Mt Dickerman 10-27-2019

My last trip up Mt Dickerman was misty and cloudy, though lovely.  Today I knew that it was supposed to be a beautiful sunny day and all the peaks would be frosted with snow.  After this it will get too snowy for my comfort level in solo hiking to summit, so today was the day!

Apple Watch stats: 9.8 miles RT, 3904 ft elevation gain

The start of this hike is a really pretty, winding up the slope through the forest.  I saw Douglas squirrels, a chipmunk, woodpeckers and this really cute brown creeper.  I have never been able to get a good picture of one of these little guys until now.  They really don't care about gravity at all - hopping around under branches and up and down tree trunks.

There were still a few late coral mushrooms along the slopes.

There is a particularly pretty waterfall along the trail, and it was lined with the most beautiful nodules of ice, clumps of icicles, and frozen water droplets. The beauty of it doesn't show up well in these photos.

Farther up I heard a bird call and a cute gray jay came down into a nearby tree.  It hopped closer, and looked at me hopefully.  So let's just say I was examining my trail mix with my camera on, when astoundingly it landed on my hand and selected a cashew.

I was already tired from yesterday's hike up to Lake 22, so my thighs were really burning about half way up.  It sure was worth the effort though!  Once I reached the summit it was a 360 panorama of stunning snow covered peaks as far as the eye could see. 

Get out there and enjoy our world!

Mt Dickerman 7-13-2019

Today's hike up Mt Dickerman was a winner even if the clouds obscured the vast views I had on this peak last year.  There were still plenty of beautiful vistas, lovely wildflowers, and the music of small mountain streams.
AppleWatch Stats: 9.3 miles RT, 3695 ft of elevation gain

This hike is pretty much all switchbacks.  It starts out in second growth forest with some beautiful old giants mixed in.  In this quieter, darker forest I saw Indian ghost pipe, coral root, slime mold, queens cup, twinflowers and some fun fungi.

Indian pipe, or ghost pipe

As you weave back and forth, soon you'll notice the trees become the shorter more gnarled trees associated with subalpine areas, and then you'll start getting some views here and there.  This is also where I started noticing lupine, heather, columbine, tiger lily, monkeyflowers, phlox and more.

The trail itself varies on this hike as well - sometimes soft forest duff, sometimes uneven rocks and roots.  There are also steps and this little stretch of rock.  I ended up having the hike up pretty much all to myself, a few people at the beginning and then I didn't see anyone else until I neared the top and people coming down and up behind me started passing in both directions.  I was thinking about how life is much like a trail. Everyone has to hike their own hike, some have easy sections and some are pretty gruelling. Sometimes you hike alone and sometimes you're surrounded by others.  Sometimes there are breathtaking views and sometimes you're blinded by your own toiling.... Always a worthy adventure though!

I didn't see much wildlife - birds that wouldn't hold still for a shot and banana slugs.  I heard pikas and a grouse but never saw them.  Funny enough I saw a deer in my own yard once I got home haha.  This trail just keeps climbing and climbing.  Hikers are great - always full of encouragement.  I'm sure I looked like I needed it too, since my face turns beet red within the first 10 feet and stays that way the whole hike.  And finally I attained the top!  Peaks around me loomed in and out of the mist and it was pretty peaceful as all the hungry hikers around me snacked and rested after their climb.  I could both see and hear a group of beautiful waterfalls way down below and across the valley.

If you look close you'll see a mosquito on my hat and two more over my head.

Where I sat to eat my lunch I could see these strange and pretty little flowers all growing at the edge.  I am not overly fond of heights so I couldn't get quite as close as I wanted - probably why they were growing there, where no one could trample them. There were even these little red succulents growing along the edge.  It was like a miniature cliff garden.  I haven't yet been able to identify any of them.  I think I should get a better flower book!

I believe this is spotted saxifrage

As I headed back down the mountain, I heard a rumble of thunder from the next peaks over and thought it was a great thing that I was not going to be on top when a thunderstorm came through - but then I realized I was actually hearing an avalanche somewhere over by the ice caves.  Always an ominous sound!
Happy adventuring!

Mt Dickerman 10-14-2018

The day was supposed to be clear, so I took advantage and hiked Mt Dickerman. I had never hiked it before, and knew it was going to be pushing it for me with the distance plus elevation gain.  It was SO WORTH IT!  The views were absolutely stunning and all the hikers at the top were just blown away with the awe of it all.  But I am getting ahead of myself.

The hike starts out switchbacking through the forest.

This time of year it was pretty nice to see a lot of different fungi springing up from the forest floor, and dead wood.

Mmmm, corals

After seemingly forever the trees thinned and opened up to more alpine trees, brilliant fall foliage and amazing views of the nearer peaks and ridges.

I was super happy to spot a couple mountain goats!

There was some ice on the way up - sprawling up through the trail and coating the tops of slow-moving pools.

Once at the top, after pushing my aching legs all the way, I was almost brought to tears by the stunning views in every direction.  I could see Baker, Glacier, Shuksan, even Rainier, along with all the less white crags rising around me.  I could even see some part of the Puget Sound, although I couldn't tell what part of the water I was looking at.

I really took my time up there and soaked in that beauty as I ate my lunch before heading down.
On the way down I saw this strange gray creature heading into the trees ; )

Also a Clark's Nutcracker I think...

Boy I thought those switchbacks were challenging on the way up?  The way down felt like it was never-ending! Haha.  I did spot this cute little garter snake though, with his orange and yellow like he was dressed for autumn.

Happy hiking!