Mason Lake (6 miles)

At first we were a little bummed that the rain showers and low clouds were going to obscure what are said to be great views on our chosen hike, but after we got to hiking, we weren't missing the sun at all.

It looks innocent at the beginning.

But then it starts to climb pretty quickly.

And it keeps on climbing. 2550 feet to be exact. We were welcoming the misty rain that would blow in periodically.

We had originally planned to continue up to Bandera Mountain, but when we reached this point and saw that trail was pretty much vertical up the exposed slope, we opted to take the fork in the road to Mason Lake.

There was still some climbing to do before the trail curved over to the east and dropped 500' to the lake. The temperature difference around the bend was quite marked.

Mason Lake and my two best hiking buddies. Being a Sunday, there were a lot of other hikers, and I think every one of them commented on Zuli. So many people think she's a (boy) puppy, and everyone wants to pet her. She just eats up the attention, and gets a very big head.

The Big Guy has to humble her by denying her a bite of his sandwich. Good thing I'm a softie and had her snausages in my pack.

It was a very pretty lake even without the sunshine. After being soaked from exertion, though, and sitting still for lunch, it was time to get moving again before it got too chilly. It didn't take long to warm up again by climbing back out those 500', and after coming back to the west side of the mountain, it was very pleasantly warm.

I end with a Photo Identification Quiz. No prizes, though, sorry.
Do you know what this is?

Otter Falls, 9.5 miles

Summer is still taking its sweet time getting here (again) and many of the bigger, higher hikes have either snow pack left or muddy bogs where the snow has just melted. In other words, the places we might normally be tromping are not trompable just yet. This gives us the opportunity to find some closer-in lower-elevation hikes. Isn't that a happy, positive attitude? We're always this sunny and adaptable, too. You're super lucky to know people like us! (Helpful life hint: Sarcasm is the antidote to climatic dreariness)

It is always best to begin at the beginning, and this is the Snoqualmie River under the bridge at the beginning of the trail to Otter Falls. I was very excited to see some otters! (again, I kid. It's a sickness.)

The sun broke through a few times, and one good thing about a cooler, wetter summer is that everything is amazingly green.

The trail wasn't all this smooth, but it was a pretty even grade most of the way with a couple of river crossings which had to be forded on foot. We did pass a guy on the way back at one crossing who was crawling across the river on the rocks that were easily steppable. Poor dude looked terrified, but he made it!

This is not Otter Falls. I'm not kidding.

This is Otter Falls. Many moons ago, this trail was meant to be a real road, but due to some conservation laws or some such, the road was abandoned and became a trail. The bridge over the falls is, obviously, still very road-like, with nice cement berms on which hikers were seated to have their lunches while admiring the falls.

A very large, very cleft rock, The Big Guy, and a Pacific Northwest Forest Pig.

The sun temporarily blinded the forest pig, and I was able to capture it without incident. It's no otter, but it's pretty darn cute.

Easton 6-13-11

The friend who made me the mason bee house has a some property in Easton and has been inviting us over to see it for awhile now. Yesterday was finally the day, and we combined the trip to include a nice hike. On our side of the mountains, it was gray and rainy.

On the east side of the mountains, it wasn't much better at first. The pups didn't mind. We took a trail that headed up that steep hill to the left along the ridge line, then into the trees. The hill part wasn't much fun, but some people think that if you're having too much fun, you're not getting a good workout. You'd think as a short person, I would like a lofty perspective, but I'm pretty happy on the down low. Oh, I still go up the hills, of course. I just don't like them. They make me sweaty.

Since it hasn't been a very warm spring overall, I was surprised to see so many wild flowers already in bloom. I know that the flowers bloom no matter the weather, so perhaps the relative dreariness of this spring made it seem earlier than it is.
Here is a beautiful Western Trillium.

Gray as it was, there was an occasional view through the trees.

These brilliant shrubs were everywhere, but oddly they didn't seem familiar to us. The Big Guy guessed it was a type of berry bush, and he was right. It's a Red Flowered Currant, although the berries of this variety aren't palatable. One thing I will say about the gray -- it sure makes the flowers seem so much more vivid.

Lake Kachess in the distance. The pronunciation of this varies, even among the natives. We say "kuh-CHEECE." Now try Keechelus.

It definitely seemed early for the Indian Paintbrush.

My guys leading the way.

The sun made some breakthroughs about halfway through the hike, dappling the roaring stream
.

I have flipped through my wildflower book four times trying to find this flower. I've Googled. What is this??

Sweaty and Zuli.

Looking down the hillside to the stream. Vertigo!

A little Douglas Squirrel hiding from the pups.

Red or Sitka Columbine.

Pretty but deceptive. Otter got too close one time, and his life flashed before my eyes. Darn those water dogs.

Fairyslipper orchid! So delicate and pretty.

A big old Western Toad. Don' t let anyone tell you that toads don't like water. This fatty was first spotted in a big mud puddle having a soak.

Star Flowered Solomon Plume. A pretty fancy name for a rather plain-looking flower. I'm not feeling the "plume" part. Sometimes I wish I could re-name things. I might call this Tiny Twinkles.

There's black-tailed deer in the meadow. There's black-tailed deer in the meadow. The grass is as high as an elephant's eye, and it looks like it's climbin' clear up to the sky. Oh, what a beautiful mooooooooooornin!

Vanilla Leaf. Why vanilla? I wish I had known this while we were out there. Apparently, the crushed leaves smell of vanilla. I will crush the next one I see. I have to.