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!

Marmot Pass 7-27-13

This morning Adventure Dog and I headed out from my mom's to a hike in the Olympics for a change.  It has been a really nice sunny summer, so we got an early start to avoid a lot of people on the trail and try to get most of the uphill part done before it got too hot.  When we got there around 8:15 the parking lot was already full, and it was already hot and sunny by the time we got out of the treeline.  This hike, however, was enchanting. 
The first couple miles went along the Quilcene River through the forest.  There were some lovely big Douglas firs, and a lot of twin flowers, bunchberry dogwood and other small flowers growing along the trail.  Also, lower down, there were ripe huckleberries.

 

 

There were also quite a few of the flowers that don't use chlorophyll growing in the forest.  I'm not sure what they all are, maybe the large one is coral root?

There were a lot of pretty little streams cutting across the trail, which were nice on Cedar's feet.  As it got warmer I poured water over him until he was soaked and much cooler.  It was nice having the sound of the river or the smaller tributaries as we hiked.

Despite the trail being fairly populated it ended up adding to the day rather than detracting.  Cedar and I had the trail to ourselves sometimes and at other times we stopped to chat with different people.  Everyone was happy to be out there enjoying the gorgeous day and battling to reach the top under the blazing sun.  The trail climbed steadily, but once out of the treeline, it became steeper and hotter.  This was a trivial thing next to the grandeur of the views and the stunning color of all the wildflowers.  We took a lot of breaks to let Cedar have a drink and rest.  We both do better hiking on cloudy days, but when it's sunny and clear it's perfect for these hikes with views!

And then we were finally at the glorious top!  Elevation around 6000 feet, and a view of the surrounding ranges and the Puget Sound. 

I really wanted to see marmots on Marmot Pass, and I was not let down!  There were furry marmots far across the meadow and a big fat one sunning himself on a rock on the way back down the trail.  They are so cute.

On the way back down I saw a bald eagle circling around one of the big rocky outcroppings on the ridge above the trail. 

 

Happy Trails!