Black Butte Ranch

It was cold and beautiful over the New Year's weekend at Black Butte (bee yoot, let's elevate our minds),  Ranch.  Had a great time with great company and great snow but man,  -4 degrees makes your toes numb.  The trip was a Nordic Club trip with 8 people.  All of them were seasoned skiers with years of experience.  Although I have downhill skied for many years I am a newbie at X-country skiing.

Sundown at Ray Benson Ski Area

 

Two of the the Three Sisters from Three Creeks Trail

Brrrrrrr -4 degrees

Why is she smiling when I am about to die?

On the way down from Three Creeks Trail 

Catherine crossing a narrow footbridge..why you may ask...to get to the other side of course

At the head water of the Metolious River...giant trout live here...I cast a mojo snoball in for fishing mojo this summer.

Ross Lake

Back in August four of us drove up to Ross Lake.  It's about 25 miles long and spans the US - Canada border in northern Washington.  There are a number of campsites around the lake with some on islands.  The plan was to paddle from campsite to campsite and do some hiking in between.  

Leaving Hozomeen Campground near the Canadian border.

One of many many beautiful scenes.  

We glided over the clear glassy lake surrounded by forested peaks.

Mt. Jack and it's glacier

First night at Boundary Bay camp.  All of the campsites were beautiful, clean,  and accessible.  At most camps we tied our boats right up next to the site.  A luxury if you have ever kayaked in tidal zones or where shipping traffic is a concern.

We rested comfortably while our boats nestled nicely in little coves.

Looking north toward Canada from Cat Island.  There were some really nice camp sites on this island.  We wanted to stay here but it was all booked up.  No wonder!

A little islet off Cat Island where we stopped to stretch our legs on the Paddle from Boundary Bay to Lightning Creek, our  second camp.  

Valkyries?

From the Lightning Creek camp we paddle back to the trail head for the Desolation  Peak hike.

Wounded but alive!  I made it.  Check out Hozomeen Mt. just over my shoulder.  Jack Kerouac was spooked by Hozomeen.

Sweetie under Hozomeen!

A little over 6k ft. at the top.  We hiked about 4500 ft. of elevation in
about 4.5 miles.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done.  Not bad for a
guy who had his heart on a table for re-plumbing a few years ago.

The cove just off our campsite at Big Beaver.  This was the best campsite of the trip.

Just after this picture Catherine and I were sitting by the water near those two trees sipping our coffee.  We heard a whoooooosh just above our heads and looked up to see a hawk take a sparrow in mid air just 20 ft or so above.  It was amazing to hear the whoosh and thump as the Hawk grabbed the Sparrow in mid air and flew off with it it's talons.

Near the start of the Big Beaver hike.

At the finish of what ended up being about a 10 mile hike up the Big Beaver trail.

Heading back.  First signs of inclement weather.  Notice that the lake isn't quite to glassy.  

Back at Hozomeen before the rain hits.  The wind had subsided as we neared Hozomeen.  It was about a7 mile paddle from our last camp at Little Beaver.  

Smith Visit

Back in July I was lucky enough to have Julie, Zack, and Kale visit.  We went to a park near the house and Kale got to try his hand at fishing.  Even Grandpa got his line wet.  Unfortunately........the fish weren't biting that day.  (they never do for me)

Uncle Matt went with us to a new Park in downtown Portland that has a great wading pool.

 And guess who had a wonderful time getting wet.

And a fun time was had by all at the beautiful Japanese Garden.  Kale, my amazing grandson, was sooooooo goood staying on the paths even though he wanted to go spalsh in the Koi Pond and run wild in the Iris'.

Goat Rocks

The Beautiful Cispus River Valley

Fields of Wild Flowers ready to bloom

Mt. Adams from Snowgrass Flats, Goat Rocks

So Julie got tired of me not checking my Facebook page and encouraged me to try blogging (whatever that is) so here I am.

The title of my blog is from the Beetles tune "When I'm 64" cuz that's what I'll be hitting on 9/1.

The first day near the trail head

Catherine (Hikerous Extaordinarius)

Had a great weekend hiking in the Goat Rocks area of Washington with my sweetie Catherine and friends from The Trails Club of Oregon.   As a newbie hiker with little to compare this with, I thought the views were outstanding.  We hiked from the trail head up about 6800 feet in about 5 miles. About 2800 ft. of elevation gain from the trail head.  Camped Friday and Saturday.  We did some day hiking on Saturday, had some teeth clenching during an awesome thunderstorm on Friday night, which set three trees on fire that we could see,  and took the long way down on Sunday with an excursion to a beautiful valley.