Washington Coast

The driftwood was inspiring. All those old old trees...



Then we went to see The Grandmother trees up the Hoh River.




I'm standing in front of a huge Big Leaf Maple. Complete with fern and moss dressing.

Olympic Peninsula Trip with Annelle

We started with a short detour to Purple Haze Lavender Farm outside Sequim. We did "u-pick" lavender and I was in heaven!







We stayed near Rialto Beach out on the coast. Two out of four nights were spectacular sunsets.



We hiked to Second Beach with a "hole in the wall" and seastacks. Lots of driftwood too. We napped and enjoyed the surf.

North Cascades High Water July 2008

We have water!
I've been doing some fabulous creek-sitting!
My favorite spots are not mountain tops, they are as close as I can get to these rushing waters.
Blue green, with foam, over golden rocks - that's my cup of tea.

Steffany

Annelle's Visit

My friend Annelle came for a visit. Her passion for photography inspires me. We visited some of my very favorite creeks spots, communing and taking pictures.
Stetattle Creek, Happy Creek, and the Skagit River are the water spots in these pictures.
Steffany


Reflections, reflections, and lots and lots of water.

Backpacking on Lin's Days Off

We just returned from a two day backpacking trip to Ross Lake. We hiked in three miles,
then took a short boat trip ($55.00) on the Ross Lake Resort Ferry to May Creek Camp. (Ross Lake is actually a reservoir, though lovely, amidst snow capped peaks and numerous waterfalls.)
We, of course had a permit (required for overnight camping in The Park) but when we got to our "reserved" spot two tents and four guys were already camped there. Lin mentioned that she was an "off duty ranger" so she really did know the permit system. We both requested that they find another spot. Except for cleaning up after them, we felt really grateful that they cooperated.

The hiking in and out was through the forest, cool, and lovely, although the 7.8 miles walk yesterday was a little long for me. Lin carried a much bigger pack and carried some of my stuff. She convinced me that she needed the practice/training for carrying the weight on her future solo patrols. So, I was glad to help her out.

We had good weather for hiking, some sun, a little rain, and not too warm. Today is supposed to be in the 80's and tomorrow the 90's. I think we lucked out by hiking before the heat wave. There is lots of water in all the creeks and streams; the high heat should accelerate the snow melt.

Lin is back to work today, still training the new recruits, and enjoying her new role as "lead" in the Wilderness Office. I'm gardening and expecting some visitors in the next week. We are both very grateful that summer is here.

New Iris

I received these iris last fall from a friend and didn't get them planted until March. They are blooming anyway. Quite a surprise and a delight.
Thank you Roxanne.
Steffany

Newhalem Creek

This is one of my favorite communing spots.












Warmed by the sun,
perched on the edge,
I savor the sounds and delights
of new water,
fresh snow melt
pouring in and over boulders.
Together we sing a song
of summer.
My soul is refreshed here in the sheltered wild
of the North Cascades, my place to inhabit, here on earth.


photos and poem by Steffany