Hidden Lake with Derek

Gothic Basin with Seester

Mt Pillchuck with Riley

Franklin Falls with Riley

Originally planning to hike Franklin Falls with my mom on Friday but we had to cancel due to a foot of unexpected snow fall.

With big intentions Riley and I set out for a hike! We headed up to do a quickie at Franklin Falls. An easy two miles with a large roaring falls thanks to heavy rain and snowfall recently. It was beautiful!

We intended to do another hike that afternoon but kind of struck out because the trail had recently washed out. So instead we ended up heading hime much earlier than planned but refreshed none the less. 

Discovery Park with Kevin

My whole life I have lived in WA and never ventured out to Discovery Park. A popular tourist destination. After recently my cousin from Texas visited and proposed to his girl friend at the park I was wanting to check it out! 

It as a rare and beautiful Sunday afternoon and Kevin and I decided to explore. It is a giant park with trails throughout we walked and wandered for a couple of hours while soaking up the sun and the fresh ocean air. 

Lake Serene and Bridal Veil Falls with Riley

Lake Serene

8.2 miles 2000 feet elevation gain

The day had finally come. To  challenge and redeem myself. Two years ago upon return from living abroad I hiked to Bridal Veil Falls with my friend Crissy. I was so out of shape I wanted to die. I have always heard such beautiful things about Lake Serene but feared that I could never climb that far. I was in such bad shape physically. It has been daunting me ever since.

We pulled in at 8 am the only car at the trail head. Today Riley and I climbed to Lake Serene in no time at all.  I had to prove to myself how far I had come. We climbed with relative ease and strength. Step after steep step we climbed and the sites were well worth it.  Passing multiple falls as great and grand as Bridal Veil. Each were roaring larger than I have seen before due to all of the recent rain fall. I was so rewarded and accomplished. We were pleasantly pleased to find snow on the peaks. Ate a quick lunch and enjoyed before beginning the decent.

Elwha Hot Springs on the Olympic Peninsula

A quick weekend get away with Kevin! Saturday morning after his crossfit training we headed out to the Olympic Peninsula to camp for the night and explore the hotsprings!! 

We didn't let the asshole park ranger rattle us too much and were hassled for not filling out the campsite paper work correctly.. it is a good thing Kevin is so calm and honest because I just wanted to say stfu.  Again he hassled us about having the correct permits to enter national forrest (which we had) and argued with Kevin about NOAA corp not being "military" even though he gets full medical benefits.

We stopped for fire wood on the way in and didn't have the proper change but Kevin generously paid with a 20$ bill and left the change. All in all it was a great time. We enjoyed campfire food and my first camping trip of the new year! Not long after setting up camp a woman drove up to our site and had recognized Kevin's jeep, asked us if we had purchased fire wood? and exclaimed you left $20!! Here is your change. All faith in humanity restored. It was unbelievable that she drove down to the campsite out of her way to give him change. We totally lucked out with the weather. 

Hot Springs might be the coolest thing I have ever experienced! A quick and easy hike out to a beautiful serene and secluded location. Everything was lush and green. The parking lot was packed and we ran into few people on the trail but we managed to easily find out own hot spring to bathe in and relaxed for a couple of hours while drinking some beer, clothing optional! As we approached you could smell the scent of sulfur in the air and we knew we were close.

While walking back to the car I saw that my rings were completely tarnished!! Who know! I had to google online and was glad to find out I could reverse it by polishing my silver with toothpaste. haha for future expeditions I will be sure to remove all silver.

Big 4 Ice Caves and Lake 22 date with Kevin!

Could not have asked for a better second date with Kevin. We met up for breakfast in Everett before heading out for some hiking. 

 Everyday is a great day to get out to the ice caves. Big 4 one of my favorite spots. But you must always remember how unstable and dangerous the caves are. 

I cringe as I watch ppl running around and yelling inside or yesterday the man who had climbed and was standing above on the mouth of the cave.. Two years ago I witnessed a major avalanche at the site . It really puts things in perspective . 

Listen to the constant dripping and melting, and cracking as the ice settles. Especially on these uncharacteristically warm days. 

LAKE 22

Again yesterday on lake 22 ... I am not sure if it is just the weather or what has caused the large influx of ppl out on the trails but I have never seen so many cars over flowing from the trail head and lining both sides of the road. SO MANY ppl unprepared. 

Know what you are getting into, and never underestimate the power of nature. Anything can happen. 

Tennis shoes are not the best option, and definitely not flip flops. Families with small children and carrying nothing more than a water bottle. Multiple people still midway up with less than two hours of daylight left. 

I had to use some basic EMT skills and assess a girl who fell and possibly blew out her knee. They had sent their dad down for help. I left them with a headlamp and hand warmers, wrapped her in a heavy duty space blanket and explained it would be awhile for search and rescue to make it up and even longer for them to cart her off the mountain. 

Know what you are getting into. 

oh and also: banana peels and orange rinds are litter! They don't quickly decompose in the water or on the side of the trail. Pick up after yourself ppl!!!! Ahhhg end rant.

lakeside hammock with kevin!

 After hiking we  checked in with the SAR dispatch and just my luck the man knew my aunt Janet and took down my information to get me reinstated and volunteering again!  We ventured across the road and shot Kevin's bow and arrows for awhile before calling it a day and heading home.

Summit lake with some Hikerbabes!

Thanks to the WTA hike of the week Facebook post Natalie and I planned a trip south to the Rainier valley to hike Summit lake. A couple hiker babes Amanda and Emi joined us for a beautiful snowy adventure. I can't wait for more summer exploration and sites filled of wildflowers. It is a long trek for us but totally worth it. Couldn't have asked for better weather, a blue bird day with the sun shining bright enough to leave me with pink cheeks! We expected a lot deeper snow and contemplated bringing snow shoes but were surprised to find the trail mostly just compact and icy. Again I am amazed how many other unprepared hikers we run into on the trail with kids and in only tennis shoes and no traction device. ouch, not worth the risk of slipping. I was thankful for my micro spikes which  I still say are the best purchase I have ever made. Natalie however rocked her snowshoes most of the trip which where comical to watch but better than nothing! 

A relatively easy ascent 5 miles round trip with only 1200 ft elevation gain. The lake was completely frozen over! We continued onward up the ridge for the most rewarding views of Mt Rainier. Many photo opps ensued  and the obligatory hiker babes topless pic of course :)

Amanda and I

Natalie rocking her snowshoes

SUMMIT LAKE

We had a limited time frame for hiking because Amanda who provided the 4 wheel drive had to be back to work at 5 as an athletic trainer. As per usual we pushed it to the last minute and she was rushing back to make it to work on time. It was an unusual event that she was providing coverage for that night, the west coast quid ditch championship!! Thats right, you heard me...Quiditch, exactky replicated from Harry Potter. Its a real thing. Major universities all over the US have legit teams. I have never heard of anything like it so we had to go and see what it was all about. 

Stopping for a quick bite at Red Robin Natalie and I met Amanda at the strafer complex to watch he completion on the tournament. We laughed our asses off as we watched college age adults running around with brooms in between their legs. Not just any broom either, only an official league approved broom with suffice.  The perfect combination of dodgeball, tag, handball, and other sports there is a ton of strategic planing and skill required. Anything goes, the opponents are able to tackle and it was actually quite brutal.  . . who knew!