Maybe someday I’ll get around to making timely posts again. As it is, here are some photos from August when Jordan and I spent an afternoon at Rainier.

Looking north from First Burroughs.

Jordan with Little Tahoma in the background. Rainier and the trail from Second Burroughs to Third Burroughs.

Moonscape. Jordan getting photos of the few bits of plant color.

Plant color.

On the trail out.

We also did a chilly (overcast weather) day hike up to Snow Lake at Snoqualmie Pass the next day.

The sky tonight from Cleman Mountain. I ran up there after work for a quick hour and a half hike.

If you know what you’re looking for, you can see the Goat Rocks wilderness in the distance in the photo on the left and Mt Rainier in the distance in the photo on the right.

Here’s a zoom of Rainier. The bright spot just to the left was some sort of two-color rainbow that was catching the sunlight. Also a beautiful view over the Naches River Valley to the east.

I’m still alive!

(Just haven’t had Internet at home since July.)

Lots going on in the past two months. We sold our house, bought two new houses, frantically moved during record 108 degree weather in July, started a bunch of house projects at the new house, Mary completed her counseling licensure requirements and is now actively in the process of starting her own private practice (very exciting for her!), my work has been absurdly busy, Jordan and Mom came here for a visit, lived with a couple weeks of wildfire smoke, went hiking at Mt Rainier, and I’m currently exploring work options for a likely end-of-year change.

I’m taking my first vacation of the year later this week though, so really looking forward to a little change of pace.

Enchantments day hike via Aasgard Pass last weekend. Roughly 14 miles round trip, 4600 ft elevation gain, about 7 hours total including some relaxing time on top. I left the trailhead with a full overnight pack intending to camp, but changed my mind after making quick time and passing many, many people on the way up.

Dragontail Peak and Colchuck Lake, almost tropical-looking water.

Colchuck Lake and looking up at Aasgard Pass. I did not go swimming.

Looking down at Colchuck. Mountain goat heading downslope. I had no issues charging up Aasgard, legs felt sharp the whole way.

Saxifraga oppositifolia (purple mountain saxifrage) – according to Wikipedia I could’ve eaten this (“The petals are edible. They are bitter at first but after about 1 second, they become sweet.”) Also potentially the highest elevation angiosperm in the world. Thanks Wikipedia! The view northwest from the top of Aasgard Pass.

Enchantment (frozen) lakes. Glacial blue water with McClellan Peak in the shadowy distance. Snowy unnamed point in front of Little Annapurna.

Backside of Dragontail. More blue – melted out lakes would’ve made for better photos, but still a nice range of terrain and color on this hike.

Sledding hill with a hypothermic finish. Me gaitered up in front of frozen Isolation Lake and Dragontrail.

I hopped around on the snow for about an hour, refueled on Clif shot bloks, then headed back toward the car.

Ran into my mountain goat buddy again on the way down (he was munching his way back the pass). I stopped to take photos and after a couple minutes he moseyed over to a rock with a view to regurgitate and rechew his food. I sat on a rock about 30 feet away watching the food ripple up and down his throat and enjoying the shared view out over Colchuck Lake.

Something succulent. Dodecatheon sp. (Shootingstar).

Looking back at Aasgard. And looking back at Colchuck Pass.

This is as good as my legs have felt on a hike in years. Weirdly little fatigue or lactic acid burn in the quads. Lovely day.

We’ve had heaviest rain in the past week that I ever remember experiencing here in Yakima. An inch of rain in an hour on Thursday and at least that much in another hour-long thunderstorm yesterday afternoon (accompanied by blueberry sized hail). Should make the farmers happy. Yes, that’s our sprinkler running in the background.