On my visit last year, I focused on finding a beautiful trailside patch of wildlowers. This year my focus was finding a patch of flowers and some of the old wood from the eruption. This was what I found along the Boundary Trail. All of me, tripod body and feet, was all on the trail the entire time. This area is too precious for anything less.
A few from yesterday's day trip to the Olympic Peninsula, mostly from a hike through blooming wild rhododendron. We only recently discovered Mount Walker, and it is now a new favorite training hike (I carried 45 lbs up it this time.) We found that hiking it on a weekday gave us a little more solitude (and a parking space) among the blooms. We were so fortunate that the wind died just in time for our hike up, and the heavy rain held off until we got down to the car.
A surprise Tiger Lily by the trailhead
Clouds dancing on the hillsides
I love the effect rain gives to spring scenes. The color is enhanced by the shine.
Ferry headed from Coupeville
Heading back to Whidbey
An afternoon wander, just the three of us, through freshly fallen snow.
Fall is my favorite hiking season. I love the cool afternoons, I love the vibrant color, and I love the open trails. The clouds began to clear as we climbed, and by the time we began to descend, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. Such a beautiful experience.
Rather chilly at the summit, I think about 40 degrees!
