Mike's Bike and Hike

Now follow my shenanigans here:
http://mudsweatbeers.blogspot.com/

I will leave this blog as a document of the 2008 Hike-A-Thon event, but it will no longer be updated.

Hike Report #6: August 31
Pacific Crest Trail
South Cascades, Washington
15 miles, 3000 feet elevation gain

The hike to Kendall Katwalk is one of my all-time favorites. I did it twice this year, the first time in early July being quite an adventure as there was still a lot of snow on the ground. Today, I hit the trail early as the forecast called for snow above 5000' in the afternoon. Snow in August I say!



Early on, I ran into a couple coming down who had hiked from Canada. They were clearly exhausted and looking forward to the hotel at Snoqualmie Summit. Lisa and I decided we will hike the PCT from Canada to Mexico someday... then spend a couple weeks on the beach with maragritas in hand!

Fog was laying on the mountain like a blanket. A big, gray, wet blanket. I reached the Katwalk around 10am... it is such an amazing place. The effect of a sheer face disappearing hundreds of feet into the unknown clouds below was awe-inspiring. I usually spend some time here, but it was starting to snow and Gravel Lake was my goal. So onward! A couple years ago I saw a big cat sunning itself on the rocks up here. As I passed that spot my pace quickened, just a little.

I came first to Ridge Lake, which was absolutely surreal in the low light and fog. The campground here is terribly overused and trampled. I wish people would take a little more care with their boots. Gravel Lake was now just a short push away, and good thing... the snow was coming down pretty heavily, and I was soaked.

After dining on a gourmet meal of beef jerkey and m+m's, I turned around and headed for the parking lot. I saw dozens of hikers heading up, and was glad I had left early enough to have the mountain to myself.

Hike Report #5: August 30
Discovery Park
Seattle, Washington
3 miles



I love getting outside with the kids! It can be a chore getting everyone packed, and they would probably rather watch cartoons, and there's the inevitable grumbling and general displeasure. But once we're out, we never fail to enjoy these mini adventures.

Today's choice was Discovery Park, a gem of a getaway right in the middle of the city. The "classic" hike in the park is a study in varied terrain. Asphalt parking lot to wide walking paths, through groves of hardwood trees, across grassland and wind-blown sand, and finally down the bluffs through old-growth forest to the rocky shore of Puget Sound.

We brought along Polly, and she proved once again that she is a capable outdoorsdog. Josh and Mackenzie entertained me (and anyone within earshot) all the way, and Payton in typical go-get-em fashion ran ahead of us all day... stopping to wait patiently with hands on hips while the "slow guys" caught up.

It was windy at the beach, so we didn't stay long. But I think everyone had fun and I was glad to spend some time with the little turds!

Labels: Hike-A-Thon, Hiking

Here's where I reached 50 miles of hiking in the month of August... August 31, Gravel Lake on the Pacific Crest Trail. Couldn't have picked a more memorable spot to reach this milestone. I'll enter a couple more detailed hike reports in a couple days. For now, I'm ready to rest and splash around at The Lodge! Thanks for your support everyone! -mike

Labels: Hike-A-Thon, Hiking

Video Hike Report #5: August 24
McClellan Butte
South Cascades, Washington
9 miles, 3700' elevation gain

There certainly would've been easier ways to put 9 miles behind me, but I set out for a challenge on this day, and was not disappointed. I arrived at the lower trailhead early and met three Australian trekkers at the bottom, who thanked me in advance for clearing the overnight cobwebs off the trail as I set out quickly ahead of them. Cobwebs. Ok, so there's at least one bad thing about being first one up.

The early hike was largely uneventful, but pleasant. I took a brief side-trip to Alice Creek, where my son and I had camped a few years ago during a 100-mile bike adventure on the Iron Horse Trail. I was amazed how much the landscape had changed over the years due to surging spring waters from the creek.

The trail eventually began switchbacking relentlessly, one steep turn after another, until I rounded a small corner to the amazing sight of Mt. Rainier in the distance. Buoyed by the views, I continued to the mountain ridge and literally gasped at the 360-degree miracles. "No way, no way is this real." I remember saying out loud in pure wonder.

I saw the summit, and then the vast, rocky exposure I would have to cross (alone) to reach it. I was not prepared for this. I waited too long at the base of the scramble... looking alternately up at the knife-edge peak, then down a thousand unprotected feet to the unknown. I made a half-hearted attempt, scrambling up about 50 feet until the pitch steepened. I looked down, and said out loud, "not today."

I'll be back, McClellan Butte!

Labels: Hike-A-Thon, Hiking

Hike Report #4: August 17
Rattlesnake Ledge
South Cascades, Washington
4 miles, 1200' elevation gain



Getting away from it all - the noise, the crowds, the city - is probably near the top of most folks' lists of reasons to hike. But there are a few can't-miss trails close to Seattle which reward a hiker's tolerance of "the masses." Rattlesnake Ledge is one of those, and it certainly was crowded on this warm summer day!

Joshy, Lisa, Polly, and I almost stayed home as the forecast called for afternoon lightning. Yikes! But we decided to take a chance and make a game-time decision at the trailhead. It turned out to be beautiful weather, and we set off with several hundred of our closest friends for the cliff-tops.

The hike was steady and the slope actually somewhat challenging at times. At 2 miles, we crested a rock ridge and the view opened up spectacularly to the valley and Rattlesnake Lake below. We enjoyed a snack of peanuts and sunflower seeds (very gourmet, I know) and Polly enjoyed a couple good belly rubs from strangers. I always marvel at the fearless "mountain chipmunks" up there who disappear over the sheer rock face and then reappear from below in a different spot seconds later.

It was a great afternoon in the hills with my loved ones (and a bunch of other people)!

Labels: Hike-A-Thon, Hiking

Video Hike Report #3: August 16
Lake Annette
South Cascades, Washington
8 miles, 1700' elevation gain

Labels: Hike-A-Thon, Hiking