HILLS HURT, COUCHES KILL hiking log

Bella passed away peacefully this morning at the house. Before we got her I was hiking maybe 1-2 times a month. She opened the door for getting me on the trail multiple times per week. After work on weekdays, long days on snowshoes, crashing through the brush, going farther and farther.

She was kind and gentle with all the dogs and humans she met.

Not exactly sure how old she was, we adopted her in 2014 from Seattle Humane Society, she may have been 1 or 2 yrs old when we got her. What a great dog

 

Those are some Awesome photos.

 

Beauty every where you just got to go and explore it. I look right at Mt Washington and the whites from my living room window in Maine. We have radio gear on top of Mt. Washington so I get to go up there often to tinker it, all ways a treat home of the worst weather!

 

I credit the presidential range with teaching me how to suffer as a climber. I've done Alpine climbing all over the US and Canada. No range is even close to having weather that shitty.

 

That's a cool zone. Sierras?

 

Can’t “like” that. Bella looked like a sweet doggo. Rest in peace Bella.

 

I’m really sorry to hear that. My dogs aren’t big hikers, but we’ve lost several over the past 40 years and it’s really tough when it happens.

 

Sawtooths. Beautiful place.

 

I'm so sorry to read this. The pictures from your hiking adventures are incredible and I can only imagine how happy Bella was to be a part of it with you.

 

Right back at it with Brad late yesterday. Hiked to Snoqualmie Lake in the rain. 16 miles, 4.5 hours, 2,200 ft climbing.

 

Up in Flagstaff, AZ for a mountain rescue conference. This is a view on a trail on Elden Mountain.

 

Quick hike to Marten Lake, 8 miles in 3 hours. About 1,500 ft climbing. Mosquitos were terrible, I left the lake as soon as I got there

 

Hiked to Kendall Catwalk from PCT trailhead (North) at Snoqualmie Pass. 11 miles, 2400 ft climbing, 3 hours 15 minutes. Cold, foggy and still snowing around 5,000 ft.

Took a shortcut through the Commonwealth Basin





Gaining the ridge, Red Mtn showing some nice snow before the fog moved in











The Catwalk










Apparently, some of the most expensive trail in the PCT, around $10,000 per foot according to the sign at the trailhead. Completed in 1978

 

Doesn't look like much but this spot was actually almost at the limit of exposure I was willing to take on. I'm in trailrunner shoes, no crampons. It was slushy and had some good boot pack to step in. If it had been more firm and icy I wouldn't have crossed without a ice ax and crampons. Pretty sizable cliff just out of frame downhill to the right.

 

Are you not afraid that doggo could slip slide away

 

He's got 4 little points of contact with his paws, he was stepping in the boot tracks right behind me. And it was slushy too, I would've turned around if it was more firm

 

Hiked around Cooper Lake area with the kiddo yesterday








Really pretty meadows farther up the road by Fish Lake










I think these are Blue Bells?

 

Finally did Mailbox Peak. I've been driving by it for years, it's super popular and the parking lot is always packed in summer. Took the Old Trail, it gains 4,000 ft in 2.5 miles, made the summit in 90 minutes, back at the car in under 3 hours.

 

View from Brinkley Point in the Catalinas, Tucson, AZ. Hot day to do it. 32.39709, -110.77571