Decided to go visit Goat Mountain (off the Mt. Baker Highway from the Hannegan Pass Road).
Might also venture out the Hannegen Pass Rd a little bit to see if there is a bootpath to the Silver Tip Mine or nearby prospects.
As time and road conditions allow, may also swing by the Nooksack Middle Fork Road (off Mosquito Lk Rd) to view the Diversion Dam and seek out a waterfall too.
All in all, just going to enjoy a quiet day, nice scenery and beautiful weather (no rain).
~E
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Itinerary for 07-10-11
Well, solo and undecided on a destination.
Have a few possible destinations in mind, all have upsides and downsides. Not sure where I'll end up.
Goat Mtn (Trailhead off Hannegan Pass road from the Mt. Baker Hwy #542): New to me, good elevation gain. No snow down low, snow up high.
Park Butte Lookout/Railroad Grade (south side of Mt Baker): Familiar area, road is long and washboarded... and lots of snow. The Mount Baker Club is doing their 100th Anniversary Mt. Baker Climb on Sunday morning so there will be some acquaintences around, but they are all camping up there as I type this. Been here often, but never in snow. If it weren't for the road situation this would be a thumbs up.
Diablo Lake Trail: Timing it right can end it with a sweet ferry ride down Diablo Lake, but it's a short hike (but good elevation gain) and Seattle City Light power lines interrupting many views. Probably no snow, but definitely Mountain Lion territory. Probably doing a lot of wandering... in areas I've already wandered before.
Heck... maybe I should just head down to Mt. Pilchuck or Mt. Dickerman along the Mtn Loop Highway.
If you're looking for a hike on Sunday, or a hiking buddy to go to your predetermined destination ... hit me up, quickly!!
E
Have a few possible destinations in mind, all have upsides and downsides. Not sure where I'll end up.
Goat Mtn (Trailhead off Hannegan Pass road from the Mt. Baker Hwy #542): New to me, good elevation gain. No snow down low, snow up high.
Park Butte Lookout/Railroad Grade (south side of Mt Baker): Familiar area, road is long and washboarded... and lots of snow. The Mount Baker Club is doing their 100th Anniversary Mt. Baker Climb on Sunday morning so there will be some acquaintences around, but they are all camping up there as I type this. Been here often, but never in snow. If it weren't for the road situation this would be a thumbs up.
Diablo Lake Trail: Timing it right can end it with a sweet ferry ride down Diablo Lake, but it's a short hike (but good elevation gain) and Seattle City Light power lines interrupting many views. Probably no snow, but definitely Mountain Lion territory. Probably doing a lot of wandering... in areas I've already wandered before.
Heck... maybe I should just head down to Mt. Pilchuck or Mt. Dickerman along the Mtn Loop Highway.
If you're looking for a hike on Sunday, or a hiking buddy to go to your predetermined destination ... hit me up, quickly!!
E
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Fort Ebey Father's Day Hike 06-19-11
Father's Day got rolling a little late this year since I was on my way home from the Summer Solstice shindig in Maple Falls... so I didn't get the usual opportunity to wake up and ponder if anyone is going to bring me breakfast in bed.
The family was already awake when I got home. They were wondering what exciting adventures they might be subjected to on this special, but drizzly, holiday.
It was too wet to go out and to cold to play ball. It appeared as though we might end up sitting in the house. Doing nothing at all.
A quick check of my favorite (and most reliable) weather forecast website indicated that it wasn't quite so drizzly over on Whidbey Island. In fact, it looked as if it wasn't drizzly over there at all.
So, I grabbed some supplies, threw them in a backpack, made sure everyone had some kind of footwear, a coat and a good attitude before throwing them all into the Pathfinder. Off to Whidbey Island for the 2011 Father's Day TEAM Rolfs Family Hike!
This is third "not-annual TEAM Rolfs Father's Day Hike". The last one was back in 2008 when I took the kids up to the Chuckanut Bat Caves. Prior to that there was a Father's Day Hike with the Klinger's to the Big Four Ice Caves in 2006.
As we drove out of town, the light drizzle at the house turned into an all out downpour. Cats and dogs all over the place. It was raining that hard.
No one complained. It was a Father's Day Miracle!
Deep down we were all pondering the liklihood of finding a good movie to see in Oak Harbor when the hike gets canceled after five minutes of puddle stomping.
The rain continued through Anacortes, through Deception Pass and through Oak Harbor. As we took the final turns to the Fort Ebey State Park, the rain stopped. Completely. In fact, it appeared that it hadn't been raining at all in Fort Ebey State Park. The pavement was dry... and the trails were dry too!
Woo Hoo!
Upon our entry to the park, we turned to the right and parked way down at that end of the park. The kids saw the beach right away and were suddenly excited to get outside and explore.
We hiked along the Bluff trail to the main picnic area and the ammunition bunker, exploring all the sights to see along the way.
All in all, it was a great family hike and a perfect Father's Day!
There are a lot more pictures and videos from my Trip to Fort Ebey earlier this year. That story starts right here.
Did you know we have a family blog too? TEAM Rolfs
Thank you, Family, and Happy Trails!
~E
The family was already awake when I got home. They were wondering what exciting adventures they might be subjected to on this special, but drizzly, holiday.
It was too wet to go out and to cold to play ball. It appeared as though we might end up sitting in the house. Doing nothing at all.
A quick check of my favorite (and most reliable) weather forecast website indicated that it wasn't quite so drizzly over on Whidbey Island. In fact, it looked as if it wasn't drizzly over there at all.
So, I grabbed some supplies, threw them in a backpack, made sure everyone had some kind of footwear, a coat and a good attitude before throwing them all into the Pathfinder. Off to Whidbey Island for the 2011 Father's Day TEAM Rolfs Family Hike!
This is third "not-annual TEAM Rolfs Father's Day Hike". The last one was back in 2008 when I took the kids up to the Chuckanut Bat Caves. Prior to that there was a Father's Day Hike with the Klinger's to the Big Four Ice Caves in 2006.
As we drove out of town, the light drizzle at the house turned into an all out downpour. Cats and dogs all over the place. It was raining that hard.
No one complained. It was a Father's Day Miracle!
Deep down we were all pondering the liklihood of finding a good movie to see in Oak Harbor when the hike gets canceled after five minutes of puddle stomping.
The rain continued through Anacortes, through Deception Pass and through Oak Harbor. As we took the final turns to the Fort Ebey State Park, the rain stopped. Completely. In fact, it appeared that it hadn't been raining at all in Fort Ebey State Park. The pavement was dry... and the trails were dry too!
Woo Hoo!
Upon our entry to the park, we turned to the right and parked way down at that end of the park. The kids saw the beach right away and were suddenly excited to get outside and explore.
We hiked along the Bluff trail to the main picnic area and the ammunition bunker, exploring all the sights to see along the way.
All in all, it was a great family hike and a perfect Father's Day!
There are a lot more pictures and videos from my Trip to Fort Ebey earlier this year. That story starts right here.
Did you know we have a family blog too? TEAM Rolfs
Thank you, Family, and Happy Trails!
~E
Friday, July 1, 2011
Itinerary for 07-02-11
It seems I've suddenly been relieved of my on-call dog duties (doodies, haha, that is dog humor) at the AKC show that was on my Saturday calendar.
Weather looks really promising and I have an empty day while the rest of the family is busy.
What would you do?
Nap? Right. I don't think so.
No time to dig up a partner so I'm just planning on going solo. Really I didn't try very hard to find a partner because I did the Hiker Math.
Hiker Math is simple: July 4th Weekend + unprecedented nice weather forecast = everyone SHOULD already have something exciting planned = Solo trip.
Considered heading to Park Butte on Mt. Baker's south side, but not sure what the snowmobile access status is and rumor has it the road is washboard slow and awful. Not nice on Camry's (and not mentally ready to break in the new car yet). So, going to stick with the old tried and true Heather Meadows area at the end of Hwy 542.
Will try to follow the Heather Meadows Loop that no one ever hears about, might head up Panorama Dome, might head out to Huntoon Point, might (but highly unlikely) do the Chain Lakes Loop around Table Mtn and by Iceberg Lake. Might see if I can find the location of the Lake Ann trailhead but probably won't follow the route too far if I do find it.
Here's a map that includes about 99% of the possible areas I could visit.
Will probably take the opportunity to do a little Avy Beacon practice, a little GPS functionality testing, maybe some Self Arrest practice (if I can find an area free of frozen roo nuggets).
Mostly, I'll just be enjoying the sunshine (I hope).
Wish I had more notice to take advantage of this great opportunity!
Happy Trails!
~E
Weather looks really promising and I have an empty day while the rest of the family is busy.
What would you do?
Nap? Right. I don't think so.
No time to dig up a partner so I'm just planning on going solo. Really I didn't try very hard to find a partner because I did the Hiker Math.
Hiker Math is simple: July 4th Weekend + unprecedented nice weather forecast = everyone SHOULD already have something exciting planned = Solo trip.
Considered heading to Park Butte on Mt. Baker's south side, but not sure what the snowmobile access status is and rumor has it the road is washboard slow and awful. Not nice on Camry's (and not mentally ready to break in the new car yet). So, going to stick with the old tried and true Heather Meadows area at the end of Hwy 542.
Will try to follow the Heather Meadows Loop that no one ever hears about, might head up Panorama Dome, might head out to Huntoon Point, might (but highly unlikely) do the Chain Lakes Loop around Table Mtn and by Iceberg Lake. Might see if I can find the location of the Lake Ann trailhead but probably won't follow the route too far if I do find it.
Here's a map that includes about 99% of the possible areas I could visit.
Will probably take the opportunity to do a little Avy Beacon practice, a little GPS functionality testing, maybe some Self Arrest practice (if I can find an area free of frozen roo nuggets).
Mostly, I'll just be enjoying the sunshine (I hope).
Wish I had more notice to take advantage of this great opportunity!
Happy Trails!
~E
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