Chasing the Snow

Tags

Crystal Mountain, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Pacific Northwest, Sledding, Snow, Washington

20 December 2015 – After a snow-less winter so far we headed up into the mountains for some proper winter exposure.  We bundled the kids up, packed up the sleds, and headed into the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and towards Mt. Rainier National Park.  This is near some of our favorite hikes.  State route 410 was closed at the park entrance, but the road to Crystal Mountain was open and we headed into elevation for deeper snow.

Just down from the resort area we found a decent place to park across the road from a good sledding hill.  The hill was obviously a well-used sledding spot given the packed snow and a small snow jump.  But, while we were there only a few other families showed up – maybe it was the ‘no sledding’ sign which kept the crowds down 🙂

The kids grabbed their sleds and headed up the hill.  For the first runs Sherrie stayed below to stop the kids from going too far and Sergio was on top helping the kids get on the sled before it slid out from under them.  Isabella (7) and Aurelia (4) loved going together, hitting the jump a couple of times.  Lucas (6) loved to go down by himself, but didn’t want to go too high up the hill.

Lucas (6) sledding or surfing?

Isabella (7) and Aurelia (4) heading up the sledding hil

Giuliana (1) didn’t care too much for the snow.  At first she wanted to get down with the other kids and play in the snow, but after a couple of minutes of feeling the cold snow on her hands (she wouldn’t keep her gloves on) and sinking waist-deep into the snow.  However, she went sledding down with both Sergio and Sherrie but didn’t seem to care too much either way.  She spent most of the time in the ergo keeping Sherrie’s back warm 🙂

Giuliana (1) in the snow

Isabella playing in the snow

After an hour the kids were tired and sledding and spent the time playing in the deep unpacked snow building snow castles and trying (unsuccessfully) to build a snowman.  In the end everyone loved the adventure and wanted to go back again in the future.  Living only an hour from the mountains has its advantages in the winter – and the summer!

Sergio, Giuliana (1), Aurelia (4), Sherrie, Lucas (6), and Isabella (7) enjoying the snow!

Mt. Rainer Naches Loop Trail

Tags

Berry Picking, Cascades, Hiking, Huckleberries, Lake Tipsoo, Mt Rainier National Park, Mt. Baker, Mt. Rainier, National Park, Pacific Northwest, Washington

17 July 2015 – Naches Loop Trail.  What a wonderful hike.  The mountain flowers were blooming in the meadows.  The song birds were at full pitch.  The huckleberries were ripe.  The views could not have been more stunning.

We started early to ensure we had a full day on the trail.  From our house it takes about 2.5 hours to get deep into Mt. Rainier National Park where some of the best hiking in the world lies.  We had previously visited Lake Tipsoo but had not done the loop trail – which was the goal of the day.  Our previous visit in 2011 to Tipsoo focused on the flowers and the mountain views.

Isabella, Sherrie, and Lucas at Lake Tispoo in 2011

Isabella, Sergio, and Lucas at Lake Tipsoo in 2011

Lucas, Sergio, Aurelia, and Isabella at Lake Tipsoo in 2015

After a quick lunch of sandwiches, strawberries, and juice boxes we started on the trail which begins on along the Pacific Crest Trail before splitting off to the South.  The trail is very well maintained and circles around Naches Peak with beautiful views of the valleys, Lake Douglas, and surrounding mountains.

Lucas and Aurelia Heading Up Naches Loop Trail

Lake Douglas and valley

After Lake Douglas the huckleberries go thick – and ripe!  We couldn’t help ourselves and spent at least an hour picking and eating 🙂 Thanks to berry bags we keep in Isabella’s backpack we brought many home for ice cream toppings.

Isabella, Aurelia, and Lucas pick huckleberries along the Naches Loop Trail

Ripe huckleberries along the Naches Loop Trail

Hucklberry picking stains the hands!

Of course, the mountain views were spectacular – Mt. Rainier was close and Mt. Baker in the distance.  It was a wonderful hike

Mt. Baker as seen from the Naches Loop Trail

Mt. Rainier from Naches Loop Trail

Sergio, Lucas, Isabella, Sherrie, and Giuliana on the Naches Loop Trail with Mt. Rainier

Mt. Rainier Panorama

Mt. Rainier and mountain meadow

Franklin Falls Trail and Wagon Road Trail

Tags

Central Cascades, Franklin Falls, Hiking, Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Pacific Northwest, Snoqualmie River, Wagon Road Trail, Washington

25 May 2015 – Using a great book, Central Cascade Day Hikes, Sherrie found a nearby hike 45 minutes away to Franklin Falls in the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.

The hike is 2 miles in and back along the ravine of the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River.  The views of the river and ravine along the way into the falls is quite nice with several look out opportunities.  However, because of the accessibility of the hike it is quite crowded on a nice spring day.  This makes the trail a bit less enjoyable.

Lucas, Isabella, and Aurelia stand around a very large hemlock tree

Some lower falls along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River as seen along the Franklin Falls hike

Isabella, Aurelia, and Lucas along the South Fork of the Snoqualmie River

A small scramble down some rocks – which were not as slippery as I expected – brings you to the base of the 70 foot falls (further upriver the river falls another 65 feet in two separate but those are not visible from the trail).  The falls produce a small splash pool and quite a lot of mist and water vapor.

Franklin Falls

The family at the base of Franklin Falls

The trail cuts along the rocks down to the splash pool of Franklin Falls

Turning around on the trail we decided to take an off-shoot which lucky for us was the other trail we read about – the Wagon Road Trail.  The trail travels along a remnant of the Snoqualmie Wagon Road.  This road was the first wagon-capable road across Snoqualmie Pass completed in 1867 (see history).

Beginning of Wagon Road Trail

Lucas, Isabella, and Aurelia with a wagon wheel hub on the Wagon Road Trail

We didn’t pass anyone on this trail (and I’m surprised others didn’t use this second, and more enjoyable route) and the quiet in the forest along with the variety of flora and presence of animal tracks was wonderful.  We even spotted bear-sign.  The smell of skunk weed was very apparent – but luckily not overwhelming.

Bear sign – tree marking

Aurelia, Lucas, Isabella, and Sherrie hike along the Franklin Falls trail

A large patch of skunk weed along the Wagon Road Trail

A cool fungus along the Wagon Road Trail

Trillium bloom along the Wagon Road Trail

A forest flower

An odd vertical moss on a rock along the Wagon Road Trail

The kids had a great time and it took us approximately 2 hours with plenty of time to explore and enjoy.  It certainly makes us appreciate the Pacific Northwest and the astounding beauty in which we are surrounded.

A view of the Northwest forest along the Wagon Road Trail