MV Dirona travel digest for Late Summer 2022


Show Late Summer 2022 travel log map Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.

On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at //mvdirona.com/maps/LocationCurrent.html.


   

7/11/2022: Urban Animal
The Urban Animal veterinarian runs an unusual scheduling system. The clinics are walk-in only, and customers are put on a wait-list and receive a text within 30 minutes of their appointment. Some days, very long queues are formed first thing in the morning. We know they pack surgery onto special days, and it may be those days that line up the worst. We use them, and find them very convenient, as long as you avoid those days.
7/11/2022: Hatch Cantina
Icy cold IPAs at Hatch Cantina in Belltown, perfect on an 81°F (27°C) day.
7/12/2022: Norwegian Spirit
Norwegian Spirit arriving into Pier 66 in Seattle between Alaska cruises.
7/14/2022: Eastside Beerworks
Jennifer having lunch at Eastside Beerworks with member of her last team at Microsoft.
7/14/2022: Poutine
Eastside Beerworks' take on Poutine, made with potato tots and cheese, was actually quite tasty. Poutine is a French-Canadian dish made with french fries and cheese curds topped with a brown gravy. Jennifer has never actually had it before, but without fries and gravy, this may not qualify.
7/15/2022: Moisture Barrier
A multi-layer a moisture barrier being installed along the foundation walls at the Fourth & Bell construction site.
7/16/2022: Burned Building
While we were away, this abandoned apartment building at 2nd and Bell caught fire and burned. The apartment building is adjacent to Seattle's iconic Lava Lounge that closed earlier this year ahead of redevelopment in the block.
7/16/2022: Concrete Pumper
A long-armed concrete pumper on the job at the Fourth & Bell construction site.
7/16/2022: Bellevue Square Mall
At Bellevue Square Mall in the Seattle Eastside suburb to do a little shopping. We used to live in Bellevue before we moved aboard, and haven't been to this mall for many years.
7/17/2022: Power Line Corridor
Looking down a major power line corridor at Stampede Pass just east of Snoqualmie pass on an afternoon drive. The lines bring power to the Puget Sound from the Columbia River.
7/17/2022: NF-5410
Exploring along National Forest Development Road 5410 (NF-5410). The road is a little grown in, but passable. We push through some of these, but try to avoid them because it's hard on the paint.
7/17/2022: Snow Creek
Pretty Snow Creek is one of dozens of creeks within the area.
7/17/2022: Lost Lake
A nice potential camp site along NF-112 with a view to Lost Lake.
7/17/2022: Ditch
The end of the road for our Honda Passport. We tried several different approaches, but don't have quite the ground clearance to cross this washed-out section of NF-112. Many 4x4s have crossed though with the aid of logs placed inside the ditch, but our front spoiler interferes before we can start climbing back up again.
7/17/2022: Dust
Driving on the dirt forest roads in this dry weather kicks up a lot of dust. Our truck, particularly the rear, gets quite dirty.
7/17/2022: Palouse to Cascades Trail
Looking along a section of the 250-mile (402 km) Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. The historic trail, created along a former railway, extends from Cedar Falls, near North Bend, east across the state to the Columbia River.
7/19/2022: Jerk Shack
Delicious Caribbean Jerk chicken and pints at the Jerk Shack in Belltown.
7/19/2022: Building
One of several new apartment buildings under construction in the Belltown area. This one at 3rd and Battery will generate half its annual energy requirements through solar panels mounted on the roof, the south facade and the west balconies. The north side, pictured, won't get enough sun to warrant the panels.
7/19/2022: Lake Union
An unusually large number of sailboats on Lake Union on a warm and sunny Tuesday evening.
7/21/2022: Electric Prime Truck
Jennifer with a Rivian electric Amazon Prime delivery truck on display at the Amazon South Lake Union campus. Rivian CEO RJ Scaringe gave Amazon CEO Andy Jassy a tour of this vehicle earlier in the day.
7/22/2022: Dirt Removal
Two dump trucks, each towing a trailer, transporting dirt away from the Fourth & Bell construction site.
7/22/2022: Crane Assembly
A small white mobile crane, at right, assembling a larger yellow mobile crane, at left, that will ultimately assemble a large tower crane at the Fourth & Bell construction site.
7/22/2022: Boom Installed
Ninety minutes after the previous picture was taken, the entire boom of the mobile construction crane has been assembled.
7/22/2022: Boom Lifting
The boom lifting on the mobile construction crane.
7/22/2022: Boom Extended
The boom extended on the mobile construction crane. We're heading out camping today and won't see this crane install the tower crane, but are slightly tempted to stick around and watch.
7/23/2022: Fog
Ascending into the clouds as we approach Snoqualmie Pass at altitude 2,229 ft (680 m).
7/23/2022: Lizard Lake
Tranquil Lizard Lake has an awesome single-car campsite along the west side that is always taken whenever we pass, and a larger group site along the south shore.
7/23/2022: Fallen Rock
A large rock has recently fallen onto Forest Road 5403. We're glad we weren't there for its arrival.
7/23/2022: Fallen Tree
Another obstacle. We can just barely get under this tree fallen along Forest Road 5403. It's a reminder that slides and fallen trees could block our way out.
7/23/2022: Overgrown
We drove down Forest Road 5403-315, a small spur Forest Road 5403, but it was too overgrown to reach the end without putting even more scratches down the side of our truck. We walked down to see what was there, and our truck is just visible beyond the bushes as we returned to it.
7/23/2022: Campsite
We weren't having much luck finding a campsite until we reached the end of Forest Road 5403-545 at the base of Snowshoe Butte. When we arrived, the valley was completely fogged in and we couldn't see a thing, but looking out our maps we felt there was a good chance this had a view so we decided to take it. Not long after we arrived, the fog cleared to yield this fabulous view.
7/23/2022: View
The sweeping view northwest from the Snowshoe Butte campsite. We keep finding "the best spot ever."
7/23/2022: Starlink
We have cellular connectivity in the mountains more often than we expected, but not here. Our Starlink satellite transceiver has a nice, clear view though and is working well.
7/23/2022: Level
Looking back to our campsite at the end of Forest Road 5403-545. The site is a little uneven, so we've leveled the vehicle with orange Tri-Lynx levelers.
7/23/2022: Snowshoe Butte
Looking up to the top of 5,125-ft (1,562m) Snowshow Butte that we're camped at the base of. Our camp is at altitude 4,867 ft (1,483 m), so it's not much of a climb to reach the summit.
7/23/2022: Mt Rainier
We didn't look behind us as we were climbing Snowshow Butte. But when we reached the top we turned and got this spectacular view to "The Mountain", 14,411 ft (4,392 m) Mt. Rainier. We're looking forward to a summer hiking trip to Rainier planned for a couple of weeks out.
7/23/2022: View East
Jennifer taking in the wonderful view northeast across the Cascade Mountains from the top of Snowshoe Butte.
7/23/2022: James with Rainier
James standing on Snowshoe Butte with Mt. Rainier in the background. We can never get enough of that mountain.
7/23/2022: Camp from Above
A glimpse from Snowshoe Butte down to our camp, with our car partially visible.
7/23/2022: Pacific Crest Trail
We could see the Pacific Crest Trail from Snowshoe Butte, so worked our way down to it. We had to push through a few thickly grown areas, but much of they way was through open meadow.
7/23/2022: PCT Hikers
A couple of hikers on the Pacific Crest Trial. The route extends 2,653 mi (4,270 km) from the Mexican to the Canadian border, generally following the highest parts of the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Mountain ranges. Elite hikers can complete the trail in a couple of months, but more average hikers take the full season of 4 to 5 months. Cheryl Strayed's book Wild (made into a movie of the same name) describes her experiences hiking a large portion of the trail.
7/23/2022: Afternoon View
Enjoying the view from our camp site at the base of Snowshoe Butte after returning from the hike.
7/23/2022: Alpine Lakes Wilderness
View north to the striking 6,200+ ft (1,890+ m) mountains in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
7/23/2022: Borup Loop
We were excited to see a train passing through the elongated S-curve known as the Borup Loop. It carries the train from elevation 2,270ft (691 m) at Borup up to the Stampede Pass Tunnel west entrance at 2,900 ft (883 m) over a distance of 2.3 miles (3.7 km) as the crow flies. Here the train head of the train is passing through the center of the 'S', with the rest of the train (not pictured) still visible directly below on the lower section. The Borup Loop is clearly visible in the satellite imagery.
7/23/2022: Sunset
Sunset as clouds drift into the valley.
7/23/2022: Cloud Show
The evening scenery changed constantly as the sun set and clouds filled the valley. At our altitude of 4,867 ft (1,483 m) we were above the clouds and spent ages watching the beautiful "cloud show".
7/23/2022: Propane Heater
The temperature was warm during the day, but drops off quickly at this altitude. We're wearing our heavier jackets and also are using our propane heater to keep one.
7/23/2022: Photography
Taking one of many pictures of the cloud show below us.
7/23/2022: Evening View
A final evening view across the valley just past sunset. What a spectacular camp site.
7/24/2022: Morning View
The morning view from our fabulous campsite below Snowshoe Butte.
7/24/2022: Borup Loop
Another big train entering the Borup Loop.
7/24/2022: Fallen Tree
A fallen tree on Forest Road 5403 that has been cut and partially pushed out of the way.
7/24/2022: Rockslide
A large rockslide on Forest Road 5405. Instead of returning back towards I-90, we're taking a different route to see if we can cross Stampede Pass and return on highway 410.
7/24/2022: Green River
We usually prefer high-altitude camp sites with a view, but this pretty spot along the Green River is quite appealing. We're not the only ones that think that though—it looks heavily used.
7/24/2022: Dust
Dust billowing behind another vehicle that we are catching up to along Forest Road 7037.
7/24/2022: View Campsites
We found several potential campsites with great views at the top of the ridge along Forest Road 7037.
7/24/2022: Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rainier burst into view as we rounded a bend along Forest Road 7038.
7/24/2022: FR-195
A campsite in the switchbacks along Forest Road 195 with a great Mt. Rainier view.
7/24/2022: NF-7036
An even better Mt. Rainier view from this campsite along National Forest Development Road 7036.
7/24/2022: NF 7030330
Forest Road 7030330 has been closed to traffic, but many 4x4s have made it past the obstructing berm.
7/24/2022: Trailhead
The parking lot at the trailhead to Kelley Butte Lookout was nearly full on this sunny Sunday.
7/24/2022: Kelley Butte Lookout
The hike to Kelley Butte Lookout is a popular hike in the area. It's an easy, 3.4-mile (5.4 km) return hike from the parking lot, with an elevation gain of just 1,100 ft (335 m).
7/24/2022: Group Camp
One of several large groups camped in the Greenwater River area as we descended on the other side of Stampede Pass. The route over the pass was a little difficult in places, with some fairly large ruts, but we were able to pass through with care.
7/24/2022: Washed Out
Whistler Creek Road is partially washed out, but still passable.
7/24/2022: Target Practice
A Forestry Service truck, at left, at an old quarry where a large group were setting up for target practice.
7/24/2022: Roadster
A nice-looking machine heading the opposite way on highway 410.
7/24/2022: Classic Cars
A convoy of classic cars driving through Enumclaw as we return home from camping.
7/24/2022: Dirt
Our poor car gets very dirty on these camping trips. Here we are stopped in Enumclaw for lunch.
7/24/2022: Big Nation Car Wash
Taking our car through the Big Nation Car Wash. Under the name the sign reads "We're BIG on Clean!". The car wash is part of Big Nation Station on the Muckleshoot Reservation and includes a gas station and a grocery store ("We're BIG on Food") with Big Nation Kitchen prepared foods ("We're BIG on Taste!"). The facility had its grand opening in May of this year, making the reservation no longer a food desert (an urban area where it is difficult to buy affordable or good-quality fresh food).
7/25/2022: Summer in SLU
Seasonal "Summer in SLU" (South Lake Union) decorations at the Amazon South Lake Union Campus.
7/27/2022: Camping Toilet
In the areas we camp, human waste needs to be buried or packed out. We've so far not had to deal with this, but will for longer trips, and bought a TRIPTIPS folding camping toilet. Folded and stowed in the carry bag, pictured, the unit is only 2.4-inches (6.1 cm) high and 12 inches (30 cm) in diameter, so won't take up much space.
7/27/2022: Toilet Assembled
The assembled toilet, lined with a decompostable Green Elephant Portable Toilet Bag, is 12 inches (30 cm) high and in diameter.
7/27/2022: Dry Run
A somewhat sheepish James doing a "dry run" of our new camping toilet. It's not as comfortable as a real toilet, but is a big step up from squatting over the ground.
7/27/2022: Moisture Barriers
Installing moisture barriers along the sub-floor at the Fourth & Bell construction site. The tower crane, completed while we were out camping on the weekend, is partially visible at left.
7/27/2022: Construction Resumed
Construction of a building north of our complex was suspended during the pandemic, but now is resuming. The 41-story complex will have 1,016 apartments, the lot beyond it will also be developed, with 622 units, and a 455-unit apartment tower will be build in the the lot partially visible at left. Several new apartment buildings in downtown Seattle have recently been completed or are nearing completion already, and it seems unlikely that the housing market can support so many new units. This will be the end of our Lake Union view but the Elliott Bay view remains for now.
7/27/2022: Tavolata
A light summer dinner of bread, shaved meat, and marinated olives at Tavolata in Belltown.
7/27/2022: Reach
The excavator at street level is able to reach all the way down to the bottom to transfer up the dirt that the smaller excavator is piling up.
7/28/2022: Belltown Pizza
Dinner on the patio at Belltown Pizza. When we lived aboard in Bell Harbor Marina, we traditionally picked up a pizza here to eat while watching Monday Night Football.
7/29/2022: Ovation of the Seas
Our once "pet cruise ship" Ovation of the Seas, foreground, and Celebrity Solstice arriving into Seattle at 5:30am between Alaska cruises.
7/29/2022: Lifting Excavater
The tower crane lifting the small excavator out of the Fourth & Bell construction site.
7/29/2022: Trailhead
A few cars parked late on a Friday afternoon at the trailhead for the hikes to Margarate and Lillian lakes.
7/29/2022: Keechelus Ridge
We didn't expect to equal last weekend's campsite at Snowshoe Butte, but this one on the north side of Keechelus Ridge definitely is in the running.
7/29/2022: View
The panoramic view north from our campsite to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, with the peak of 6,152-ft (1,875 m) Alta Mountain visible at left (click image for a larger view).
7/29/2022: The Office
Getting a little work done at our wilderness office, with Starlink providing connectivity.
7/29/2022: 87F
It's really hot today at 87°F (31°C), even at this altitude of 4,242 ft (1,293 m).
7/29/2022: Bug Screen
In hot weather, we keep the car sunroof open for ventilation while we sleep. To prevent mosquitoes and other bugs from getting inside, we put a Kaskawise magnetically-attached sunroof screen over the opening.
7/29/2022: Alta Mountain
View to 6,152-ft (1,875 m) Alta Mountain in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
7/29/2022: NF-4948
Out for a short evening walk from our camp site, we got a view down to NF-4948 that we drove up on.
7/29/2022: Campsite
Looking back up to our campsite from the hill below.
7/29/2022: Dusk
Dusk looking northeast across the Cascade Mountains.
7/29/2022: Evening Walk
Jennifer enjoying the view to Alta Mountain on our evening walk.
7/29/2022: Second Campsite
Looking down to our campsite from a second one nearby. Both were empty and we chose ours because it felt a little more private.
7/29/2022: Road to Campsite
The spur road off NF-4948 to our campsite is steep, with big holes and ruts. We were able to navigate it with care, but it would be challenging in muddy conditions.
7/29/2022: Night Sky
6,152-ft (1,875 m) Alta Mountain highlighted in the evening sky as darkness falls.
7/29/2022: Evening
Enjoying the evening view from camp. At 9:40pm it's still not totally dark, but we did set out a flameless candle for a little light.
7/30/2022: Morning View
The fabulous view from our truck as we get up in the morning.
7/30/2022: Second Campsite
A car was parked up in the second campsite. They weren't there when we walked up last night, so probably came late. Navigating some of these roads in the dark would be challenging.
7/30/2022: Clear Day
Another beautiful clear day with sweeping views from our campsite.
7/30/2022: Toilet Test
Ready to give our new folding toilet a real test. It worked super well and we're quite happy with the purchase.
7/30/2022: Broken Wheel
Out exploring on NF-120, we encountered this Ford Escape on the side of the road with a broken wheel. We'd just ourselves bailed on continuing further, as the road was steep and full of deep ruts. The driver of this vehicle probably attempted it and slid back down into the trees, breaking the wheel. It's a long walk to the nearest point with cellular connectivity, so just getting out would have been a lengthy process and the cost of towing a vehicle from here will be high.
7/30/2022: Warning
As we return back out on overgrown NF-120, the Honda's proximity detection system at bottom left is warning of approaching objects on both sides.
7/30/2022: Crowds
We've hardly seen another person all day, but that changed when we neared Lake Kachess. Cars were parked on both sides of the road, with a lineup of cars snaking down towards the like.
7/30/2022: Traffic
Heavy traffic on NF-49 near the Lake Kachess boat launch. An RV parked on the side of the road was blocking one lane, making the situation worse.
7/30/2022: Volvo A30G
A Volvo A30G articulated hauler being transported westbound along I-90.
7/30/2022: Rescue ATV
Eastside Fire & Rescue pulling into a gas station in North Bend to fuel their rescue ATV.
7/30/2022: Rio Bravo
At Rio Bravo in North Bend for a delicious lunch of street tacos. In the background is 4,167ft (1,270 m) Mount Si, one of the most popular hikes in the state.
7/31/2022: Snoqualmie Falls Brewery
Lunch with tasty pints at the Snoqualmie Falls Brewery.
7/31/2022: Salish Lodge
On a whim, we decided this morning to spend the night at Salish Lodge above Snoqualmie Falls and booked an awesome suite with a great view to the falls. Here James is getting a little work done before dinner.
7/31/2022: Snoqualmie Falls
View to Snoqualmie Falls from the balcony of our room in Salish Lodge.
7/31/2022: Wier
A small wier above Snoqualmie Falls provides water to two hydroelectric plants. Plant 1, built in 1899, was the first completely underground power plant in the world. Plant 2 was completed in 1910 along the banks of the river.
7/31/2022: Bedroom
The bedroom in our suite at Salish Lodge has a good view to the falls.
7/31/2022: Bathroom
Even the bathroom of our suite has a nice view.
7/31/2022: Welcome Board
A delicious welcome board in our suite at Salish Lodge with fruit, cheese, meat, nuts and crackers
7/31/2022: Full View
A full view to the falls and area before we head out for dinner. In the distance at far right, people are visible at the various viewing platforms for the falls (click image for a larger view).
7/31/2022: The Dining Room
A wonderful meal with a sunset view at The Dining Room at Salish Lodge. Despite having been in the area several times, this our first time eating here.
7/31/2022: Dusk
The dusk sky viewed from our table at The Dining Room at Salish Lodge.
7/31/2022: Falls at Night
View to Snoqualmie Falls, lit up at night, from the balcony of our suite at Salish Lodge.
8/1/2022: Breakfast
Breakfast overlooking Snoqualmie Falls from the deck of our room at Salish Lodge.
8/1/2022: Snoqualmie Falls
A last view to Snoqualmie Falls before we head back to Seattle. We were surprised to see the waterfall at right, that wasn't there yesterday. It must be an overflow.
8/1/2022: Navy Ships
Navy ships on parade through Elliott Bay as they arrive into the area for Seafair Fleet Week. Leading the group is the 567-ft (173 m) guided missile cruise USS Lake Champlain. Seafair is Seattle's annual summer festival that is anchored by the Seafair Cup hydroplane races on Lake Washington.
8/1/2022: Leschi
The Seattle fire boat Leschi leading the navy ships on parade through Elliott Bay.
8/1/2022: USS Lake Champlain
Sailors lining the deck on the USS Lake Champlain as it parades through Elliott Bay.
8/1/2022: Happy 19th Birthday Spitfire
Spitfire the wonder kitty is an amazing nineteen years old today. Here he is with a birthday card from the pet supplies retailer Chewy.
8/1/2022: Mt. Hood
View down to 11,249-ft (3,428m) Mt. Hood from James' flight to San Diego.
8/2/2022: P 627
Members of the Sri Lankan navy training on the offshore patrol vessel P 627 in Elliott Bay. The ship, formerly the United States Coast Guard Cutter Douglas Munro, was transferred to the Sri Lankan navy in October of 2021.
8/3/2022: Blue Angels
The US Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squad practicing over Seattle for their upcoming show as part of the Seafair weekend.
8/3/2022: San Diego
View to portions of Pacific Beach, left, and Mission Bay, shortly after takeoff on James flight home from San Diego.
8/3/2022: Seattle
View to downtown Seattle as James flight from San Diego arrives. Our twin-towered condominium complex is just left of the brightly lit intersection at center and the Space Needle is slightly up and right from that intersection (click image for a larger view).
8/4/2022: Repacking
We've been doing a lot of packing an unpacking these past few days. Last weekend we went camping at Keechelus Ridge, then we spent a night at Salish Lodge in Snoqualmie, then James was away on business for two nights, and now we're packing for a four-night trip to Mt. Rainier.
8/4/2022: Sushi in the Park
We picked up some sushi in Seattle and had a wonderful picnic lunch at Wildwood Park in Puyallup on our way to Mt. Rainier.
8/4/2022: Cabin
For the next four nights we'll be staying at this VRBO cabin in Ashford while we hike in Mt. Rainier.
8/4/2022: Back Deck
The cabin backs on to Big Creek and is wonderfully private.
8/4/2022: Big Creek
Jennifer checking out Big Creek behind our cabin.
8/4/2022: Deer
Several deer wandered through the lot. This mother and fawn very much liked the plants in the front yard of the cabin.
8/4/2022: Barbecuing
We've not cooked on a real barbecue since moving off Dirona. This huge free-standing model at the cabin is triple the size of the one we had on the boat.
8/4/2022: Dinner
Grilled Moroccan-spiced chicken on the deck of our VRBO cabin in Ashford, with a view to Big Creek.
8/5/2022: Mt Rainier NP
At the Nisqually entrance to Mt Rainier National for a day of summer hiking.
8/5/2022: Is the Mountain Out?
Yes, it most certainly is in this view from Paradise Valley Road. On clear days, Mr. Rainier dominates the skyline south of Seattle. Despite the many mountains in the area, when someone asks "Is the Mountain Out," they can only be referring to Rainier.
8/5/2022: Stevens Canyon
View to Mount Rainier from Stevens Canyon. When we were here earlier in the year to snowshoe, most of the park roads were closed for the season. This time, we'll visit some of the places that are only accessible in the summer, starting with the scenic drive along Stevens Canyon Road.
8/5/2022: Construction
Stevens Canyon Road was the last major road built in Rainier National Park. It connects the Paradise area with State Route 123 near the eastern edge of the park and is the only east-west route in the park. Construction began in the 1930s, was suspended during World War II, and the road was finally completed in 1957. The road is only open in the summer and early fall, and right now is only open Friday through Sunday while a major rehabilitation project in underway. Here the road is down to a single lane due to the work being done.
8/5/2022: Stevens Canyon Tunnel
Approaching Stevens Canyon Tunnel, completed in 1937.
8/5/2022: Box Canyon Trailhead
Another great view to Rainier, this one from the Box Canyon trailhead.
8/5/2022: Box Canyon
A short walk from the trailhead brought us to a pedestrian bridge over Box Canyon. This is the view from the bridge to the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River, flowing 115 ft (35 m) below us through dramatic Box Canyon.
8/5/2022: White River Entrance
The White River Entrance at the northeast corner of Mt. Rainier National Park, with the mountain partially visible in the distance. The road here is closed in mid-October until late June or early July due to snowfall.
8/5/2022: Sunrise Park Road
One of many amazing views to Mt. Rainier from Sunrise Park Road. We've not seen the mountain much from this side and enjoyed the different perspective.
8/5/2022: Sunrise
Mt. Rainier is very popular in the summer. At just past 9am, the Sunrise parking lot is already half-full.
8/5/2022: Dwarf Lupine
Dwarf Lupine growing in a meadow along the Burroughs Mountain Trail. Mt Rainier is snow-covered most of the year, and bursts with color as the wildflowers bloom in late July and early August. One of the reasons we came this time of year was to enjoy the wildflower display.
8/5/2022: Shadow Lake
Looking north across tranquil Shadow Lake along the the Burroughs Mountain Trail in Mt Rainier National Park.
8/5/2022: Glacier Overlook
A great view to Mt Rainier at the Glacier Overlook along the Burroughs Mountain Trail. 11,138 ft (3,395 m) Little Tahoma is the peak just to the left.
8/5/2022: White River
The Inter Fork of the White River rises from Inter Glacier along the eastern flank of Mt. Rainier.
8/5/2022: Snowfield
Crossing the first of several small snowfields as we hike the Burroughs Mountain Trail, with a turquoise-colored glacial-fed lake visible in the valley below.
8/5/2022: Pink Mountain Heather
Pink Mountain Heather, with Scarlet Paintbrush at left, and Mt. Rainier in the background with Little Tahoma at left.
8/5/2022: Goats
A herd of mountain goats alongside the Burroughs Mountain Trail in Mt. Rainier National Park. Their hooves have a hard outer ring with a spongy center that helps them "stick" to rocks and be nimble climbers.
8/5/2022: 1st Burroughs Mountain
The Borroughs Mountain Trial passes three Burroughs Mountains, the 1st is 7,159 feet (2,182 m) high, the 2nd is 7,402 feet (2,256 m) and the 3rd is 7,828 feet (2,385 m). Here we are walking alongside the summit of 1st Burroughs Mountain (out of the picture at right) at altitude 7,095 ft (2,163 m).
8/5/2022: Spreading Phlox
We passed many displays of spreading phlox on the trail.
8/5/2022: Trail Junction
At the junction with the Glacier Basin Trail. We've come 2.2 miles (3.5 km) from Sunrise, and are just over a half-mile (0.8 km) away from 2nd Burroughs Mountain.
8/5/2022: View North
The view north from the trail between 1st and 2nd Burroughs mountains is fabulous on this clear day, but it's hard to compete with "The Mountain".
8/5/2022: Trail to 2nd Burroughs
Walking towards 7,402 feet (2,256 m) 2nd Burroughs Mountain, foreground, with Mt. Rainier in the background.
8/5/2022: Emmons Glacier
Emmons Glacier on the northeast flank of Mt. Rainier has the largest surface area of any glacier in the contiguous United States at 4.3 sq mi (11 km2).
8/5/2022: 2nd Burroughs
The fabulous view to Mt. Rainier from 7,402 feet (2,256 m) 2nd Burroughs Mountain. We're getting closer and closer.
8/5/2022: Trail to 3rd Burroughs
The spectacular view to Mt Rainier as we descend from 2nd Burroughs on the final section of the Burroughs Mountain Trail. We have to give up some of our altitude and descend 400 ft (121 km) into a valley between the 2nd and 3rd Burroughs mountains. Then we will ascend 800 feet (242 m) to reach the 7,828-ft (2,385 m) summit of 3rd Burroughs, just out of the picture at right.
8/5/2022: Snow Bank
Climbing another snowfield on the ascent to 3rd Burroughs. The snow was fairly soft and slushy and not that slippery to walk on.
8/5/2022: View East
The view east to 2nd Burroughs from the snowfield we are climbing.
8/5/2022: 3rd Burroughs
The spectacular view to Mt. Rainier from 7,828-ft (2,385 m) 3rd Burroughs Mountain.
8/5/2022: Lunch
Lunch with an amazing view to Mt. Rainier. We feel so close to the mountain and it looks so easy to reach the summit from here, but that's another 6,500 ft (1,980 m) up.
8/5/2022: Winthrop Glacier
The side of Winthrop Glacier on the north flank of Mt. Rainier. The glacier starts at Columbia Crest, at the summit of Mt. Rainier, and covers 3.5 sq mi (9.1 sq km) with a volume of 18.5 billion cu ft (523 million cu m).
8/5/2022: Last Look
A final picture of Mt Rainier from 3rd Burroughs Mountain before we return back to Sunrise. We're lucky to have such warm and sunny weather.
8/5/2022: Returning
Looking back to Mt. Rainier and 3rd Burroughs Mountain (partly visible at right) as we ascend back up to 2nd Burroughs from the valley between them.
8/5/2022: Horned Lark
A horned lark at the top of 2nd Burroughs Mountain.
8/5/2022: Chipmunk
An expectant chipmunk at 2nd Burroughs Mountain. This is a popular stop to either turnaround or rest before tackling 3rd Burroughs, and the foraging likely is quite good.
8/5/2022: Frozen Lake
View to Frozen Lake northeast of 1st Burroughs Mountain. We arrived at 1st Burroughs Mountain on the Sunrise Rim trail, and will return to Sunrise on the Sourdough Ridge trail past Frozen Lake.
8/5/2022: Little Tahoma
11,138 ft (3,395 m) Little Tahoma, a satellite peak of Mt. Rainier a little to its east.
8/5/2022: Antler Peak
7,017 ft (2,139 m) Antler Peak, viewed from the Sourdough Ridge Trail back to Sunrise.
8/5/2022: Crowds
The parking lot at Sunrise was full by the time we returned at 2pm, with cars parking along the road.
8/5/2022: Silver Forest Trail
Subalpine Daisy along the Silver Forest Trail. After returning to the Sunrise parking lot, we dropped of some of gear at the car for an easy walk to see some more wildflowers.
8/5/2022: Packwood Brewing Co
An early dinner at Packwood Brewing Company in Packwood on our way back to our Ashford cabin. We really enjoyed the meal and the ambiance, and are looking forward to returning.
8/6/2022: Paradise Road
Heading up Paradise Road shortly past 7am to hike the Paradise area before the crowds arrive. The mountain is out and it looks like we're going to have another wonderfully clear day.
8/6/2022: John Muir Quote
These stairs at Paradise carry a 1889 quote from conservationist John Muir describing the area as ".. the most luxuriant and the most extravagantly beautiful of all the alpine gardens I ever beheld in all my mountain-top wanderings." The stairs were buried under snow the last time we were here to snowshoe.
8/6/2022: Trail Map
Jennifer pointing to the route of the Skyline Trail that we'll be walking today.
8/6/2022: Pink Mountain Heater
A field of pink mountain heather along the Skyline Trail.
8/6/2022: Marmot
This hoary marmot lying in the grass right beside the trail seemed pretty unconcerned about our passing by. The animals have thick layers of fat that allow them to hibernate for eight to nine months each year.
8/6/2022: Skyline Trail
Jennifer and Mt Rainier as we set off on the Skyline Trail. This early in the morning, at 7:30am, few people are out on the trails with us.
8/6/2022: Edith Creek
Enjoying the view from the bridge over Edith Creek along the Skyline Trail.
8/6/2022: Paradise River
Crossing a small footbridge over the Paradise River.
8/6/2022: Mazama Ridge
Another fabulous view of Mt. Rainier, this one from Mazama Ridge. The scene is quite different from the winter view we had from here on our snowshoeing trip earlier in the year.
8/6/2022: Glacier Lily
Delicate-looking glacier lilies alongside the Skyline Trail. John Muir was right—the wildflowers really are special up here.
8/6/2022: Marmots
This pair of marmots popped out a trail-side hole and played out a mating ritual for quite some time.
8/6/2022: Monument
Memorial to Stevens-Van Trump, who made the first documented ascent of Mt. Rainier in 1870. The monument was erected in 1921 by the Mountaineers and the Mazamas mountaineering organizations at the site of the camp from which he made the climb. We walked right over top of the snow-buried monument when we were last here snowshoeing.
8/6/2022: Paradise River Valley
Looking across the Paradise River Valley to Mt. Rainier shortly before the trail descends and crosses the river.
8/6/2022: Viewpoint
Enjoying the view after ascending back out of the Paradise River Valley.
8/6/2022: Chipmunk
This cheeky chipmunk was looking for a handout. It didn't get one, but only because we carefully guarded our food.
8/6/2022: Bear Grass
A snowfield along the Skyline Trial, with bear grass blooming at left. Bears will eat the fleshy leaves in the spring, giving the flower its name.
8/6/2022: Snow Bridge
A delicate snow bridge along the Skyline Trail. With the current warm weather, this won't last much longer.
8/6/2022: McClure Rock
Taking a break at 7,359 ft (2,243 m) McClure Rock with Mt. Rainier visible behind. This is the highest point in our hike today.
8/6/2022: McClure Rock View
The expansive view south from McClure Rock. 11,250-ft (3,429 m) Mt Hood is visible in the distance at center, with 8,363-ft (2,549 m) Mt. St. Helens at right (click image for a larger view).
8/6/2022: Camp Muir Hikers
A steady column of climbers heading up to Camp Muir. At elevation 10,187 feet (3,104 m), Camp Muir is the highest you can go in the park without a permit and is used as a staging point for climbers attempting the summit of Mt. Rainier via the Gibraltar Route on the mountain's southern face. The camp is named after naturalist John Muir, who in 1888 was part of the group that made the sixth recorded ascent of the mountain.

The hike to Camp Muir has an elevation gain of 4,788 ft (1,459 m) over a distance of 4 miles (6.4 km), with a return hike typically taking 7-8 hours. It is considered a reasonably challenging route partly due to the changeability of the weather at the mountain, with frequent whiteouts, and also due to the high elevation, both in gain and actual altitude.
8/6/2022: Mowing
A hoary marmot mowing down the wildflowers at a rapid pace. Building up all that fat takes a lot of food.
8/6/2022: Panorama Point
View to Mt. Rainier from Panorama Point. By 10:30am, its starting to get quite busy up here.
8/6/2022: Waterfall
Glacial-fed waterfall on the flank of Mt. Rainier, viewed from Paradise Point.
8/6/2022: Descending
Descending from Panorama Point on the Skyline Trail with 11,250-ft (3,429 m) Mt Hood is visible in the distance. In the winter, this section of the trail is rerouted due to avalanche risk, so we've not walked here before.
8/6/2022: Climbers
A steady stream of climbers heading up to Camp Muir. It's getting late to make the 7-8-hour hike in one day, so likely they will be camping there overnight.
8/6/2022: West View
The view west from Skyline Trail as we descend from Panorama Point (click image for a larger view).
8/6/2022: Crossing Snow
A mountain goat crossing a snow bank with it's tongue out (click image for a larger view).
8/6/2022: Mt. Hood
View to 11,249 ft (3,429 m) Mt. Hood from the Skyline Trail.
8/6/2022: Lunch
Lunch with a view to Mt. Rainier along a small spur trail off Deadhorse Creek Trail. With so many people around, finding this private and appealing spot was a bit challenging.
8/6/2022: Avalanche Lily
Graceful white avalanche lilies growing alongside the Nisqually Visa Trail.
8/6/2022: Nisqually Vista
Another great Mt. Rainier view, this one from the Nisqually Vista on the trail of the same name.
8/6/2022: Nisqually River
View to the Nisqually River from the Nisqually Vista. The river rises from Nisqually Glacier and we cross it on the Nisqually Glacier Bridge on the drive up to Paradise.
8/6/2022: Traffic
A long line of cars lined up to enter the Paradise parking lot as we walked back to our car around 1pm.
8/6/2022: Crowds
The Paradise area is super-busy at 1pm compared to the few number of people here when we arrived at 7am.
8/6/2022: Lineup
Line-up of cars waiting to enter Mt Rainier at the Nisqually entrance.
8/6/2022: Lineup Continued
We kept thinking we'd hit the end of the line-up of cars, but it continued more than a mile down the road.
8/6/2022: End of Line
The line of cars to enter Mt. Rainier at 1:30pm extended 2.5 miles (4 km) from the Nisqually entrance. Coupled with the line-up to get into the Paradise parking lot, anyone trying to reach Paradise from here probably won't get there for several hours. And even trying to reach any businesses along the highway, such as a hotel or restaurant, would take ages. Not our idea of a fun way to spend an afternoon.
8/6/2022: Big Creek
Enjoying the view to Big Creek at our VRBO cabin in Ashford.
8/6/2022: Dinner
Grilled salmon for dinner on the deck of our Ashford VRBO. The cabin is working out very well and we're really enjoying staying here.
8/7/2022: Comet Falls Trailhead
A 7am start at the Comet Falls trailhead for our final day of hiking in Mt. Rainer.
8/7/2022: Parking
We like to get an early start anyway, but it's particularly important for Comet Falls due to the small parking lot at trailhead. It's over half full already shortly past 7am.
8/7/2022: Van Trump Creek
Taking in the flow from Van Trump Creek along a footbridge crossing. A short distance behind James, the creek flows down into the famous Christine Falls that drop 69 feet (21 m) in two tiered plunges.
8/7/2022: Stairs
Looking down to Van Trump Creek as we ascend some stairs on the Comet Falls trail.
8/7/2022: West Fork
Twin waterfall where the West Fork Van Trump Creek, at left, joins the main flow.
8/7/2022: Footbridge near Fork
Jennifer ahead on the trail crossing a recently-built footbridge across Van Trump Creek.
8/7/2022: Gorge
Jennifer looking back to James down the gorge through which Van Trump Creek flows.
8/7/2022: Bloucher Falls
Multi-tired Bloucher Falls on Van Trump Creek, just upstream from the footbridge.
8/7/2022: Footbridge from North
James on the footbridge after taking a picture of Jennifer with Bloucher Falls. We've hardly gotten started on the hike and are already really enjoying it.
8/7/2022: Comet Falls
Striking Comet Falls drop 462 ft (140 m) in multiple steps along the flow of West Fork Van Trump Creek.
8/7/2022: Comet Falls Main Step
James standing next to the largest step in Comet Falls, of 301 feet (92 m).
8/7/2022: Upper Comet Falls
Having a Hobbit's "second breakfast" below Upper Comet Falls along West Fork Van Trump Creek with Mt. Rainier in the background.
8/7/2022: Log Bridge
Crossing a log footbridge over West Fork Van Trump Creek en route to Mildred Point.
8/7/2022: Marmots
A pair of hoary marmots performing a mating ritual alongside West Fork Van Trump Creek.
8/7/2022: Sunshine
We've been in the cool shade all morning and shortly before 9am are getting some warm sunshine along the north side of West Fork Van Trump Creek.
8/7/2022: Sitka Valerian
Passing through a display of white Sitka Valerian on the trail to Mildred Point.
8/7/2022: Mildred Point Trail
Walking the Mildred Point Trail towards the southwest flank of Mt. Rainier.
8/7/2022: Mildred Point
An excellent view to Mt. Rainier from Mildred Point at 5,935 ft (1,808 m). Given how busy the Paradise area was yesterday, we were a little surprised to be the only ones here. We haven't seen a single other person since Comet Falls.
8/7/2022: Kautz Creek Falls
Kautz Creek Falls viewed from Mildred Point.
8/7/2022: Pinnacle
James, at center, perched on a pinnacle below Mt. Rainier, with steep drop-offs all around (click image for a larger view).
8/7/2022: Kautz Creek
View down to glacial-fed Kautz Creek from the pinnacle James is standing on.
8/7/2022: Lunch
Lunch with a fabulous view to Mt. Rainier from the Mildred Point area.
8/7/2022: Picaridin
The only negative of our lunch spot was the numerous hungry bugs, but a Picaradin spray resolved that.
8/7/2022: Van Trump Glacier
A section of Van Trump Glacier high above us, viewed from our lunch spot in the Mildred Point area.
8/7/2022: Van Trump Creek Valley
Looking across the West Fork Van Trump Creek Valley as we descend from Mildred Point, with Mt. Rainier at left.
8/7/2022: Bear Grass
White bear grass growing alongside our route down from Mildred Point.
8/7/2022: Comet Falls and Rainbow
We returned to Comet falls around noon, about four hours after we passed them on the way to Mildred Point. The falls were in full sunshine now, with a rainbow, and dozens of people (not visible) were around the base.
8/7/2022: Christine Falls
After returning to our car at the Comet Falls trailhead, we drove up the road a short distance in the hopes of finding a parking spot to view Christine Falls. The lot was busy, but we were lucky and found parking. This is the classic shot of the lower portion of Christine Falls through the Christine Falls Bridge. The footbridge we crossed at the start of our hike this morning is just visible in the distance above the road bridge (click image for a larger view).
8/7/2022: Narada Falls
Since this was "waterfall viewing day," we drove further up the road towards Paradise to check out Narada Falls. This is the larger upper portion of Narada falls, that drops 168 feet (51 m) over a sheer cliff. The falls freeze in the winter and attract ice climbers.
8/7/2022: Power Outlet
Back getting a little work done at our cabin in Ashford. Our travel kit includes a 10ft power strip extension cord that we use constantly. Hotel rooms often have an insufficient number of power outlets, or they are located in inconvenient places. The power strip allows us to have 8 AC wall outlets and 4 USB outlets wherever we want. It is particularly useful in Europe because we need only a single in-country-to-US wall adapter to power all our devices.
8/7/2022: Dinner
Our final dinner on the deck of our VRBO cabin in Ashford before we drive back home to Seattle tomorrow morning. We had a fabulous weekend hiking at Mt. Rainier and today's hike might have been the best.
8/8/2022: Rebar
A complex web of rebar installed at the Fouth & Bell construction site around the elevator shaft. They are getting ready to pour the foundation floor and have the rebar in for the central elevator shafts.
8/8/2022: Happy Birthday James
Celebrating James' birthday at one of our favorite Seattle restaurants, The Butcher's Table.
8/8/2022: Sunset
Sunset over Elliott Bay.
8/8/2022: Spitfire
Spitfire taking in the view to Elliott Bay from the coffee table on our main deck.
8/9/2022: Buckley's
Frosty pints at Buckley's pub in our Belltown neighborhood.
8/9/2022: Seattle
The recently-painted mural Seattle by Spencer Keaton Cunningham, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation (member tribes listed beneath the mural). The wording at left states the mural is "painted on the occupied land of the Duwamish". The name Seattle is an Anglicization of the name of the Duwamish Chief Si'ahl (1780-1866).
8/9/2022: Rebar
At the Fourth & Bell construction site they are almost ready pour the cement for the foundation floor and the thick floor under the elevator shafts.
8/10/2022: Dirt Removal
An interesting piece of construction gear at the 6th & Bell site towards Lake Union. Rather than using a shovel on the the end of an excavator arm this shovel raises and lowers on a vertical track (click image for a larger view).
8/11/2022: Toilet Delivery
The tower crane at the 4th & Bell construction site lowering two outhouses.
8/11/2022: Demolition
Excavators at work clearing the burned building at 2nd & Bell.
8/11/2022: Tavolata
Dinner streetside at our favorite table at Tavolata Italian restaurant in Belltown.
8/11/2022: Downtown Sailing Series
Participants on the final event of the 2022 Downtown Sailing Series rounding the mark near Pier 66.
8/12/2022: Mt. Si Trailhead
At the trailhead to climb 4,167 ft (1,270 m) Mt. Si, shortly past 8am. This is one of the most popular trails in Washington state, with about 100,000 climbers annually.
8/12/2022: Shattered Tree
What looks like a couple of fairly healthy tree just blew alongside the trail up Mt. Si.
8/12/2022: Snag Flat
Walking along a boardwalk through Snag Flat, an old-growth forest that somehow has survived the past logging and mining in the area.
8/12/2022: Douglas Fir
This 350-year-old Douglas Fir in Snag Flat stands 175-ft (53 m) high.
8/12/2022: Switchbacks
The trail up to Mt. Si ascends 3,100 feet (945 m) over a distance of just under 4 miles (6.4 km), with lots of switchbacks along the way. This is the view looking back down to hikers below us passing through Snag Flags.
8/12/2022: Overlook
The sweeping view northwest from an overlook near the top of Mt. Si.
8/12/2022: Haystack
Looking up to the Haystack, the true summit of Mt. Si.
8/12/2022: Snack
James taking in the view west from the overlook while we have a break and a snack before tackling the Haystack.
8/12/2022: Canada Jay
A Canada Jay looking for a handout. The birds are known as "camp robbers" due to their tendency to get comfortable around humans and steal food.
8/12/2022: Bellevue
The sky is a little hazy today, and we can just see the city of Bellevue, in Seattle's Eastside suburbs, about 23 miles (37 km) away.
8/12/2022: North Bend
View down to North Bend from the overlook at Mt. Si. The North Bend Bar & Grill, where we often have lunch when in the area, is roughly at center and Rio Bravo, where we had lunch a couple of weeks ago, is the leftmost white building just down the street (click image for a larger view).
8/12/2022: Atop Haystack
Reaching the top of the Haystack required a bit of a scramble up a steep slope with no obvious route up. But the view definitely was worth it.
8/12/2022: Haystack View
The panoramic view west from atop the Haystack on Mt. Si.
8/12/2022: Snoqualmie River
The Snoqualmie River, viewed from the Haystack atop Mt. Si.
8/12/2022: Boeing 777 Flyover
A Boeing 777 performing a flyover of the Eastside as part of the Boeing Classic PGA golf tournament taking place at the Club at Snoqualmie Ridge. It's pretty rare to be standing on a mountain looking down at a jet plane.
8/12/2022: Descending
Working our way back down the north side of the Haystack at Mt. Si. The going is quite steep with no obvious path, so we had to carefully find our own way.
8/12/2022: Mt. Teneriffe Trail
We descended back to the parking lot on the Mt. Teneriffe Trail to make a loop. We passed or saw several dozen people on the trail up to Mt. Si, but only a few people in this much less busy trail.
8/12/2022: Bridge
Taking in the view to a waterfall from a footbridge along the Mt. Teneriffe Trail.
8/12/2022: Mt. Si from North Bend
The view to the summit of Mt. Si from the North Bend Bar & Grill, where we stopped for lunch. It was fun to see the summit from here now that we've actually climbed it.
8/12/2022: Fire Bell No. 4
Historic Fie Bell No. 4, dating from 1887, outside the Fire Station 2 in Belltown.
8/12/2022: Downtown Summer Sounds
A band playing on Bell Street as part of the Downtown Summer Sounds concert series. As part of the 4-decade-old program, 38 performances were held at various locations throughout the city.
8/12/2022: Mohawk
A dog sporting an eye-catching Mohawk at the Downtown Summer Sounds concert in Belltown.
8/13/2022: Overgrown
We didn't get very far exploring down National Forest Development Road 620 before it became too overgrown. We could have pushed through, but it's really tough on the car paint and we weren't confident enough that any good campsites were beyond.
8/13/2022: NF-625
Retracing our path along NF-50, from NF-620, we found a lovely spot off the edge of NF-625 with wildflowers all around. The road dead-ends not far beyond our camp, and we only saw one other vehicle the entire time we were there.
8/13/2022: Snow Creek Valley
Looking southeast across our campsite along NF-5000625 to the Snow Creek Valley in Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest.
8/13/2022: Lunch
Lunch with a view across wildflowers to the Snow Creek Valley from our campsite along NF-5000625.
8/13/2022: Train
We were super-excited to hear a train, and see one passing through the Borup Loop that we'd seen earlier from our campsite at Snowshoe Butte on the other side of the valley.
8/13/2022: Snowshoe Butte
From our campsite along NF-5000625, we could see a truck with a roof tent at the Snowshoe Butte campsite we were at three weeks ago.
8/14/2022: Dawn
Dawn looking across wildflowers from our campsite along NF-5000625.
8/14/2022: Privacy Tent
We're planning to take a 4-day camping trip at the end of the month and want to be able to shower. The first part of making that work is a Your Choice Privacy Tent.
8/14/2022: Camp Shower
To have a shower at camp, we bought a Kradl Portable Camping Shower. The shower holds 2.9 gallons of water and builds pressure through a foot pump. Here James is testing out the flow, which seems pretty decent.
8/14/2022: Camp Toilet
The shower enclosure also works well for our camp toilet.
8/14/2022: Hill
Our little SUV doesn't have the ground clearance of a real 4x4. It can actually get up pretty steep hills, but where it quickly runs into problems is with ground clearance, especially forward.
8/14/2022: Lake Campsite
The reward for taking on that steep hill is a beautiful private campsite overlooking a small lake.
8/14/2022: Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rainier burst into view as we explored along NF-5078. Big ruts in the road prevented us from proceeding much further.
8/14/2022: Pickers
As we explored today, we encountered several groups of people parked off the side of the road and off doing something in the woods. They didn't appear to be camping or picnicing, and likely were harvesting berries or some other plant.
8/14/2022: PCT
Crossing the Pacific Crest Trail on a spur off NF-5483. We walked a short distance on the trail when we were camped at Snowshoe Butte.
8/14/2022: The Commonwealth
The view from The Commonwealth at Snoqualmie Pass where we stopped for lunch on our way home from camping. The pickup backing out doesn't look unusually large in the picture, but looked towering when it was closer in the parking spot.
8/14/2022: Boeing 777 Flyover
We caught another instance of the Boeing 777 Flyover for the Boeing Classic PGA golf tournament taking place at the Club at Snoqualmie Ridge. We'd seen this a couple of days ago, from above, at Mt. Si.
8/14/2022: Spitfire
Spitfire looking a tad guilty for stealing one of our deck chairs we'd just set up for a sunset drink outside. Guilty or not, he didn't give up the seat.
8/14/2022: Sunset
Beautiful orange sunset over Elliott Bay, viewed from our apartment deck.
8/15/2022: Prime Air
A Prime Air flight taking off from Seattle, viewed from the taxiway on James' flight to Spokane for business. The Prime Air shipping fleet currently comprises nearly 100 aircraft.
8/15/2022: Mt. Rainier
Mt. Rainier (14,411 ft; 4,392 m), with Little Tahoma Peak (11,138 ft; 3,395 m) to the left, viewed from James' flight to Spokane.
8/15/2022: Bio Energy
The King County Cedar Hills landfill gas–to–energy facility. Doing business as Bio Energy Washington, the site generates renewable energy from landfill gas produced by decomposing organic material at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill.
8/15/2022: Mt Si
The Haystack atop Mt Si, where we hiked to last week, viewed from James' flight to Spokane.
8/15/2022: Cascade Mountains
Looking south down the Cascade Mountains to Mt. Rainier, with Mt. Hood in the distance.
8/15/2022: Spokane Airport
View to the Spokane Airport as James' flight descends into the area.
8/15/2022: Spokane River
The Spokane River winds south through the city of Spokane and into the Columbia River.
8/15/2022: Ground Power
The plane James flew into Spokane on hooked up to ground power via a TW GSE 1400 solid-state 28 VDC ground power unit.
8/15/2022: Ferrari & Porsche
Somebody likes nice cars. This Ferrari and Porsche are parked side-by-side in adjacent spots in our apartment building.
8/18/2022: Lumen Field
At Lumen Field to watch the Seahawks second pre-season game, this one against the Chicago Bears.
8/18/2022: Roster
NFL rules allow for 90 players per team at the start of the preseason. The limit drops by five players following each of the first two preseason games, and after the third game the roster limit is 53 for the start of the regular season. The current limit at preseason game two is 85, and there's a lot of players on the field.
8/18/2022: Coach Carroll
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll often works directly with players on the field before the game. Most NFL head coaches take a more hands-off approach, leaving this sort of work to their assistant coaches.
8/18/2022: Pike Place Market
Walking home from the Seahawks game we passed the famous Pike Place Market sign.
8/19/2022: Cat Sitting Hotels
At Cat Sitting Hotels in West Seattle to drop off Spitfire while we head out for a two-night camping trip. We normally use Wagly in Bellevue, but they didn't have capacity so we needed to try a different company.
8/19/2022: Spitfire
Spitfire checking out his weekend digs at Cat Sitting Hotels. They took great care of him and made sure his enclosure had plenty of places to tuck away, but he could also see out when he wanted.
8/19/2022: Logging Equipment
The area we're driving through on NF-7010 off Highway 410 is being actively logged. We passed several large logging machines along the way.
8/19/2022: Road Closed
A few of the spur roads off NF-7010 were closed due to the active logging.
8/19/2022: Landslide
A major landslide across the valley, viewed looking east from NF-7012. The creek below at the bottom is called Slide Creek, so this probably is a common occurrence.
8/19/2022: Large Campsite
Checking out a large camping area at the end of NF-7012-375 with a partial view to Mt. Rainier through the trees. We'd seen better ones on the way up, so didn't stop here.
8/19/2022: Guiding
Jennifer guiding James across deep ruts and holes along NF-7012-390 to make sure our front bumper or spoiler didn't catch. We had to do this a lot today as the roads were in pretty rough shape and barely passable with the low ground clearance of our SUV.
8/19/2022: Campsite
We didn't find any sites we liked better, so returned back down along NF-7012 to a spot we'd seen earlier with a great view to Mt. Rainier. The only reason we didn't take it right away is we didn't feel quite ready to stop and wanted to explore the area a bit more. The site was a little uneven, so we've leveled the vehicle with orange Tri-Lynx levelers.
8/19/2022: Lunch
Lunch with a view to Mt. Rainier from our campsite along NF-7012.
8/19/2022: Mt. Rainier
Even slightly obscured by clouds, Mt. Rainier is a dramatic sight.
8/19/2022: Crab Cakes
Making crab cakes for dinner. Our Coleman Classic camp stove and the rest of our cooking gear is working out really well.
8/19/2022: Dusk
Dusk looking northwest from our campsite along NF-7012.
8/19/2022: Evening
Enjoying the evening view in the warm glow of our propane heater. The day was quite warm, but it cools off quickly in the evening at altitude 3,237 ft (987 m).
8/20/2022: White River Valley
Clouds have filled in the White River Valley this morning, but we get an interesting view above them.
8/20/2022: Road Closed
A logger stopped by our campsite on Saturday morning and told us we were behind a locked gate that wouldn't open again until Monday. He let us out, but we were lucky he'd come by otherwise we would have been stuck when we tried to leave on Sunday. The sign pictured was the only warning to us. It's not clear how to avoid this other than keeping out of active logging areas with only one exit.
8/20/2022: PCT Hiker
A hiker along the Pacific Crest Trail as we explore along Blowout Creek Road near Green Pass.
8/20/2022: Clouds
Ascending into the clouds at altitude 4,734 ft (1,443 m) along Blowout Creek Road near the junction with Forest Road 7038. The road looks a bit like it's heading off a cliff ahead.
8/20/2022: Potential Campsite
Looking down to a couple of potential campsites along a spur road off Forest Road 7038. It felt a little too early to stop though, so we'll keep them in mind for another time.
8/20/2022: Big Rock
Driving around a large boulder along Forest Road 5200-2 alongside Tahoma Creek. There sure are a lot of ways to damage a vehicle out on these forest roads.
8/20/2022: Tree Splintered
A large tree that had splintered apart along Forest Road 41 by Cabin Creek.
8/20/2022: Dusty
We eventually found a wonderful single-car spot tucked off Forest Road 41 with a view to Cabin Creek. Our poor car is very dusty after the day's driving.
8/20/2022: Lunch
Lunch with a view to Cabin Creek. We normally prefer higher-altitude campsites with a mountain view, but this one along the creek was too beautiful to skip.
8/20/2022: Wading
Another advantage of the higher-altitude view campsites is they often lack thick tree cover and we usually have no trouble getting our Starlink satellite dish to hook up. But here in the woods we've tried all candidate spots around the truck or on the access road and can't get the clear view to overhead satellites that Starlink needs. James decided to walk across the creek and try there, and it just barely worked.
8/20/2022: Connectivity
The Starlink cord trailing away from the WiFi router inside our car across the creek to the satellite dish perched on a log on the other side (click image for a larger view). It's perhaps a bit odd to have the satellite base station on the other side of the stream, but it got us connected.
8/20/2022: Making Dinner
Making dinner at Cabin Creek.
8/20/2022: Pork Tacos
Delicious pulled pork tacos for dinner, with fresh cilantro, onion and lime, at our lovely spot along Cabin Creek.
8/21/2022: The Office
Getting a little work done in the morning at our outdoor office along Cabin Creek.
8/21/2022: NF 4110-129
Out exploring before returning home, we found this campsite along Forest Road 4110-129 with a great view north to the Cascade Mountains and the distinctive peaks of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.
8/21/2022: Cabin Creek Bridge
The bridge across Cabin Creek is looking pretty tired. Here we are re-crossing after exploring Forest Road 4110.
8/21/2022: Hill
Our maps indicated we could reach I-90 traveling east along Forest Road 41, but we soon came to this small hill partially blocking the road. Many, many vehicles had crossed before us, so we decided to give it a try with Jennifer out of the car guiding.
8/21/2022: Ascending
Here we are approaching the midway point of the hill where the big risk is getting top-centered as we crest the hill. We're about as far over to the passenger side as we can get before that happens.
8/21/2022: Narrow
We don't have much room on the driver's side either with the steeply sloped wall.
8/21/2022: Three Wheels
We're getting pretty close to the limit for our little SUV on this one.
8/21/2022: Turn
Once over hill, we need to make a sharp turn to the passenger side to avoid contacting the dirt wall with the corner of the front spoiler on the driver's side.
8/21/2022: Tree
We made it over the hill, but the next challenge was that Forest Road 41 was partially washed out a short distance beyond. We had to go right up against this tree to stay on the road.
8/21/2022: Washout
View to what is left of Forest Road 41 on the passenger side of the car as we pass the tree. We're right on the edge.
8/21/2022: End of the Road
After all the work of getting over the hill and past the partial washout, we hit a total washout where the road was completely gone. Some 4x4s had made it up a very steep hill into the woods to the north, but that was definitely beyond the capability of our vehicle. So we reluctantly turned around to face everything we'd just gone through all over again. We were so bummed we forgot to take a picture, but this screenshot from the satellite imagery makes it pretty clear.
8/21/2022: Cabin Creek
View to Cabin Creek as we return back out. The water level looks quite low.
8/21/2022: Checking Clearance
James checking for clearance at the driver's side as we return back over the hill. With care, we made it back out through both hazards.
8/21/2022: Keechelus Lake
View to Keechelus Lake and the Cascade Mountains beyond as we descend on Forest Road 41 towards I-90. We're about to cross over the Stampede Pass railway tunnel that trains enter after ascending the Borup Loop.
8/21/2022: Paved Road
After the challenge of getting over the hill and through the road washout, and back again, we enjoyed being back on a paved road.
8/21/2022: Dust
A view to the rear of our incredibly dusty car as we stop for gas in Snoqualmie Pass. The last time we stopped here for fuel was in the winter, when a huge pile of snow slid off the roof right where we'd just driven.
8/21/2022: The Commonwealth
Another great lunch at The Commonwealth at Snoqualmie Pass.
8/21/2022: Hydroplane
One of several small hydroplanes being towed west along I-90 as we return home from the Commonwealth.
8/21/2022: Port of Seattle
Passing the Port of Seattle as we arrive into the city from the south after picking up Spitfire at Cat Sitting Hotels in West Seattle.
8/21/2022: Seattle Skyline
The striking Seattle skyline with Lumen Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, at right.
8/22/2022: Foundation
The bottom layer of foundation has been poured over the rebar at the Fourth & Bell construction site.
8/24/2022: Form
A worker at the Fourth & Bell construction site clinging to the top of a rebar tower and guiding a crane-suspended cement form into place. The form will be slid down to the bottom of the tower for the cement to be poured into.
8/25/2022: Grill Pan
We've been really wanting to grill at camp, but an entire barbecue is more extra gear than we want to carry. So we are experimenting at home with an All-Clad non-stick grill pan. It's doing a great job of browning Bratwurst sausages for lunch, better than our boat barbecue ever did.
8/25/2022: 346F
The grill pan distributes heat well and is an impressive 346°F (174°C). We had to turn the burner down quite low to avoid burning the sausages. So far we're really impressed. The next test will be to see how it does on the our camp stove, with only 10,000 BTU per burner.
8/25/2022: Lucky Penny
Nordhavn 64 Lucky Penny departing Bell Harbor Marina, our old home port.
8/25/2022: Sunset
Spectacular orange sunset over Elliott Bay.
8/26/2022: Nat Geo Resolution
The National Geographic Resolution moored at pier 66 in Seattle. We'll be taking her sistership, the Endurance, on a cruise to the Antarctic later this year.
8/26/2022: Gear
A load of gear ready to head off camping. We typically bring two LL Bean rolling duffels, one filled with clothes and other standard travel gear and the other carrying 5 gallons of water in a storage cube, non-perishable foodstuffs and any other camping-specific gear. We also bring a Engel HD30 cooler filled with perishables and other items we want to keep cold, and have a second for trips longer than two nights.

The rolling duffels are super-convenient for getting gear back and forth from our car, and we can hook the cooler onto one for easy transport.
8/26/2022: Mt Rainier
We've driven along Stampede Pass Road several times, but Mt. Rainier has never been out so we had no idea it was even visible from here. Although we'd rather not be so near the power lines since they are a bit unsightly and hum quite loudly, the view was too good to pass up.
8/26/2022: Salad
Making salad for lunch at our camp off Stampede Pass Road.
8/26/2022: Camp Grill
The grill pan worked amazingly well on our camp stove, again much better than the boat barbecue ever did. Here we are making grilled salmon with Wasabi sauce and had to keep the heat turned down to avoid burning it. We're super-excited to be able to grill at camp with only this one small piece of extra gear. Cleanup is a breeze with the non-stick surface, and we'll probably get a second for use at home.
8/26/2022: Campsite
Evening view to our private campsite just off Stampede Pass Road, with our Starlink antenna on the left. Mt. Rainier is no longer visible behind the clouds.
8/26/2022: Steel Cable
Jennifer checking out an old steel cable left over from past logging operations on an evening walk from our campsite.
8/26/2022: View to Campsite
Looking down to our campsite from a short distance up Stampede Pass Road. Our SUV is just barely visible to the right of the bend in the road (click image for a larger view).
8/26/2022: Transmission Tower
Looking up the inside of a steel lattice transmission tower.
8/26/2022: Clouds
The clouds really filled in by nightfall and we could barely see anything beyond the camp. The weather is quite changeable up here in the mountains.
8/27/2022: Morning
A bit better view the next morning from our campsite along Stampede Pass Road. But no mountain.
8/27/2022: Single Lane
Our route home along 6th Avenue is down to a single lane for the assembly of a tower crane at the 6th & Bell construction site north across the street from our building.
8/27/2022: Returning
Returning home from our camping trip with a little lighter load.
8/27/2022: Crew
Looking down from our balcony to the crew ready to install a section of the tower crane at the 6th & Bell construction site.
8/27/2022: Mobile Crane
A mobile crane lifting a piece of the tower crane towards the waiting crew.
8/27/2022: Boom
A section of the tower crane boom being lifted into place. We really enjoyed watching the progress.
8/28/2022: Norwegian Encore
The Norwegian Encore arriving into Pier 66 between Alaska cruises. We'll be taking that ship on a Caribbean cruise in late November.
8/28/2022: Boom Parts
More boom parts for the tower crane at the 6th & Bell construction site, viewed as we depart early in the morning to hike Granite Mountain. Likely the tower crane will be complete by the time we get back home later today.
8/28/2022: Granite Mountain Trailhead
At the trailhead for the Granite Mountain Lookout just west of Snoqualmie Pass at altitude 1,805 ft (550 m). The hike is popular, so we've arrived shortly before 7:30am to be sure to get a parking spot.
8/28/2022: Trail
Walking through shady woods along the wide and well-maintained trail to the Granite Mountain Lookout.
8/28/2022: Alpine Lake Wilderness
We've just crossed into the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, a 414,161-acre (167,605 ha) protected area within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie and Wenatchee national forests. It is one of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in the state, with over 150,000 visitors per year, despite the fact that no motorized or mechanical transport is allowed within a Wilderness area, including bicycles.
8/28/2022: Woods
The trail to Granite Mountain ascends quickly. In a half-hour we've already gained 1,300 ft (400m) and are hitting the cloud line at altitude 3,102 ft (946 m).
8/28/2022: Clouds
Not much of a view at altitude 3,214 ft (980 m), but we expect it will clear later in the day.
8/28/2022: Above Clouds
Getting above the clouds at altitude 3,413 ft (1,040 m) on the trail to Granite Mountain.
8/28/2022: Valley
Clouds still fill the I-90 corridor, but we're well above them now at altitude 4,347 ft (1,325 m) and can see a bit of Mt. Rainier in the distance.
8/28/2022: Destination
Our destination, the Granite Mountain Lookout, visible in the distance. We've got to ascend another 878 ft (247m) to reach it though (click image for a larger view).
8/28/2022: Snack
Taking a break for a snack with a view to Mt. Rainier at altitude 4,813 ft (1,467 m).
8/28/2022: Stepping Stones
Stepping stones along a newly-completed section of the trail.
8/28/2022: Ever Closer
We're getting ever closer to the lookout, but still have another 380 feet (115m) of altitude gain to reach it.
8/28/2022: Break
Taking a break at altitude 5,368 ft (1,637 m). The climb is quite steep and tiring in today's hot weather.
8/28/2022: Kaleeten Peak
The craggy tooth of Kaleeten Peak to our north. We got a closer view to this mountain, covered in snow, when we snowshoed to Skyline Lake earlier in the year.
8/28/2022: Almost There
We're near the bottom of the lookout now and almost at the top of Granite Mountain.
8/28/2022: View West
The sweeping view west from Granite Mountain. I-90 is visible at left and right, and Mt. Rainier is prominent in the distance at right.
8/28/2022: Mt. Rainier
We can never get too many pictures of or views to Mt. Rainier.
8/28/2022: Enjoying View
Enjoying the view from beneath the Granite Mountain Lookout.
8/28/2022: Summit
The view west to the lookout from the summit of Granite Mountains. Whisps of clouds are starting to drift in.
8/28/2022: Granite Mountain Lakes
Two of the Granite Mountain Lakes, Crystal in the foreground and Tuscohatchie beyond, viewed from Granite Mountain.
8/28/2022: View East
Another sweeping view from Granite Mountain, this one to the northeast across the Alpine Lakes Wilderness (click image for a larger view).
8/28/2022: Descending
Descending from Granite Mountain on the old trail along a rock scree.
8/28/2022: Looking Back
A final view to the lookout as we descend.
8/28/2022: Trail Up
Looking down from the old trail to the newer trail that we followed to reach the lookout.
8/28/2022: Parking Lot
The parking lot was pretty empty when we arrived at 7:30 this morning, but getting quite full by the time we returned five hours later.
8/28/2022: Levitate
Cold beer and a great lunch streetside at Levitate Gastropub in Issaquah.
8/28/2022: Classic Car
A group of classic cars paraded down Front Street in Issaquah as we had lunch at Levitate Gastropub.
8/28/2022: Momiji
A delicious sushi dinner on the terrace at Momiji near our apartment building.
8/29/2022: Morning Briefing
Morning safety briefing for the crew at the 4th & Bell construction site.
8/29/2022: Demolition
Excavators continuing the demolition of the burned building at 2nd & Bell.
8/30/2022: DOL
At the Department of Licensing to get an Enhanced Driver's License (EDL) that is acceptable instead of a passport for air travel within the US. A residential address is required to obtain the EDL, along with several pieces of supporting documentation. That was difficult to do when we lived aboard, so we've not gotten one until now.

As we entered the building, someone greeted us at the door and asked if we were the Hamiltons. That's pretty white glove for the driver's license office :-). But we were just the last appointments of the day and they were expecting us before they locked the door.
8/30/2022: Hilltop Ale House
An enjoyable dinner on the terrace at Hilltop Ale House in Queen Anne. We really like this neighborhood pub and stop by whenever we're even vaguely in the area.
8/30/2022: Dusk
Dusk looking over Elliott Bay.