Astonishingly, sunshine has continued to stick around well into October, making for a truly glorious fall. I’ll take the cooler days and vibrant foliage of fall over the smoke and heat of summer any day! Over the weekend, Andy and I were roped into something neither of us were much looking forward to - family photos. Thankfully we didn’t have to get up too early, since my parents cabin isn’t terribly far away. Somehow, even though it’s October, we were all surprised by the chilly weather and spent a good part of the morning shivering between poses. As uncomfortable as the cold was, the frost and ice sparkled in the early morning light, and eventually the sun climbed high enough to reach the valley and provide some much needed warmth. Even if I had to be in front of the camera instead of behind it, it’s hard to beat a fall morning in the mountains. By the time we’d finished photos, it was early afternoon - perfect timing for Andy and I to stop at the pass for lunch and beers at Dru Bru! Since we’d both had exhausting weeks, Andy and I decided to take it easy Sunday by spending the day binge (re)watching Game of Thrones while keeping the apartment warm with a cozy fire. All around, not a bad way to spend a fall weekend!
Read moreLife: Week 40
Cider pressing with Andy’s family at their property on Vashon Island is my absolute favorite fall tradition. While it’s only a short ferry ride from Seattle, Vashon feels like a peaceful and remote retreat, far from the noise and bright lights of the city. After talking about it for years, this year Andy and I finally managed to spend the weekend in the Birdhouse - a tiny off-the-grid cabin nestled amid the old-growth maples. We got a late start Saturday morning, but still arrived on Vashon with plenty of time to wander around town, exploring main street and stocking up on pastries, tea, coffee, and cider. After all our drinking and window shopping, we loaded all our goodies into our packs for the short hike down to our home for the night. It was surprisingly cold in the Birdhouse, but our toasty sleeping bags kept us plenty warm!
Read moreLife: Week 39
For weeks, I’d hoped to spend the last weekend of September off on one last backpacking trip before a blanket of snow descended on the trails. Sadly, after an exhausting week for both Andy and me, those plans were canceled for a more restful weekend. Even if we weren’t going to spend the weekend camping in the mountains, I dreamed of a long hike near Mt Baker or Mt Rainier to soak in the autumnal wonderland that had been crowding my instagram feed all week. When Andy suggested a specific hike much closer to home on Sunday, I begrudgingly agreed. The trail we wound up on is close enough to home that we were able to sleep in and still make it to the trailhead at a decent hour, and I spent the short drive grumpy and feeling like I was missing out on a real adventure. After only a few minutes on the trail - which we had to ourselves! - I couldn’t help feeling a peaceful joy. Thoughts of grander trails disappeared as we climbed through the quiet maple forest. Social media makes it temptingly easy to chase the adventures of others, but this hike was a great reminder of the peace that can be found in the mountains when you venture off to a trail less traveled.
Read moreLife: Week 38
Fall is officially here, with grey skies and dark, rainy evenings. While my work days were hectic, I managed to make it through the week without working too much overtime, but Andy worked late almost every day. As much as I missed Andy, I enjoyed my quiet hours spent knitting before he’d finally get home for a late dinner. I’ve been making slow but steady progress on a new sweater for myself - one I can’t wait to finish now that cooler days are here. With Andy’s sister and her family in town for a visit, we spent the weekend close to home to make the most of our time with them. We even subjected ourselves to a Sunday spent watching football, where I attempted (with little success) to learn to follow the details of gameplay. I think in the future, I’ll stick to the trail while the Seahawks play where I feel a little more in my element!
Read moreA Weekend in Paradise
For many years, Rainier has been a bit of a tease, tempting me from afar with her beauty on the rare crisp cloudless days of fall and winter then hiding behind a dense veil of cloud in the summer when I make the drive down to hike on her shoulder. This summer Lady Rainier broke the spell, and for two glorious days spent camping and hiking with the most wonderful group of Alpine Trails Book Club ladies for our Weekend in Paradise I basked in the mountain’s glory.
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