The Round Rover

My Review of REI Tarn 18 Pack - Youth

2011-04-07T10:00:00.001-07:00

The REI Tarn 18 pack perfectly suits young outdoor adventurers ages 8 -12. With the same high-quality materials and design as an adult pack, this pack is sized and shaped to fit kids comfortably.

Great age appropriate pack!

By Alecia Org from Renton, WA on 4/7/2011

Pros: Comfortable, Good padding, Large capacity, Easy To Load, Lightweight, Highly Adjustable

Best Uses: Day trip, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

My 9- and 11-year-old use this pack for our hiking adventures, and the fit could not have been more perfect for both of them with how easily the straps are adjusted. I love that these are designed to be age appropriate, have plenty of room for their gear without being so big that they overfill, and have plenty of room for the treasures they inevitably find on our adventures.

(legalese)

My Review of REI Sprig 12 Pack - Kids'

2011-04-07T09:57:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at REI

Ideal for family hikes and use by young Cub Scouts, the REI Sprig 12 pack helps kids tackle their own daylong outdoor adventures. It's perfectly sized for kids ages 5 - 8.

Perfect Little Pack, Age Appropriate

By Alecia Org from Renton, WA on 4/7/2011

Pros: Lightweight, Highly Adjustable, Comfortable, Good padding, Easy To Load, Large capacity

Best Uses: Hiking, Day trip

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

My almost-six-year-old son uses this pack for hiking, and it is a definite upgrade from his last one- it's great to find a small child's pack that is designed to be age appropriate. Small enough that he can't fill it too heavy, but big enough to store his own gear and even the treasures he finds on the trail, this pack is sturdy and easy to get in and out of too.

(legalese)

My Review of CamelBak Day Star Hydration Pack - 70 fl. oz. - Women's

2011-04-07T09:54:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at REI

The CamelBak Day Star hydration daypack offers women-specific fit and comfort while letting you hydrate and recharge during active pursuits.

Great Day Pack

By Alecia Org from Renton, WA on 4/7/2011

Pros: Comfortable, Highly Adjustable, Large Capacity, Easy To Refill, Stable, Good Water Flow

Best Uses: Hiking, Day Trips

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

My two teen daughters use these packs exclusively for our hiking adventures- they fit great, leave plenty of room to move, and the hydration pocket is easily accessed for quick refills. The pack has plenty of room for all their gear, and the sternum strap stabilizes everything.

(legalese)

My Review of Gregory Maya 22 Pack - Women's

2011-04-07T09:47:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at REI

The women's Gregory Maya 22 pack is built light and comfortable. This panel loading daypack holds plenty of gear for all of your done-in-a-day adventures.

Great Little Pack

By Alecia Org from Renton, WA on 4/7/2011

Pros: Lightweight, Easy To Load, Highly Adjustable, Good padding, Comfortable

Cons: Small Capacity

Best Uses: Day trip, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

This was my very first Gregory pack, and it was awesome- the tendons flex and move with the body.
The straps, once adjusted, DO NOT slip. My only complaint was that it was just too small- I could fit only the very basic gear, and not a change of clothes and not even a lunch most of the time. But for short hikes, and local trips, it was perfect. I've since upgraded, however.

(legalese)

My Review of Outdoor Research Seattle Sombrero

2011-04-07T09:45:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at REI

Designed to fend off rain, this hat also provides protection from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Wouldn't Go Without It!

By Alecia Org from Renton, WA on 4/7/2011

Sizing: Feels true to size

Pros: Rugged, Good Protection from Rain, Good Protection from the Sun, Stylish, Washes Easily

Cons: Does Not Breathe

Best Uses: Hiking

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

Was this a gift?: No

I love this hat- I don't hike without it here in the Pacific Northwest, not when it can rain at the drop of a hat. I'm thrilled to see more and more hikers on the trail with the same hat, and often a comment or two is made in passing about it! My only complaint is that on our VERY rare nice days, it gets a little too warm- but after all, that isn't very often.

(legalese)

My Review of Gregory Jade 28 Pack - Women's

2011-04-07T09:41:00.001-07:00

Originally submitted at REI

The Gregory Jade 28 pack for women offers great comfort and performance while keeping your back cool and your load light on scrambles and long day hikes.

Another Gregory Winner

By Alecia Org from Renton, WA on 4/7/2011

Pros: Good padding, Easy To Load, Comfortable, Highly Adjustable, Large capacity, Lightweight

Best Uses: Day trip, Hiking

Describe Yourself: Avid Adventurer

What Is Your Gear Style: Comfort Driven

Was this a gift?: No

I've been a fan of the Gregory packs for two+ years now- this is my second pack. These are the best woman's packs I've found (I've tried many), and best of all they work great on my plus-frame frame. The straps fit all the way around, and are super adjustable. Best of all? The straps STAY where you adjust them to- no slipping. This certainly isn't an overnight pack, but I have plenty of gear, including an oversize first aid kit for the whole family, and plenty of room still for lunch or snacks.

(legalese)

Redesign & Update

2011-03-15T07:40:00.000-07:00

Okay I will admit it, I have been having so much fun hiking that I've had very little free time to write here! I apologize to everyone, but my plan is to redesign this blog and rather than a hike-by-hike entry, I will take the time to do recaps as I can- this may cover more than one hike at a time, it may cover hiking equipment I love, or it may cover other topics of interest. In other words, I am opening up my options here in order to kick my hiney into gear... ;)

Update on me:
Well I really pooped out over last fall and winter. I caught pneumonia at the end of the summer last year and it really, and I mean REALLY kicked me down. I literally am still not a 100% recovered (my inhaler stays in my pack now), but I decided to finally bite the bullet late this winter and get back out there- and I've been having a blast ever since!

It's hard to believe that it has been two years this month that I really started hiking again. When I started, I promised myself new gear for every year that I hike. The first year I bought a new pack and new boots and a few odds and ends. This year a went a little (a little? ha!) crazy (have I mentioned how much I LOVE REI?). New pack, yes- but lots of other fun gear and all new hiking duds too- I'm proud to say that my old ones were way too big! Yay! All told, over the last two years I have lot 80 pounds- and best of all? I kept it off! Even over my "lazy" winter, I did not gain back any of the weight (and that is some accomplishment considering Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas occurred in there!).

My knee is holding up okay. The forced rest didn't do it much good- but I have been taking some joint supplements (once a day and then an extra dose before hitting the trail) that have really made a difference. We hiked on Tiger Mountain on Sunday in the blowing cold and rain, and managed to take a wrong turn that turned our hike into a shorter version of itself, and I was one of the few who wimped out at the parking lot rather than continuing onto another trail because the cold bites soooo deeply into my joints, especially my knee and hips. I apparently should have dosed up with some ibuprofen before hiking that day.

I am proud to say that in spite of my illness, I did manage to reach (and even surpass) my goal of 100 miles last year! Whoo-hoo! I'm not reaching for mileage this year, but I am reaching for elevation gain (oh geez!).

Update about PNW Leisure Hiking:
Well a few things have happened on that front... I absorbed another group, the Easygoing Hikers (the organizer contacted me because he could not find someone to take over, and asked me to do so), jumping our numbers up to nearly 500 members. These are not active numbers, and I have not done a purge for nearly 6 months. Typically, every few months I send out emails to members who have not logged into Meetup to gauge their interest. I ask that they either 1) log in for a second or 2) send me a message indicating they are still interested, otherwise I remove them from the group. They are of course always allowed to rejoin (with very, very few exceptions), but I would like my numbers to record an accurate member count for planning purposes- besides the fact that I would like people joining to see a realistic count as well. Because of the lack of group activity due to my pneumonia, I decided to wait until we'd been running strong again.

We tend to post at least one hike per weekend- two if I can manage it. I want to be out as often as possible- and my kidlets have been enjoying our adventures as well. They all got new gear this spring as well- packs and boots at the least. Very rarely does a weekend pass that we don't hike at least once.

Even in the blowing rain on Sunday, we had a dozen hikers show up to brave the elements, not bad I say! And of course our Discovery Park hikes tend to bring around 30-40 hikers (don't worry, we all spread out and it's rare to find more than a handful of us together except in the beginning when I am giving my usual spiel).

So things are off to a good start this year at least! Bring on 2011!

O O Denny Park

2010-03-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

Well.... we broke our record again- this was our second hike in more than a year that was rained out. But.... we still had a blast!!! We had a few new hikers, as well, which is always exciting for me- and of course some of our "regulars," which always brings a great big huge grin to my face!

We decided to do this short loop "backwards" from the description in the guidebook, for no better reason than the trail head parking lot was closed so we were starting out from the park lot. Lots and lots- and then more lots- of uphill, to eventually level out. I didn't catch most of the scenery on the way up (huff puff huff puff huff) but once we reached the "top," I stopped for yet another break and took a quick moment to look down into the rather startlingly deep ravine to the left of the trail. Pretty cool- although I went nowhere near the edge!

This side of the trail was pretty, although there wasn't a whole LOT to catch the eye. We continued on until we reached the gravel road at the end of this hair-pin-shaped loop. Traveling along towards the left, we came across some fairly new-looking kiosk signs showing how the creek has been adjusted and rebuilt with a salmon-ladder. Pretty cool, and the short history lesson provided was pretty neat as well. We opted to take a pass on the little out-and-back towards a bench that led to the right (due to the rain) and headed back towards the right on the other side of the ravine.

A huge clay wall loomed above us on the right, where someone had taken the time to carve neat symbols. Further on we came across some makeshift-feeling "bridges" (boards laid across some rivulets and mucky spots) and huge clusters of blooming Pacific Bleeding Hearts. Soon enough we came across Sylvia, the hugantic (I know it's not a word- just go with it!) tree which used to tower 600 feet tall! The tree was blown down in the 90's during a windstorm, and the stump STILL stands at 60 feet tall and 26 feet around. Crazy!! But awesome all the same. Peering up along the tree stump, with it looming up into the mist, and with the big fat raindrops coming down at the same time, made for a pretty incredible sight. There's even a plaque telling us about Sylvia.

Not too much further we came across my first Trillium of the season, just growing all by its lonesome on the side of the trail! Then came the skunk cabbage (which of course we could smell before we could see), and while we paused to admire the neat yellow flowers, we heard the unmistakable hooting of an owl.

Dripping, sodden, but with good cheer, we all trekked back to the parking lot, having completed almost a mile of hike. It had been wet, but fun. What an adventure! This is certainly a hike worth repeating....

Beaches, Bluffs, & Lighthouse- Discovery Park

2010-02-20T19:00:00.000-08:00

We could NOT have asked for a more beautiful day to hike! The sun was shining, the skies were clear, and it easy to forget that it was still February! While our RSVP list said 60+ people were expected, in reality there were about 25 of us. But it was a perfect opportunity to update our website photo! The one on our www.pnwleisurehiking.com website now was from our first Discovery Park hike in April 2009!

The parking lot was PACKED as other adventurers decided to take advantage of the healthy dose of Vitamin D our clear skies were sharing. Our carpool managed to find a prime parking spot, however, and we waited for the rest of our hikers to arrive. I even managed to have a member sneak in a photo of me and my puppers!

As usual, we had a fanTAStic group of people for today's hike, and while we started a little late due to traffic, everyone was in an amazing mood. We started up the little road that begins this loop, and everyone fell into their own pace as we went along. Other visitors to the park seemed to be in an equally vivacious mood, and nearly every face we saw bore a huge, face-splitting grin. I suppose our rare run of pretty weather was making everyone frisky!

Fond memories of this particular stretch of road... my daughter was sure to tell EVERYone all about the time I was walking backwards up this road talking to every (aka playing tour guide) when she pointed behind me and yelled "Watch out!" I spun around, there was NOTHING behind me, and the whole group fell to a nonstop giggling fest. Ha. Ha. Ha. ;)

Then across the meadow to the bluff, where we barely paused before heading for the dreaded stairs. Actually, going down the stairs weren't too bad. It was once we got to the bottom that things got squishy. While we'd enjoyed a few gorgeous days prior, it hadn't been warm- or dry- enough to harden the muddy trail and there was some definite squashing going on. But THEN our group was passed up by a bunch of crazy teenagers wearing swim suits and flip flops! Did I mention how COLD it is even when it's pretty in February in Washington? LOL! Well... To each their own I say.

At least they weren't out paddling on a surfboard like this fellow was! And yes, he is shirtless (shudder). But in spite of the chill in the air, the little rocky North Beach was GORGEOUS with views of the mountains across the water, and chock full of boaters taking advantage of the weather as well. When we reached the beach, there were the crazy teenagers, huddled together on a big ole rock just past the water line. Again, I say, "CRAZY!"

We saw animals in plenty along this hike. From the beach we saw some sort of raptor (gotta look this fellow up still), and while my photo is a little blurry (sucker was FAST), I did manage to at least get a shot. This bird was watching up from a high nearby perch before winging down over the water and going after something below the waves. What a beauty!

My second oldest daughter was having a heyday digging around in the tide pools and under rocks finding crabs and starfish and even a baby salamander! Here she is with one of the many crabs she found. She played amateur biology professor to us all as she talked about the critters she was finding. She didn't want to leave and the only way I was able to tear her away was by tempting her with the next beach....

So we "packed up" and headed off towards the lighthouse. Along the way is a great little marshy area where we spied lots of ducks and even a turtle soaking up the sun on a convenient stump.

Disappointingly enough, the lighthouse was covered in plastic and we didn't get to enjoy it. But the beach was gorgeous all the same, and the kids all had a blast poking around, discovering even more critters such as this cute little hermit crab.

My second oldest daughter gathered quite a collection of crabs, hermit crabs, starfish, and even a sea snail, to show them around before releasing them back to their homes. She made quite the miniature temporary aquarium out of a large clam shell to show them off.

She wasn't the only one finding treasures, though! I don't think a single child in our group didn't walk away finding at LEAST one neat thing for the day. Pretty rocks, neat sea shells, elusive critters... Discovery Park really does have it all. Who needs to drive to the Ocean to enjoy all this? It's right here in our own backyard.

Those that didn't play in the rocks took advantage of the convenient driftwood logs and warmed themselves in the sun....

The walk back was nice as well, although I really do think there's something different about the stairs on the up side... They seem a lot harder going up!! But the views (in spite of the sewage treatment plant) were gorgeous, and we took our time meandering our way up the second set of stairs (okay, okay, let's be honest- panting and gasping our way up the second set of stairs). It wasn't long before we were back to the parking lot, ready to end our exciting adventure.

I've already rescheduled this hike for a repeat trip in May. Let's pray the weather is as a pretty then!

Signs of Spring

Meetup Calendar Entry

Hike Guide: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Seattle by Andrew Weber and Bryce Stevens

Region: Seattle
Difficulty Level: Easy (7)
Roundtrip Distance: 3 miles
Elevation Gain: 200 feet
Type of Hike: Loop
Nearby City: Seattle
GPS Coordinates: 47° 39' 28.91'' N 122° 24' 23.05'' W
Season: Year round
Dogs Welcome: Yes, but not on beach
Fees: None

PNW Leisure Hiking turns 1!!

2010-02-18T09:29:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year since I started PNW Leisure Hiking! Time has flown!

I have found myself telling this story often lately, so here it is again....

Last March was our first hike with PNWLH, and it was a simple one- it was just over a half mile (although I think we went a tiny bit further exploring), and less than 100 feet elevation gain. We got back to the beautiful, blessed, parking lot and I was so proud of myself (rightfully so), even though I was hugging and puffing so hard. I went home, took a shower, and slept the rest of the afternoon. Holy cow that was tough!

That was a year ago, and now I'm doing 6 miles with 300+ feet of elevation. Was it hard work? Absolutely. Do I have a long ways to go yet? You betcha. But I've done it! I know there are tougher hikers out there who scoff at 6 measly miles- but I am downright proud of myself for getting this far!

I know many of our members have similar success stories, whether it was making it through a specific hike, or even just showing up for a hike! Every little step is a step in the right direction towards living a happier, healthier life, and each tiny step is one to be celebrated.

So Happy Birthday PNWLH! Here's to many, many more birthdays!

Cougar Mountain Exploration

2010-02-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

It's the worst feeling in the world- when one of your little ones disappears and you don't know for certain where she (or he) is! Usually, my tykes are pretty darn good about letting me know where they are at all times. Unfortunately none of my kidlets are shy in any sense of the word, and they tend to latch on to their favorite "hiking buddies" and tramp the woods with them. (I think part of the reason is that Mum hikes tooooooo slow for them!) My youngest daughter (age 7- below left photo aka Cinnamon Toast Crunch) did the disappearing act on me today. I assumed and hoped she was with awesome PNWLH member Diane, but I didn't know for sure until towards the end of the hike when Diane called me on my cell to check in and let me know for sure that my daughter was with her. I promptly saved Diane's number in my phone just in case of any future emergencies and finished my hike with a sense of extreme relief...

Anyhow... Our day's adventure started out right smack dab in the parking lot! Member Diane (the God-send who had my youngest daughter safely in hand) had some giant cereal boxes in her car, and so my kidlets took turns being... well, giant boxes of cereal. LOL- Never a dull moment with PNWLH!

So this hike we started out at the Sky Country trail head, Cougar Mountain's "newest" trail head (opened in 2005), and it was a nice change to have a mostly-empty lot to leave from rather than the insanely busy Red Town trailhead. Definitely worth exploring future hikes from! This was only my second time leaving from Sky Country.

One of the neat things about Sky Country is that it begins its hikes relatively close to the former Nike missile site. Unfortunately, all that really remains of the site is a meadow (where you can find the the metal launch doors beneath the grass if you're curious), some cement, and one tiny out building (a former guard booth). In my childhood days, I often took breaks beneath one of the two lopsided, creaky structures that still stood then. Cougar Mountain had an active anti-aircraft radar installation and Nike missile base in the 40s-50s.

We certainly had a wonderful adventure today! In spite of a little drizzle, and in spite of how distracted I am sure I was wondering about my kidlet, I had an amazing time whiling away our hike with my oldest son, my middle daughter, our puppers Lily, and member Mark (who I am ashamed to admit I referred to as Mike the entire trip... another apology Mark!!! I'm so bad with names....) aka Mine Hunter. My kids, of course, were filled with a trillion questions and Mark patiently answered every one, and even pointed out some of the neat things we came across. The photo to the right is just one of the many stops to check out neat things- one of the ways to encourage your children to enjoy tramping about in the woods (other than doing so on a drizzly day, which of course resulted in lots of MUD to stomp about in) is to let the kidlets take things at their pace and explore their surroundings.

My kids crack me up sometimes, though, let me tell you! My son made up a song on the spot... something about "whose scat is that." Geez... The wonder of animal bodily functions, eh? Leave it to the boy...

Even Lily took home her share of the muck and mud. Her legs were brown from the bellow down. LOL!

We eventually meandered our way to one of the coal mines that abound on Cougar Mountain, and Mark and my middle daughter had a grand ole time testing the strength and tenacity of the grate covering! ;) Fortunately, the grate held up (wonder how many years that rebar has held up now?). My son and I safely waited on the nice, firm cement edging and rooted them on. Thank you, but no.

I looked up the information for this particular coal mine once I was warm and dry again at home. This shaft apparently leads to the No. 4 seam of the abandoned Primrose Mine on Cougar Mountain (N 47° 31.735 W 122° 05.978). From 1863 to 1963 (a full century!) the Eastside was a coal-mining center. The city of Newcastle produced more than 200,000 tons of coal annually at its peak in the 1880s and was the second-largest city in the county after Seattle, bustling with more than 600 homes, a rail line, hotels, stores and churches.

According to Mark's handy GPS, we completed approximate 4.75 miles and about 325 feet of elevation gain! Not bad for a wet Saturday afternoon! All in all it was a great hike, and I can't wait to hit the trail again!

Total miles so far for 2010: 16.15

Update on DNR Fee Legislation

2010-02-12T09:11:00.000-08:00

So there's been an update on the DNR issues of closures vs fees. Apparently the new revisions may include use fees for access to some of the most popular hiking areas in Washington (like Mount Si and Rattlesnake Ledge). You may remember from my earlier post that these areas have faced potential closure imposed by budget cuts.

The recommended strategy now is to charge use fees (similar to the NW Forest Pass). These would include:

$5 one-time parking pass
$10 camping per night fee
$20 annual access pass for parking and camping
Flat $200 administration fee for events
Annual pass awarded for 50 hours of volunteer work on DNR lands

I for one would prefer to see a system like this initiated rather than closing DNR lands; however (and this is a big 'however'), I also think the better option is to spend the $500,000+ for DNR to go through with a public, multi-agency process such as the NW Forest Pass. Of course politicians are rarely looking at the long picture, and in reality the cost of setting up, studying, and collecting on the above fees is going to cost DNR as well! I know that $500,000 is a lot of money, but in the long run the money coming in from these use fees will help contribute towards the one-time fee.

But what do I know? I'm just the average citizen hoping against hope that these beautiful areas won't be closed before I have a chance to enjoy them!

For more information, check out: http://www.wta.org/trail-news/signpost/dnr-fee-legislation-revised

2010 Goal Update #1

2010-02-11T10:13:00.000-08:00

So I set several hiking-related goals for myself this year as part of my new years' resolutions.

#1: Hike 100 miles in 2010
#2: Meet my Goal Hike in June (10 miles, 600 feet elevation gain).
#3: Keep PNWLH going strong

I think I can wipe #3- there's every chance PNWLH will continue to be the success it was starting out. I'm working hard on #2- I've completed one of the build-up goal hikes already (Coal Creek Falls).

As for #1, well I'm certainly off to a good start! I do need to keep closer track of my miles though! I'd hate to reach the end of the year at 98 miles or something. ;)

So far in 2010:
1/9 Ford Slope Mine & North Fork Falls- .9 mi- 100 ft*- Easy (3)- SEVERAL OPTIONS
1/9 Coal Creek Falls- 2.5 miles- 350 feet- Easy (7)*- Continuation Hike (only completed 1 mile)
TOTAL: 1.9 miles
1/17 Cougar Mountain Ramble- 1 mi, 100 ft, Easy (5)-GOOD BEGINNER HIKE!
TOTAL: 2.9 miles
1/24 Coal Creek Falls via Redtown- 2.5 mi- 350 ft- Easy/Moderate (8)- GOAL HIKE!
TOTAL: 5.4 miles
2/7 Snoqualmie Falls Viewpoint via Preston-Snoq. Rail Trail- 3.6 mi- 50 ft- Easy (3) (ended up taking two pieces to make 6 miles tracked via GPS)
TOTAL: 11.4

Looks like I need to pick it up a bit! If I accomplish all the hikes currently scheduled for 2010 on our calendar (there are a lot of months with few no hikes so far), then I will hike 73.25 miles, so at least I think it's a realistic goal. ;)

Yay for me!! (Giving myself a hearty pat on the back).

Be smart- leave the valuables at home!

2010-02-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

I had a discussion this last weekend with some of our hikers, and I was stunned to find out that at one of our recent hikes, a member's vehicle had been broken into and her purse was stolen. Unfortunately, shortly after the shock wore off, my brain flashed back to my job as a paralegal, and I realized that this all too common.

Please, please, please- be smart and leave your valuables at home. I carry my vehicle insurance card, my license, my medical insurance card, and my debit card all tucked into a pocket on my pack. Nothing else is left in my car. I leave my purse and my wallet at home. I urge you to do the same.

Sometimes thieves will sit in their cars and watch hikers as they lock their belongings in the trunk or tuck them under their seats. With interior trunk release latches common in most vehicles, it's simple to break into your car by shattering a window or jimmying a lock with a screwdriver and access your stuff. Especially at busy trail heads like the Red Town trail head on Cougar Mountain, there is no way to tell who is coming or going or if someone is watching you.

So please, please, use common sense and leave your belongings at home. If you insist on putting a purse or wallet in the trunk, then please do so before reaching the trail head and parking. Don't make it easy for thieves.

/end soapbox

PNW Leisure Hiking Meetup Group

2010-02-09T12:59:00.000-08:00

So yesterday's hike really got me thinking. I mean, I'm used to decent turnouts (I would say an average of twelve people most hikes), but Sunday was frankly amazing with 39 people showing up to hike.

Which is where we come to me over-thinking... again... ;) I don't want our Meetup Group to garner a reputation of tramping about and ruining trails, of course. But where do I set the limit on the number of hikers that can participate?

Right now, I do restrict some hikes- usually it's based on size of the parking lot at the trail head, and/or rules or laws that restrict the number of people. I try to take into consideration that there are other people hiking too, and that we need to be especially careful in fragile areas. But hikes in publicly-open areas, like Discovery Park, are not restricted, and let me tell ya, right now there are 70+ people RSVPed "yes" for that hike on February 21!

Last year the Discovery Park hike was the biggest turnout we'd had (30 people), and we've already surpassed that several times (ie Sunday was 39 people, counting children). Most of our hike RSVPs usually get around a 2/3 showing (so about 2/3 of the people who RSVP "yes" tend to show). However, Sunday's hike had only 40 "yes" RSVPs.

But I cannot imagine taking 70 people up into the real wilderness (Discovery Park hardly counts)! So for those hikes with no limit set, is it best to set a limit now? RSVPs don't open until 60 days before most of those hikes, in order to make it fair to all members to have a chance to sign up. Also, there are often members that sign up, RSVP for all the hikes, and then never participate again. Hardly fair for newbies, which is what really initiated my policy with a 60-day RSVP opening.

We currently have 225 members in PNW Leisure Hiking, and at least half of those people are complete and utter newbies to hiking- many have never even been out at a park much less in the wilderness. And while most of our hikes are pretty darn tame, our group setting is still a safe option for them. I'm very strict about upholding my participation policy, as well, so that 225 members is quite accurate (that policy requires members to log in to the PNWLH Meetup Group website at least once every 60 days).

Anyhow, I suppose it will require some more thinking and stewing about the situation. I think our Meetup Group is amazing, and awesome, and wonderful. We have such a fantastic, supportive member base. And I want to keep it that way. ;)

Snoqualmie Falls Viewpoint (AKA "Our 3.6 mile hike that turned into 6 miles")

2010-02-07T14:00:00.000-08:00

ow, what adventures we have!! I think I may get a complex on how trying some of these new trails has been turning out! Read on...

Sooo...... we had an amazing turnout today, 39 people total!! Wow!! I was worried the poor tiny little parking lot at the trail head wouldn't be big enough, but I apparently didn't have enough faith in the creativity of our members! Everyone parked just fine. We got started right on time, and I think this was the first hike that I had to almost yell so everyone could hear me way in the back. ;)

It was nicely misty as we started out down the trail that led straight away from the trail head. The trail was as wide as a one-lane road, nicely and neatly paved. The mist that blanketed the trees around us seemed surreal, and the moss-encrusted branches gave me the impression of being in storybook woods. Lush greenery dripped along either side of the trail, and I was having a grand old time enjoying the peace and quiet with some new members, getting to know them a little better. I was fortunate to meet Member Mine Hunter, whose blog I have been following for some time now. I'm sure our hikes are pretty tame to some of his explorations, but it was great to visit with him! His sense of adventure is keen, and just trying to look at the rail trail through his eyes was exciting!

Mine Hunter had a young guest along who was tracking our progress with a GPS, and at about a mile in, I received a call on my cell phone. I know, I know- cell phones are usually taboo in the woods- but I'm USUALLY pretty good about putting it on silent, and I really do feel that if we have a signal, I should have it on in case anyone gets turned around or lost- and of course today was a great day to have it on. Member Nikki called me up to describe where they were and decide which direction they were supposed to go, and I got totally and completely confused. I whipped out my handy hike guide and map, and examined it closely. Then I turned it sideways and looked again. I even tried it upside down. Nothing was making sense. Then Mine Hunter gave me a sidelong look before pulling out his topo map, and we all had a good laugh when he pointed out that we went the wrong way from the trail head!

Okay, okay... I never did claim to have a great sense of direction. But as I mentioned to Member Tina in the car on the way there, I may not be good at not getting lost, but I am pretty darn good at getting UN-lost! Sooo.... we met up with everyone at about 1.2 miles and turned back to the trail head. Some of our members who were only anticipating a 3.6 mile round trip hike were done for the day, and another short visiting session was incurred while people mingled and decided who wanting to continue on the way we were supposed to go. My entire van-full wanted to continue and so we crossed the road and continued on.

This side of the trail was still lovely, but there were more signs of civilization. Signs, a one-lane road to cross, views into neighboring backyards, and even a few horses peering over a fence as we passed by. We eventually meandered to the end of the trail and were fortunate to enjoy a clearing of the misty fog to enjoy the distant view of Snoqualmie Falls across the Valley. Several benches marked a pleasant, quiet resting area to sit and contemplate the days' journey. Our group did not disappoint, being spread few and far between, and we were all able to garner a few moments of peace.

I have to say that part of the fun of being outdoors is exploring new territory, and this day was no exception. If we had not turned the wrong way in the beginning, we would have missed out on an exquisite stretch of trail. And I for one would make the trip to travel that section again.

Special notes to myself: It look us 10 minutes LESS than Google Maps predicted, and apparently it worked that way for several other of our members as well! Small parking lot with a little bit of side-of-the-road space, but not a lot. Pit toilet. Fully-paved trail. 6 miles round trip both sides from trail head.

Meetup Calendar Entry

Hike Guide: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Seattle by Andrew Weber and Byrce Stevens

Region: Snoqualmie/I-90
Difficulty Level: Easy (3)
Roundtrip Distance: 3.6 miles
Elevation Gain: 50 feet
Type of Hike: Out-and-Back
Nearby City: Fall City
GPS Coordinates: N 47 33.049, W 121 53.252
Season: Year-Round
Dogs Welcome: Yes, on leash
Fees: None

Coal Creek Falls via Redtown... Again

2010-01-24T14:34:00.000-08:00

First of all, whoa- a picture of me (in the stylish red hat).

This is, quite frankly, one of my favorite local hikes. Granted, starting out on a long up-slope tends to get me cursing under my breath (in-between gasps and pants, of course), but I think the falls as well as the hike itself is really quite worth it: 2.5 miles, around 350 feet of elevation gain, and an approachable waterfall with a fun bridge spanned before it.

While today was misty and damp, we were spared a good downpour. The trail head was bustling as usual, and we had a decent turnout (19 people).

I loved this hike, as I always do, but I could feel that itching under the skin that's a sure sign that I'm wanting a little more adventure; I'm happy that our next hike is off Cougar.

My oldest daughter had a fine time as well! Member Hilary introduced her to the wonders of geocaching! While they were unable to locate the cache near the actual falls, they were able to find one in the beginning of the hike and the one at Ballpark Meadow! The photo here was taken by Member Hilary.

I think we may have a budding geocacher on our hands! I also think that investigating geocaches along our routes is another challenge that I am up to, and I can even dust off the hand-held GPS unit for it!

Cougar Mountain Ramble- short and sweet

2010-01-17T15:54:00.000-08:00

Today was a perfect hike. My knee has been acting up (gave out twice at work last week) and I'm exhausted from a busy week, so our 1 mile jaunt was a good way to de-stress! We enjoyed this leisurely stroll from Redtown, stopping at Ballpark Meadow and Ford Slope along the way. This was a rare opportunity for me to try a direction I hadn't been in ages, though, and make the return trip on the Wildside trail. Except for a few very mucky (aka slickery) spots at the end, it was a great hike!

Being Informed- DNR Closures

2010-01-12T12:38:00.000-08:00

I've never been very good at keeping informed about the latest and greatest news- I rarely watch the news or pick up a paper. I don't know which starlet is dating which hunky star, or which senator is sleeping around on his/her spouse. I find the news depressing.

But I do try to keep informed about some subjects, and the pending DNR closures are one of them. Senator Gregoire strikes again, and the axe is hanging over the necks of more than 20 trail systems and campgrounds, including Little Si, Mount Si, and Rattlesnake Ledge. Also on the list are the McLane Creek Nature Trail in Capitol Forest near Olympia and the Mima Mounds Interpretive Center near Littlerock. We're scheduled to visit McLane in April, and we visited Mima Mounds last May.

Why are these trail systems and campgrounds on the chopping block? It all comes down to one thing: Money. You might ask, why do these places need money? They're outdoors, part of nature. But you have to consider the costs of keeping these places accessible: trail maintenance and repair; upkeep and replacement on signs, picnic tables, fences and parking areas; pumping outhouses; emptying garbage cans; and training volunteers.

The DNR is frantically seeking options to the closures, including potentially turning to fee-based usage, much like the National Forests do now (NW Forest Pass). I think this is a capital idea, and I for one would be more than happy to pay fees for usage. I already subscribe to my annual NW Forest Pass. I think that having the trail USERS be the parties responsible for funds is the ideal way to go. Will I look forward to having to pay for the use? Well of course not- in these lean times we all have to stretch our dollar as far as it will go. But if my choice is closed trails vs paying for them, I am certainly going to choose paying for them.

According to the Seattle Times: "Statewide, the DNR manages some 2.2 million acres of multiple-use forestland, home to not just timber-harvesting activities but also some 1,100 miles of trails and 143 recreation sites, as well as a wide variety of protected landscapes."

Anyhow, that's just my two cents, for what it's worth!

Sources:
Budget woes could close Mount Si and other state trails, by John Dodge, Seattle Times 1/11/09

Cougar Mountain- Red Town adventure

2010-01-09T13:40:00.000-08:00

So this was a nice adventure. I decided to split this hike into two sections- to give some of our "bare beginner" hikers a chance to shake off some of the holiday grunge too. First part: a short trip across the street from Red Town trail head to North Fork Falls, back to the trail head then another short jaunt to the Ford Slope mine. Then back to the trail head, and off to Coal Creek Falls. Our second hike consisted of the typical Coal Creek Falls loop (Red Town to Cave Hole, to Coal Creek Falls, to Quarry, to Indian Trail, then back).

First of all, the weather was AMAZING! It cleared up nice and early, and there was plenty of parking at 10:00, which was a blessing for sure! 25 people showed up for the first hike!! Holy schmolly!! Fortunately, we hiked typical PNW Leisure Hiking style, with no more than 3-4 max in a group at a time as we moseyed on across the street to explore the North Fork Falls.We were able to enjoy the new facilities for a few moments, with many of our members snapping off photos of the falls and the nearby cascade. I thought it was pretty funny that nearly everyone went right past the coal mine without even noticing it until I made a comment.

Then we crossed back to visit Ford Slope, then back to the parking lot. I have to laugh, because this was the EXACT same hike we did before (except we did Ford Slope first and North Fork second) as our VERY first hike with PNW Leisure Hiking. I remember shambling back to the parking lot, calves aching, and ready to drop. I went home that day, took a shower, and slept for the rest of the afternoon. Sheesh! Well I suppose we all have to start somewhere! ;) Now it's just a fairly nice warm-up. But it was REALLY nice to give some of our beginner hikers a chance to have a taste of what's to come as they become more fit.

I overestimated our time for the first hike a bit, so I waved everyone else (except for two members who were done) on ahead while I hung back at the parking lot for the group members appearing for only the second hike, which was a round-trip to Coal Creek falls. Three more members showed up and I headed out with them. It was about 1/2 mile up the trail that I decided I couldn't continue on. I have had a bad cough and cold this week, and I was wheezing pretty strenuously at this point. When I began to get dizzy and see fantastically colored splotches in my vision, I told my hiking partners I was turning back . I made use of my ever-so-handy cell phone to call up to the group members further ahead so someone else would know I where was as well, and I headed back to the trail head with just my puppers, Lily, for company. My two daughters who had joined me today were already up ahead with other hikers, so I just kicked back with my hubby's sweatshirt to soak up the rain off the damp bench at the trail head and I relaxed and chatted with another member who had hung back.

The best part of the day was the look on everyone's face as they came down the trail and saw that I had BEAT THEM to the trail head! LMAO! I got a good laugh before explaining about 6 different times how I had turned back. No, I am not suddenly a marathon-trail-runner, passing them all and taking shortcuts! Haha!

I think it was the wisest decision I could have made, and there will be other days to tackle the falls. And on a side note, while my knee is aching fiercely, it held up nicely.

December 20 Epic Fail

2010-01-08T23:30:00.000-08:00

So.. for those that didn't know, after my awesome success accomplishing my entire 6-mile hike on December 20, I came home and promptly tripped over a stool, tearing something in my bad knee yet again. Sigh...

When I was in High School, I was riding my horse (stupidly) in the rain (moronically) and while going over a jump my horse slid. I went flying off the horse, and landed with my leg over the tree we were jumping. The horse then fell on my leg. Fortunately for me, the log was pretty rotten so it gave some, and my knee wasn't completely destroyed.

Over the years the lack of physical activity (aka "desk job") hasn't contributed to helping keep my knee strong, and one of the reasons I hike is to build it back up.

Well let's just say that I set myself back a bit with the stupid stool and leave it at that.

Someone asked me recently, "oh did you hurt it hiking?"

"Yeah. Yeah, we'll go with that." :Looking around angelically:

Coal Creek Park (Goal Hike)

2009-12-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

Ok this hike took all the sass outta me! Whew!!!! What a workout!! A great one, don't get me wrong, but wow! This was my most challenging hike yet (which was the purpose of the hike). We all met at the trail head at Red Town and then headed out (lots of no-shows for some reason, maybe the threatening weather?) across Lakemont to the Coal Creek Park trail. I've headed down this hike several times but never went much further than the neat wooden staircase a ways after North Fork Falls, and discovered that I had hiked a ways from the other direction as well, off Coal Creek, but I had never completed the entire route before, so I was definitely in for an adventure!

Starting out, feeling thankful that the trail had been reopened after some closures last year, we discovered that the kiosk which used to be at the end of the small connector trail had been moved up to the main trail, now blocking access to the connector trail. The access from here (across from the cemented in-gloomy looking coal mine labeled "mine shaft" on the map) has been closed for some time due to washouts. Looks like rather than rebuilding the "powers that be" have decided to be done with it.

We continued on, came around the corner, and I literally stopped dead. Wow!!! What a change!! Just a handful of months ago, the trail passed right before a ramshackle fence before North Fork Falls, with some grimy rickety benches. Now, the trail has been routed a distance from the falls, with two beautiful new benches and a nice cleared area right before a new fence in front of the falls. Now the falls almost look shabby with the newness surrounding them! ;)

A new fence has been installed around the small cascade just past the falls as well, and the entire area has been cleared, the trail has been widened, and it looks like someone is shoring up the hillside nearby.

Very, very nice. After a brief rest to admire the changes, we continued on. The neat wooden staircase (it's a darn good thing I'm not any rounder or I wouldn't fit!) was a pleasure, as always. Along the way we admired all the strange bric-a-brac left behind by the coal mining days; strange half-walls of cement and pieces of cable buried partway in the ground.

We reached a place that I remember being a meadow with a slight path through it. Well, not anymore!! Now it's a wide gravel road leading into the woods. We followed said road, uncertain which way we were supposed to be going. The road led down a big hill and around, and then we found a well-worn trail to follow... which ended abruptly at a raging Coal Creek. Hmm... We decided to go back (up the big hill... pant... pant....) and take another trail we had seen. There were no signs anywhere.

Apparently we were on the right path now, and we followed it through the woods and over a rather dubious log-bridge (one at a time, folks, just in case!) and then over a few brand-new bridges reeking of chemicals. The new bridges are gorgeous, although I think they stand out in the shady woods like a sore thumb. Hopefully some weathering will tone them down a bit.

Looking out over the water, I could see fallen trees everywhere. Many had been chainsawed through already, and this evidence brought a gut-churning realization that this area must have been quite damaged indeed to have been closed so long. In some places the trail had been absolutely crumbling, and it was definitely a prerogative to watch our footing carefully. Indeed several trials, including the promised Primrose trail, appear to have been closed off permanently.

We finally reached Coal Creek Parkway, and took a much-needed span of time to catch our breath and gobble a quick snack. Someone (not one of our party) had dropped a car key- what a nightmare that would be! We placed it on one of the post-tops and headed back the way we'd come. We didn't see any other hikers until we were most of the way to the Coal Creek trailhead. But on the way back, we passed quite a few people from a gentleman with two tiny toddlers to an entire tourist-laden family.

I was drooping pretty well by about another mile out, and my knee was alternating between throbbing and being numb. At this point I was pretty sure my fellow hikers would have to carry my sorry carcass out of the woods. But with some encouragement from our crew I made it, and the sight of the parking lot has never been sweeter.

I'd do this hike again in a heartbeat- after a weeks of recuperation of course.

Meetup Calendar Entry

Hike Guide: 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Seattle by Andrew Weber and Byrce Stevens

Difficulty Level: Moderate (10)
Roundtrip Distance: 6 miles
Elevation Gain: 550 feet
Type of Hike: Out-and-Back
Nearby City: Issaquah
GPS Coordinates: N 47 33.25, W 122 09.983
Season: Year-Round
Dogs Welcome: Yes, on leash
Fees: None

What is a Round Rover?

2009-12-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

I had someone ask me today "What do you mean by Round Rover?"

I just had to laugh. So, what exactly do I mean by that phrase? Well, let's see.... I'm pretty round... and roving is traveling... so to put it bluntly, I'm an overweight hiker. LOL! Round Rover just sounds much nicer. ;) I thought about the Fluffy Puffer.... but hopefully I won't be Puffing forever! ;)

With a bum knee (from a childhood horseback riding accident), gym workouts always left me wanting more. Losing weight has been a challenge since having my first kid. That was thirteen years ago (sigh). And while my weight has leveled off, it's been a struggle to try to lose it. I've adjusted diet and lifestyle as much as possible when I work full time and have five kidlets to care for. Unfortunately, sometimes convenience has to win out over healthy (hamburger helper anyone?).

But I'm getting there. I have fond childhood memories of hiking. The best memories I have of my family before my parents' rather nasty divorce were of hiking and camping. I can only vaguely remember specific locations, but certain pieces stand out bold as can be. Carbon Glacier; the magnificence of the glacier and the giddy terror of the suspension bridge, my brother too scared to cross so we had to turn back. A big waterfall, the awe felt in staring up and up and up and feeling the mist paint my face. Gigantic trees towering over everything, creating an artificial twilight upon the forest floor.

By taking it one hike at a time, I've built my endurance up. I'm pretty damn proud of myself.

Snoquera Falls- 6.0 mi- 2800 ft- Very Difficult (25)

2009-12-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I am a complete and total waterfall addict. ;) And some of the most gorgeous waterfalls abound in Western Washington!! I know I've been to many, many of them as a child, but I honestly don't really remember the specifics too much- so I guess it's time to create new memories!

So one Falls I'm dying to visit is Snoquera Falls in the South Cascades. It's outside of my hiking abilities at the moment, but one day.... It's rated Very Difficult (25) according to the PNWLH Custom Hike Rating System.

Here's the link on WTA, using information from Day Hiking Snoqualmie Region by Dan A. Nelson and Alan L. Bauer: WTA: Snoquera Falls

Here is the link on one of my favorite Waterfall websites: Waterfalls Northwest

Hiking "Bucket List"

2009-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

So one of our members told me that she had a list of hikes she wanted to do someday (sooner rather than later), and that got me thinking. I keep folding down pages in my many, many hike guide books, dreaming about this hike or that. I think it would be a great idea for me to start my own version of her list- a Hiking "Bucket List" so to say. I won't judge my want-to-go hikes based on difficulty but rather on the hike itself. :) Which means it may be years before I can attempt some of these hikes, but like the old saying goes, "one day at a time!"

So I guess that means a new "label" for my blog! "Bucket List"!

Goal Hikes

2009-12-16T01:38:00.000-08:00

I started a new thing for PNWLH. I decided to give myself a goal- I'll decide whether or not it's realisitic once I get closer to that goal. I'm aiming for Otter and Big Creek Falls (PNWLH Rating Moderate 13; 10 miles 650 ft) by the end of June. To some that might not seem like a very big goal, but considering that at the beginning of 2009 I could barely hike a mile, I'm thinking that's a pretty realistic goal.

So what I decided to do was create a series of hikes with the message GOAL HIKE in the title. These hikes will use the PNWLH "Custom Hike Rating System" which has proven to be much more reliable for us rounder rovers than the typical 1-5 ratings most guidebooks use. These hikes are designed to push myself a little harder through 2010. These hikes will progress in difficulty over six months. I have participated in several level 10 hikes so far, but nothing over such a long distance. So I guess it will be an interesting time period for me! ;)

I encourage all of our members to attempt the Goal Hikes. The nice thing is, if you have problem on one of the hikes, you'll know that you should stick to no more than that level for awhile. Move on when you are ready.

I'm looking forward to the challenge, because there are a WHOLE lot of hikes I'd like to attempt, but until I know how far I can push myself, I won't schedule them. So I'm very much looking forward to the adventure!!

Itching to get out

2009-12-11T12:02:00.000-08:00

Isn't it funny? Nearly a year ago, while I was pushing myself to get started hiking, after a hike I was almost dreading the next one. While my muscles felt GREAT after the incredible workout- there's nothing like the feeling- I was usually so stiff and sore that the next upcoming hike filled me with trepidation. Now, however, after that long, exciting year, if I wait more than a week between hikes I start itching to get out. Not just for the exercise, although that's a part of it (call me a workout junkie- my body always feels so GOOD after a good workout), but for the balm to my soul that just being in nature gives me. Even when I'm pounding (staggering?) down the trail, exhausted, ready to drop, egging myself on to get to the next goalpost (just one more tree, come on you can make it, just get to the next tree and you can rest), just being in the woods is soothing. The sounds: water trickling through creek beds, the roar of a waterfall thundering over a cliff, birdsong chiming or cawing or chirping. The smells: fresh sharp pine, clean dirt, wildflowers found nowhere else. The sights: trees stretching up into eternity, the sun pouring through branches, colors in every hue like a blanket thrown across a meadow. There is nothing like it. Even the small miracles, a salamander, a snail, a flower, a spider's sparkling web... every bit and piece melds together to make an entrancing experience.

And best of all? Experiencing everything this drop-dead gorgeous state has to offer. Taking that experience with me, letting it change me and sink into my soul.

Sigh... only another week and I'll be back on the trails again. Surely I can hold out that long. ;)

My Favorite Piece of Hiking Gear: Seattle Sombrero

2009-12-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

If you've ever hiked with me, then you've seen my goofy-looking hat. It's actually an awesome coordination of fabric which is my favorite piece of gear. Yes, even more beloved than my pack or my boots or my favorite hiking socks.

My bright red hat is a Seattle Sombrero by Outdoor Research. I managed to get lucky and I picked mine up for sale at REI.com for less than $20. But honestly, even with the steep price tag (currently selling at REI.com for $54.00), it's worth every penny.

Designed in rainy, misty Pacific Northwest, my hat is waterproof, highly breathable and wind resistant. Not only does my Sea Somb fend off rain, it also provides protection from the sun's harmful UV rays. The waterproof, breathable Gore-Tex/Taslan nylon crown and moisture-moving WickLine lining work together to keep my dry and comfy! I can turn up the brim and secure it with a Velcro closure tab on one or both sides. There's a handy chin strap to keep my hat from flying away (seriously, it's already come in handy a few times). And for that perfect fit, my hat has an internal cinch-band adjustment system. Also, the foam stiffened brim floats! So if I go and fall into a river, at least my hat will survive!

I even wear my trusty hat on a daily basis, and I love that I can fold it up and stuff it into a pocket if needed.
Better yet, my beloved hat is guaranteed forever. I sincerely believe that, too! On a recent hike another member had her Sea Somb, and she'd had hers for 20 years.

Weight: 3.1 oz, Backpacker® Magazine's 2005 Editor's Choice Gold Award.
Photo copyright Kirk Salomon

Great holiday gift for the hiker in your family!

2009-12-09T11:41:00.000-08:00

I can tell you right now that I would be thrilled to find this gem under the tree!!

Winter Hikes of Western Washington

From Amazon.com: "Product Description

A smart and portable way to get to the trailhead all year long Featuring the author's recommended trails for off-season hiking, the Winter Hikes Deck of Western Washington is a versatile pack of outdoor options. From lowland routes and rainforest rambles to coastal tramps and protected peaks, each card features a route description on one side and a map on the other. The deck includes twenty never-before-published hikes. Additional cards provide essentials for winter hiking, an index of hikes, and information on winter flora and fauna.
*Cards include tips for side trips or "warm up" spots
*Portable--take a card and go"

Mercer Slough and Bellefields Parks

2009-12-06T15:51:00.000-08:00

Mercer Slough and Bellefields Parks were a great walk. Of course they would have been better with some signage. We wandered around for 1.1 miles more than our planned 2.1 mile hike, wandering around in a potential no-trespass zone for awhile before deciding to turn around and go back (rather than hop the fence). The printed map from our hike guide was pretty much useless, and the wonderful information provided by a convenient Bellevue Parks Department employee only got us as far as the entrance to the trailhead.

But.... great company certainly does make for a good time, and all in all, I had a blast! I did have to laugh at myself a little though. Put me in the woods and I seem to navigate ok. Put me in a park and apparently I get lost. LOL!!!

Great hike, awesome participants, and now that the area is a LOT more familiar, this will make a great future "hike." Sometimes it's really, really nice to stay local! Getting to the parking lot was a little chancy too, so for future hikes I will make directions VERY clear now that I know where I am going.

Calendar Entry on Meetup.com
Hike Guide: 60 Hikes within 60 Miles Seattle by Bryce Stevens

Difficulty Level: Easy (4)
Roundtrip Distance: 2.1 miles
Elevation Gain: 100 feet
Type of Hike: Figure “8” Loop
Nearby City: Bellevue
GPS Coordinates: N 47 35.477, W 122 11.523
Season: Year Round
Dogs Welcome: Yes, on leash ONLY
Fees: None

Asahel Curtis Nature Trail

2009-11-28T21:00:00.000-08:00

This was a BEAUTIFUL short and easy hike. We started out crossing over Humpback Creek on a rather dubious looking bridge, and then continued into old-growth forest. The trail was part board-walk and bridge and part dirt, and was pretty well maintained other than a few small trees down over the trail. There are a some signs along the way on certain trees indicating what they are. Giant boulders litter the woods, and my youngest son wondered how they got there. We spent a few good minutes discussing the possibilities. While I was thinking more along the lines of glaciers, my 4-year-old was thinking spaceships and dinosaurs. LOL!

Surprisingly enough, we even encountered a little bit of snow along the way! I will definitely plan this hike again. Even my youngest son wasn't worn out afterward, and that's saying a whole lot!

Meetup Calendar Entry

Hike Guide: Day Hiking: Snoqualmie Region by Dan A. Nelson

Difficulty Level: Easy Rating (5)
Roundtrip Distance: 1 mile
Elevation Gain: 120 feet
Type of Hike: Out-and-Back and Loop
Sights (short form): Humpback Creek, massive old-growth trees
Dogs Welcome: Yes, on-leash
Fees: NW Forest Pass Required

Coal Creek Falls via Red Town Trailhead

2009-11-15T15:21:00.000-08:00

This was a great hike, one of my favorite local places to just drop in to. Unfortunately, this hike broke my Meetup record, and for the first event of all of my Meetups since February 2009, it rained. :) But the little group of us that braved the elements had a grand ole time anyhow, and the falls was gorgeous as always. In spite of the rain, the trail was in pretty good shape, and there wasn't even much mud.

My Flickr Set for This Hike
Meetup Calendar Entry
Hike Guide: None

Region: Issaquah Alps, Cougar Mountain
Difficulty Level: Easy (8)
Roundtrip Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 350 feet
Type of Hike: Loop
Nearby City: Issaquah, Bellevue
GPS Coordinates: 47° 32' 4.92'' N, 122° 7' 25.93'' W
Season: Year-round
Dogs Welcome: Yes, on leash
Fees: None

Anti-Aircraft Peak

2009-11-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

This was our group's second go at this hike, and it was just as gorgeous in the fall as it was during the warmer months. Starting out at the Anti-Aircraft Peak trail head, we explored lush woods dotted with small meadows. Leaves in every hue of the rainbow littered the trails. One of my cousins' daughters accompanied me (photo below).

One potentially disastrous event turned out MUCH better than it could have when one member dropped her camcorder through the iron grate covering an old mine. Fortunately, one of our members was quick on the draw and rescued the camera.

My Flickr Set for This Hike
Meetup Calendar Entry
Hike Guide: None

Difficulty Level: Moderate (10)
Roundtrip Distance: 3.9 mi
Elevation Gain: 600 ft
Type of Hike: Loop
Sights (short form): View, closed-off coal mine
Dogs Welcome: Yes

Twanoh State Park

2009-10-25T19:39:00.000-07:00

Well, we went looking for Salmon. There wasn't even enough water in the creek for the poor fishies to swim in, much less to migrate up it! But this hike was gorgeous! The drive up that way only whetted my anticipation- gorgeous fiery colors bleeding through the dark green pines lined the freeway. Twanoh is a gem of a park, although I'm not certain any other time of the year would have been as rewarding, since a large part of the charm was the flood of neon colored leaves bigger than my head which covered the trail.

My Flickr Set for This Hike
Meetup Calendar Entry
Hike Guide: Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula by Craig Romano

Actual Hike Start Time: 10:30 AM
Hike Rating: Easy
Roundtrip Distance: 2.3 miles
Elevation Gain: 375 feet
Type of Hike: Loop
Sights (short form): Salmon spawning, Twanoh Creek
Dogs Welcome: Yes
Location Hours: Dawn to Dusk
Fees: None

North Fork Falls, Ford Slope, Far Country Falls- Cougar Mountain

2009-02-24T21:36:00.000-08:00

Wow... Am I sore! But in the good, muscles-burning-because-they-had-a-good-workout way... :)

We decided to check out the trails today and see what they looked like, since it's been sooooooo long since I've been up on Cougar Mountain. It was a blast! Caiden, Avy, Tim and I had the chance to start breaking in our new hiking boots (shoes in Caiden's case) which we bought yesterday at Big 5 and Joe's.

So we started out at the Red Town Trailhead on Cougar Mountain. We crossed over to the North Fork Falls trail first Ok, ok, it's actually called the Coal Creek Trail, but I call it the North Fork Falls trail. It was in a bit of disrepair, I think because it's not officially in the Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park. Pieces of the log "bridges" were missing, although it was pretty easy to step around them. The coal mine of course was pretty cool, and spooky as usual. The waterfall was a bit of a disappointment, though. Unfortunately, our lack of rainfall lately hasn't been feeding the usually torrential fall, and it was just a bit of a trickle. Not that it wasn't pretty, don't get me wrong! It really was, but usually that entire red portion behind it (caused by the copper in the water) is covered with water.

Next we headed back to the car, deciding not to continue down the entire Coal Creek Trail. We'll save that for another day. I had forgotten how steep the end of the trail is, though, so I think I may switch the route next time and hit Ford Slope first.

So after a quick stop at the map and the portapotty, we headed towards Ford Slope.
The entire time, Lily rode in my vest, snuggled close to my chest.

So we headed off to Ford Slope. It was packed by this time, and parking had already been scarce when we got there at about 9:30. Lily was snoozing the entire time, and Avalin and Caiden were hopping around with energy. Me? Not so much. Try panting and stopping every three feet to catch my breath. Gasp!! I was doing very badly, but I kept on anyhow.... As we headed up the trail, I seemed to get my breath back a bit and after awhile I was doing better.

Ford Slope sure has changed over the years! It used to be a little fenced off mine, and although that's still there, the Park now has a display which I thought was pretty dang cool.

Tim, Caiden, Avy, and Lily of course were doing fine. Then again, Lily was still riding along. Then we decided to let Lily out for a potty break. She wasn't too sure about being on her own two feet in the woods, but she hopped along for awhile until she finally stopped, shivering, begging to be picked back up. LOL!

So since at this point I was feeling better, and able to breathe (as much as my cold would allow), we decided to go ahead and push on to Far Country Falls. It was a great hike, and a lot of fun. The most ironic thing about the Far Country Falls for me is that during my horseback riding days, I rode past the falls almost every weekend, and never even knew it. It's right off the trail, but you have to be able to hear it to know it's there. It's not very big, but it's pretty neat with the cool boulders. Then we decided to just hike a LITTLE further before turning around and coming back a different way.

We hiked past the Meadow Restoration Project on the way back, which I am completely, utterly stoked about! Then we headed out, and the parking lot was FULL FULL FULL!!! Holy cow!! There were people parked four and five deep- crazy!!!

It was a great hike, and I can't wait to get back out on the mountain!!