Last summer, at one of the several WTA work parties we participated in, we heard rumors of something wonderful at Mt Rainier. You see, WTA partners with the national park on trail maintenance, and last summer they were focused on the Longmire area of the park. The reason everyone we talked to was excited about this is a not-so-secret secret: the Longmire Stewardship Campground. This quiet, mossy campground is available only to volunteers, and for the low cost of one day of volunteering, you get free park entry along with up to two nights camping in this magical spot! When WTA started up their 2019 trail work season in the park early in June, I was overjoyed to see that they'd be operating out of Longmire again, and immediately signed both Andy and myself up for the first weekend we had free. I am happy to report that that Longmire Volunteer Campground fully lived up to the hype. It was a weekend of hard, dirty work in the hot sun and it was one filled with laughter, new friends, and plenty of post-trail work relaxation, and Andy and I are already plotting our return!
Read moreLife: Week 8
After another week of mucky snow that just won’t go away, I didn’t venture far from home. My week was mostly work and knitting, although I did manage to get out for a lovely lunch with my mom and niece that gave me a much needed mid-week sanity break! By the weekend, I was beyond happy that my March Alpine Trails Book Club outing finally provided the perfect opportunity to to get outside. It may have been cold and overcast for most of the day, but we had a snow free hike, and even saw a few brief bursts of sunshine! It still felt like February, but the passing moments of warm sun on my face gave me hope that spring is still on the way.
Read moreGold Creek Pond Snowshoe II
For the second year in a row - third if you count the year nobody came - our January Alpine Trails Book Club outing involved a snowshoe to Gold Creek Pond, followed by an afternoon of tea, snacks, and convivial conversation at my family cabin. Watching the forecast as the date approached, I worried that we’d have a repeat of last year’s epic snowstorm, making for lots of soggy gear and photos smudged and blurred by fat flakes. Happily, by the weekend all predictions of 7-8 inches of show on Sunday had vanished. Instead, our group of 15 set out under a low, dense blanket of familiar wintry grey, with not a glimpse of the surrounding mountains to be found.
Read moreLife: Week 1
I started 2019 on the couch, armed with soup and juice, attempting to fight off a nasty cold. While it wasn’t the best start to the year, thankfully I’m now fully recovered. Even with my cold, I managed to make it through my three-day work week and by the weekend, was even up to a long walk in Paradise Valley. Thank goodness too, since an epic windstorm Saturday night meant we spent Sunday without power and it’s no fun being stuck at home sick without electricity to watch movies and cartoons! A long walk in the chilly, muddy woods was exactly what I needed to get out of my post-holiday gloom. All things considered, 2019 is off to a good start!
Read moreLife: Week 44
In the middle of one of the busiest seasons of the year at work, I managed to steal away for a peaceful and inspiring long weekend. Last November, when I saw my friend Ashley's photos from outdoor creative retreat for women at Salt Creek, I immediately began dreaming of attending the next time the event came around. Watercolor and writing workshops by a toasty, crackling fire accompanied by serene views of misty Pacific Northwest coastline? Yes please! However, when tickets went on sale for the 2018 retreat, I suddenly found myself waffling. It would certainly be worthwhile, it wasn't something I needed. Thankfully, Andy intervened and practically demanded that I go. After managing to get through a busy weeks work in just 4 days, I got an early start Friday morning to head for the coast with Ashley. After catching the first ferry, we had plenty of time to enjoy our day before any workshops began at Salt Creek, and after reading all about Pippa’s Real Tea on a mutual friend’s blog, we agreed that our first stop of the day should be Port Townsend. The power may have gone out shortly after we arrived (county-wide apparently!) but that didn’t stop Pippa herself from making us each a delicious cup of tea! Steaming cups of tea in had, we explored a few of the shops that were able to stay open even with the power outage - including a bookshop I’d love to return to when the lights are on - before heading to Crescent Lake for a short hike to Marymere Falls, which I’ll be writing more about soon!
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