Festivus, 2010

Merry Christmas!

After some gifts and tea, Elk Mountain here we come!















Rock climbing gear is not required, but it may help in a few spots.



















































At least it's not raining at the top.



















On the way back down we sighted a pair of spawning wild Steelhead in the Wilson River. Very cool end to a really cool hike. Nature is awesome. I really like spending Christmas this way.

Spruce Run Lake

Great hike to a small lake formed from a landslid on a creek. Today was rain, but we were inspired by the area to maybe backpack in for a summer camp. It's amazing there are a ton of these little areas in local forests. What fun it is exploring.

Cape Lookout South Trail

Great weather to hike to the beach.











What a great day. We saw several surfers. They take the hike hauling the boards down the hill to get to this remote beach. Wow that is dedicated. It is worth it to get to this beach.









Today it was warm enough to shuck the jackets, packs, and boots and socks. Walking on the beach barefoot is what nature intended.








Walking the beach we noticed this tiny waterfall. Later on the hike back up, we realized it is the small creek we walk over about the halfway point.










There is nothing like taking the time to watch the fresh water push the beach sand back to the ocean.











I know we had a better day this guy. He is about ten inches long, and looking for water, I hope he finds some. We had more than enough of everything to make it the rest of the way back up the hill.










We even carried out Rowans' balloon ( I think it has eye brows ).

We've been busy . . . . .

So there are two reasons we have not been up to date.

A VW Bus adventure: Old Smokey

And a Sailboat adventure: Imi Loa

We sold the Bus to buy the big sailboat which is our future plans.


We did get out to do Kings Mountain again. It was a wet cloudy day, the hike was good. We saw the worlds biggest mushrooms just off the trail.













We plan on enjoying nature more often. I don't know why we are more active in the winter, I see snow shoes in our future.

Dog Mountain in the Summer

This looks different with no snow.

Mount Hood.

The Columbia.

Mt. St. Helens.

Finally back down the hill.

Ape Canyon, Washington

This is where Bigfoot lives.

Mt. St. Helens in the clouds.

The old flow.

Crevis, looking North.

Ape Canyon, the snow melt started a water fall.

The start of a creek.

Badger Creek Wilderness

Great recovering forrest. The creeks are loaded with trout, we caught several and had them the same night. Rowan almost jumped onto a rattlesnake. Deer walked by our camp, followed by a large black bear. This is a great spot. A four day weekend, and we didn't see anyone else in the forrest. Now we are really backpacking.

Snake!

Our camp on a small saddle. the creek ran around this spur so it was on both sides of us.

Weird ground cover.

Started with flint and steel and old mans beard.