevation loss: 2044 feet
time: 1 hour 39 minutes

In November 2006, two days of steady rain in the northwest caused flooding that closed Mt. Rainier National Park for six months. Campgrounds, trails, and roads were washed away. The damage was most evident on this hike from Narada Falls to Longmire Historic District.

Narada Falls is a beautiful cascading falls just off the road in the park. It is a very popular attraction, as it is so easily accessible. Below the falls, a trail connects to the Wonderland Trail (the 93 mile trail that circles Rainier). This section of Wonderland travels downhill along the Paradise River. There are two other waterfalls along the trail, Madcap Falls and Carter Falls.

About 3 miles into the hike you enter the Nisqually River Valley. A bridge takes you across the Nisqually River. After crossing the river, you enter a forest. It was here along the Nisqually where the trail disappeared. Flood damage signs were posted and trail workers were rerouting the trail. I climbed trees, followed flags, and made my way to Longmire.

Longmire Historic District is the site where James Longmire built a Medical Springs in 1888. The Park Headquarters was established there in 1899. Currently, there is a museum, hotel, ranger station, and exhibits there.

After finishing the hike, I returned to the campground and took Tyler to the Nisqually River crossing. The picture says it all.

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November 10, 2007 by annie.

date hiked: August 13, 2007
distance: 5.2 miles
highest elevation: approx. 6400 feet
elevation gain: 1400 feet
time: 2 hours

I’m so far behind on posting. I haven’t stopped hiking though. I’m going to try to catch up…yet again.

After returning from Alaska, I stayed home for about a week then went camping and hiking for four days in Mt. Rainier National Park. Immediately after setting up camp in Cougar Rock campground, Tyler and I headed up to the Skyline Trail. The trail is mostly paved and amazingly populated. You feel so close to the mountain from here. It has that reach-out-and-touch-it feeling. Tyler and I spent a lot of time talking about mountain climbing. Mountaineers access the summit from this trail so we would see them with all of their gear heading out or having already reached the top, heading in.

On the way back in we came across a group of hoary marmots.

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October 6, 2007 by annie.

date hiked: August 2-3, 2007
distance: 20 miles
highest elevation: unknown
elevation gain: unknown
time: unknown

Denali was our last stop while we were in Alaska. It turned out to be a perfect final destination. I left Denali, and in turn Alaska feeling like I had just met a new person that I hoped would be my friend. It felt like only a brief introduction…and I know I want more.

Denali National Park is the only National Park (that I am aware of) that is only accessible by a gravel road running 45 miles into the park (the first 15 miles is paved). Private vehicles are only allowed to drive the first 15 miles of the park road. If you want to explore deeper into the park, you will (most likely) take one of the infamous green shuttle buses.

You may get on and off the shuttle bus as often as you wish. You don’t have to reboard the same bus, you can just flag another bus down and if there is room they will pick you up. Tyler and I randomly hiked about 20 miles of Denali in this fashion. Get off the bus, hike find another bus, ride to someplace new, hike some more.

Of course, Mt. McKinley is a main reason people travel to Denali. We read that the mountain (which locals call Mt. Denali) is only visible 20% of the time during the summer months. We had also met a couple in our hotel in Anchorage that had seen the mountain the day before we were heading there. We figured the odds were not in our favor. Apparently, Mt. Denali creates it’s own weather so even on a clear day, it could be surrounded by clouds. In fact, that’s exactly what it was like. However, we were lucky enough to see bits and pieces of her. For a brief time, she was almost completely visible. Too bad we were so far away. It was amazing.

We saw lots and lots of wildlife. Caribou, red fox, artic squirrels, and moose were some of the wildlife we encountered.

Just after seeing the fox, on the way out of the park, we were on the shuttle bus and we had reached the paved road. In 15 miles, our Denali experience would be over. The bus came to a stop and the driver said, “Everyone quietly look in the road ahead of the bus.” There, strolling down the road, was a mama brown bear and her two cubs.

All I could do was laugh.

The next day we boarded a plane in Anchorage for our flight home to Seattle (we drove from Seattle to Portland.)

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October 6, 2007 by annie.

Date Visited: August 1, 2007

We took an 8 hour boat trip to explore Kenai Fjords National Park. Once again, I was the land of the glorious whale. It’s quite pathetic. Most of the time, my social inequity is quietly accepted on the inside. I recognize my ineptitude. I just don’t shout it from the rooftops.

Yet, post after post, my silly whale-obsessing, bear-fearing self is making it clear. Luckily, the one or two friends I have, know I’m not a secret whale-stalker.

So, on this lovely boat ride, we were entertained by orcas. A large pod seemed to hang around the boat forever. They all seemed to be curious. Who knows?

We also came across a group of sea otter. They seemed to be waving.

There was also a group of Steller Sea Lions sunning on a rock. The Steller Sea Lion was listed (and still is) as an endangered species in 1990.

What most would consider the highlight of the ride…are the glaciers.

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October 6, 2007 by annie.

July 31, 2007

You can’t explore Alaskan history without visiting a gold mine and panning for gold. The Indian Valley Mine is about 20 minutes south of Anchorage on the Seward Highway. It was fun. Tyler would like to be rich from his flakes of found gold.

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October 6, 2007 by annie.

date hiked: July 31, 2007
distance: 6 miles
highest elevation: 2350 feet
elevation gain: 2000
time: approximately 3.5 hours

Okay, the truth is…I don’t remember anything to write about this trail. I wrote in my journal that there weren’t any cars at the trailhead, it was wet, not raining, and I was still very terrified of running into bear.

It’s pretty though, isn’t it?

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October 6, 2007 by annie.

Obviously, I’m way behind on posting. So, I’m going to try to catch up a bit.

July 31, 2007

The Turnagain Arm Trail is a 9.4 mile (one-way) trail that runs along Seward Highway about 10 miles south of Anchorage. The trail has four trailheads that break it into three sections. One of the sections, McHugh Creek - Rainbow descends (if desired) to Beluga Point.

Seeing as I have a not-so-secret obsession with all things watery, the idea of seeing a beluga whale was exciting. The beluga whales follow the salmon into the shallow waters at the point. Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any.

We did find an amazingly strong wind. Tyler and I had to work hard to stand. We found shelter in the trees for a few moments, watching the water, reflecting.

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