Lost On Tiger Mountain

Today we had planned to go to a matinee with some free movie tickets we've had for a long, long time. However, The Big Guy sent Zuli in to wake me up using the pounce-and-slurp method, and he followed close behind saying, "Get up! Get up! It's a beautiful sunny day and the dogs want to go for a hike on south Tiger!" He sweetened the deal by adding, "I'm going to go make oatmeal for us now! We'll go to the movie tonight." Thus, the plans were set, the oatmeal was eaten, and we set off on this clear, cold day.

The photos that will accompany this post today were not taken by me or anyone I know. If they were taken by you or anyone you know, please let me know and I will give proper credit. The reason will become clear as the tale unfolds.

There aren't really any tigers on Tiger Mountain, but tigers are cool-looking, and since I was stealing photos anyhow, I thought I'd include a cool tiger picture.

This actually is a photo from Tiger Mountain. There is also really snow on the ground right now, but not quite this much. Do you all see Bigfoot in this picture? I think I do. We did not see Bigfoot today, though.

Otter was very excited to go on a hike. All that running has really gotten him in shape!

This is a picture of Mt. Rainier from atop Tiger Mountain. It was a view very similar to this -- although much, much sunnier -- that prompted The Big Guy to say, "Hey, gimme the camera and I'll shield it from the sun so you can get a pic of the mountain." I reached for the camera in my belt pouch and came up empty. "You still have it," I said. But I was wrong. I had put in back in the pouch on the trail up after The Big Guy took a picture of the dogs and me. I even remembered not tucking the strap back in all the way, thinking that I should do that, and feeling a branch catch on the strap but not realizing it had pulled the camera out of the pouch. Undaunted, we turned around and retraced our steps, certain we would spot it on the way back.It looks like this. Or looked like this. Well, it still does, I'm sure.

The ground looked like this. You'd think it wouldn't be hard to spot. You'd be wrong. We didn't find it. My pretty pink camera was gone for good.

Zuzu was inconsolable. She really loved that camera.

Echo Lake, trail revisited

The last time we were here click to see it was very hot out. Today, it was very cold. And drizzly. You can tell by the fact that there are no other cars in the parking lot. That makes us bad-ass, doesn't it?

New Boonie hat, new windbreaker pullover, and spanky-new boots. More on them in a minute.

Our goal was not to get to the lake today -- not really enough daylight this time of year, as evidenced by the blurriness of this photo. The point of this journey was not to arrive.

What I loved about this hike the first time, I still found delightful -- many wonderful bridges spanning the river.

An homage to my new Lowa boots. Coincidentally, the first time I wore my last pair of new boots was on this hike and I took a pic of them on this bridge. Go click the link in the first sentence if you don't believe me. I really loved my other boots, but turns out my feet were soaked earlier this week on a hike, and when you pay as much for good waterproof boots as you would for a pair of Jimmy Choo's, wet feet are not acceptable. Thus my buttery Vasques were returned for a trade on these. The first hike in new boots is usually a little rough, but I completely forgot I had new boots on my very dry, snuggly feet. Piggie paradise.

The water was much clearer this time.

If you zoom in on this, you can see Zuli poking her head through the bridge. Nothing spectacular about that, I just thought it was cute.

Perspective.

The winner. Not much is pretty on day like today, but this sure was.

Somewhere in the picture is a group of five Canada geese who are going to be sorry if they don't fly a little further south soon.

The Amazing Flying Zuli! The humans used the rocks.

Sourdough Gap (6 miles)

For the last week, we have been having what I would call quintessential autumn weather. Today we took advantage of that to revisit Sourdough Gap. We were last here almost exactly two years ago.

The trail begins parallel to Highway 410. If you go the other way across the road, you get to Dewey Lake

The first natural stopping point along the way is a pretty lake.

A very pretty lake.

Then the trail continues up, with a postcard view any way you look. It can feel strange to actually be in settings like this because even when you are, they still look like paintings and not something that can actually exist. Surreality.

Sourdough Gap.

The view and trail beyond. We have continued on in the past, but today our destination was only the Gap.

We climbed up over some rocks at the side to get to a little alcove that offered a bit of protection from the wind and a little sun to keep us warm while we noshed.

The Big Guy had a cheese sandwich. (and that water down there is the pretty lake I showed you.)

I had this.

Zuzu forgot to pack her lunch. Poor little Zuzu.

This little pipsqueak also forgot to pack lunch, and tried to steal my apple!

To top off this great day, stopped off at Wapiti Woolies where I found two new hiking shirts. This is all sounding a little too perfect, but I can't help it. It just was.