Olympic Peninsula Sampler

We took a road trip around the Olympic Peninsula last week. Got to love the place--in a single day one can take in old growth forests, high snowy vistas deep into the park and after throwing a few snowballs, head out to the wild coast to build sand castles and burn drift wood.


The Olys from the Edmonds-Kingston Ferry.

Heart O' the Hills Campground, just outside of Port Angeles, WA.

Views of the Olympic Massiff and Bailey Range from Hurricane Ridge.

Snowtime! Amaya sifts through her first snow of the season.

Early Winters... A gentian peeks through snow.


Hiking Rialto Beach, North of La Push, Washington.


Warming Up in camp on the beach.



Hole in the Wall at Low Tide, Olympic National Park, WA.

The Report From Granite Falls

Here it is, mid-October??? and the full moon has passed over us as of last night, the Salmon are spawning, leaves dropping with the temps, leaving the long warm summer days but a memory. And Now, Amaya is really excited about the candied prospects of Hallow's Eve--and we owe her a few decent ones after so much time in transit this past year. We've spent the last few months living it up in Granite Falls, WA---T's hometown. We've been loving "The Canyon" where T's Mom and Dad live, offering us plenty of feasts, comfortable houses, and so many recreational opportunities within a short drive. But I've been getting Emails from estranged associates on the check in: Too busy to blog this summer? Living off the radar? Detached from the grid? Witness Protection Program? Someone even asked if we'd "gone native." HA! Not exactly, but anonymity does has certain benefits... After spending much of the past year in tropical, desert, or otherwise warm weather (where the climate suits my clothes), and with this striking influx of cold dank dark weather systems, its time to change course, up-date this blog, return to the law practice, and more regular infusions of income for the family. After all, Retirement is never what its sczhuck up to be!


Exhibit "A" All dressed up...


Amaya's new Sky Bunk at GiGi's house in Granite Falls


T, messing w/ her iPod, while Amaya poses on a recent day hike up Mt. Pilchuck.


There they are: Salmon heading up Canyon Creek to spawn.





Amaya in the climbing tree, with Libby in the Canyon Falls Park.


Another day in the backyard...

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Spent a night out at Camano Island, and these Madronas (Arbutus Menziesii) were dazzling.

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MWF biking in/along the Mad River, Wenatchee National Forest

Ahhh, my own personal climate adjustment... luckily KW's bus was at the trail head to help avoid the onset of hypothermia.

Harts Pass High Point

Amaya decided that she was missing out on some of the season's great backpacking ops, so with a cold but sunny forecast, we ventured up to Hart's Pass (Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest). Its the highest point one can drive in Washington State. We left the vehicle, followed the Pacific Crest Trail North and took in some incredible vistas of the North Cascade National Park to the West, South, and the 90 mile wide Pasayten Wilderness Area to the East.

Showing their defiance for authority, the Busby-Frey blondes at Large.

Amaya on the trail again. She packed her very own backpack full of stuffed teddys, power sweet-treats, and water.


A new past time -- chuckin' thermarest.

Tent Time. This tent actually matched the seasonal colors... stylish eh?

A tamarak (Larch) performs dayglow in the sun.

Here is the view Southwest from the top of Tamarak Peak into the North Cascades... so many mountains, such a short life.


Pickin' huckleberries galore. We had a tube of peanut butter, making for instant PBJs.

There's the goodies! We hit the jackpot in a year with few berry patches.

Taking a break in that huckleberry sweetened Autumn sun, savoring cool shade from glowing Larches. Autumn Fire: Harts Pass High Point.

Tahoma, Mt. Rainier National Park

Got a chance to meet up with Sis--so we took a midweek day-hike in Mt. Rainier National Park with Amaya, soaking up some more of that precious Septober sun.

Amaya chucks a dirtclod at the photographer, with little deterrence but for the view.

Same setting, another photo. This little tarn in the Tatoosh Range makes for an impressive postcard.

And there she is... Tahoma. Add snow and I'll be back with boards on my feet. The Paradise road and parking lot are visible in the center of the shot.


Turns all year? Getting in some late season glissades.



On the summit of Plummer Peak in the Tatoosh Range, with Pinnacle Peak and The Castle in the distance. Old stomping grounds of the Frey-Force, circa 1980s.


Amaya poses, gracefully this time, in Dad & Maria's front yard, Castle Rock, WA.

North Cascades: High Alpine Splendor

Tierra and I briefly eluded Amaya's tyrannical grip (HA!) and went up to Hannegan Pass, the gateway to the Pickett Range, and the remote northern section of the North Cascades National Park.

Vaccinium, Huckleberry leaves turn bright red in September, as Nooksack Ridge frames Mt. Baker.

Mt. Ruth, from Hannegan Peak. We put in a camp along the ridge line on the left leading up to Ruth.


T climbing up to the summit of Ruth, with the Chilliwack River and Mt. Redoubt in the distance.


Looking down into Nooksack Cirque, Mt. Shuksan in all its majesty.

Looking Southeast from Mt. Ruth, Glacier Peak on the left in the far distance.

Mount Challenger and the Picketts from Mt. Ruth.

Mt. Shuksan and Nooksack ridge at sunset.

Here is our humble little home.

On Saturday, just before we departed, we encountered a long line of well organized, chatty climbers hiking up to the mountain. They look like a string of ants going up the side of Ruth. The trail to Hannegan Pass was totally packed with weekend social activity. Time to check back in with Amaya!

East to West, Crossing the Cascade Crest

After our holiday on Lake Wenatchee, Tierra took me up on my gaff about how "I'd just walk back to Granite Falls from Lake Wenatchee." She ended up dropping me off on the Little Wenatchee River, so I hiked West up to the Pacific Crest Trail, through the Glacier Peak Wilderness and down the North Fork of the Sauk River. I came out 4 days later on the Mount Loop Highway and eventually made my way back to Granite Falls.

See Ya! As Amaya and T slowly drove away, leaving me with a pile of gear at a trail head, it occurred to me: Hey they were really trying to get rid of me!


From the PCT, looking back at the trail up the Little Wenatchee River Valley.

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A sample of some local residents:
Bull Grouse

The Bee and Butterfly

Longhorn Beettle on Valerian

BRUINS! I hiked by three black bear yearlings on the way up the valley, then into a big Mama bruin the next drainage over. Bears are having a lot of trouble foraging this year due to the longer winter and shorter growing seasons for berries. These guys left me (and my food stash) alone thankfully.

The late season lushness---bistort, anemone, and lupine abound above Indian Pass.
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MWF on top of Indian Head Peak

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This was the view from my bivy when I woke up.

Here is the campsite near White Pass (not the white pass located on Hwy. 12) with Monte Cristo group and Mt. Sloan in the distance.

Sunrise! Another perfect bluebird day in the life.


A rare view of Glacier Peak, from White Mountain. Most major access points to the mountain have been blocked by washouts.

Red rocks on the side of White Mountain, with White Chuck Glacier in the background, huge blocks of quartz rich vien rocks in the foreground.

Leaf contrasts on the hike out.