Kings Mountain

At the Summit

Group 1 @ the top

 Another great training hike today as we headed out to the coast range to Kings Mountain!






I was fortunate enough to hike this one last October with a friend and was really excited to get back out there as it is a fun and challenging trail. Only 5 miles round-trip, but boasts a 2,500 foot elevation gain. Last time my friend was kind enough to pack up all the water and supplies (thanks!), this time I carted up a 30 pound pack to help with training! Made it to the top ok, but definitely much more difficult.

Ferns Galore!

We started out with sun shining and lots of green and ferns at the base. By the time we reached the top it was foggy with a good bit of snow on the ground.

Fellow hikers through the mist

Coming back down was a challenge as the snow and steep trail made for slick walking, and I ended up on my rear a few times. Glad to say no injuries though.

Ominous clouds

Fundraising update: the end of this month marks the deadline for the first half of the funds. Anything that doesn't come in as a donation I will pay out of pocket, so any little bit you could send my way will help! Also, this week there is an incentive from the ALA: the climber that raises the most money from March 26-31 will have $200 donated to their account by another source, so your donation can go even further. Link HERE to fundraising page.









Tally:
Mt Rainier                       17 miles               9,000 ft elevation gain
Training Hikes so far       24.5 miles           7,700 ft elevation gain

Mount Rainier

Working this weekend, so no training hike for me. Thought I'd put out a description of Mount Rainier instead. Love this one from Peakbagger.com

"Mount Rainier is perhaps the single most impressive mountain in the 48 contiguous United States. It ranks fifth in height, a tiny bit lower than California's Mt. Whitney (14,494'/4418m) and three Sawatch Range peaks in Colorado. And it ranks second to Mount Shasta in total volume for a single peak, and second to Mount Baker in volume of glacial ice. But no other peak has the combination of high elevation, massive bulk, and extensive glaciation--and Mt. Rainier stands alone in splendid isolation, with only 40 miles separating sea level at Puget Sound from its glacier-clad summit. No other peak nearby even remotely challenges its supremacy.

In most of the United States, a hike of 3000 vertical feet to the summit of a peak is considered about average; 4000 to 5000 vertical feet is considered a very long and extremely tiring trip, and anything above 6000 vertical feet is rare and devastatingly difficult. However, Mt. Rainier, by its easiet route, requires ascending 9000 vertical feet! (That's 2740m for you non-Americans.) This distance is the same as for the climb from advance basecamp in the Western Cwm to the summit of Mt. Everest."

Sounds awesome! 

And if you'd like to donate to my crazy climb and also support the American Lung Association click here for more information. 

A little love affair . . . with SNOW!

I confess, I'm falling in love with snow. 

If you know me well at all you'll know that snow used to be my arch nemesis; the one I loved to hate. And why not hate it? It's cold, makes for icky driving conditions, eww. Recently though snow has been wooing me with it's good side. Falling snow is spectacularly beautiful, as is a snowy forrest. Packed snow underfoot makes such a lovely "crunch, crunch, crunch" sound when walking. Actually enjoying snowy times on the trail.

Beautiful Snowy Slope

Today was the first snowshoe hike with the group (and my first snowshoe experience ever). We headed out to Glacier View trail near Government Camp (Mt. Hood area for non-locals). Managed to stay upright the entire time (yea!), and had a blast. We have two more snowshoe adventures planned in the next couple of months, and I say "Bring it on!"

Snowshoe Friends

Snow :)

If you've been thinking about donating to my Climb for Clean Air, now is a great time! I need to raise the first half of the $3,750 by the end of this month. Check out my page HERE for more information, or send me a message with any questions. Thanks!


The Tally:

Mount Rainier:               17 miles                   9,000 feet elevation gain
Training Hikes so far:    19.5 miles                5,200 feet elevation gain

Hamilton Mountain

Another gorgeous day for a hike! The weather has cooperated splendidly so far. We headed to the gorge once more, this time on the Washington side to Hamilton mountain (close to Beacon

Rock). There were a few waterfalls on the trail, as well as the "Pool of winds" where the roar of the falls could be clearly heard.

We encountered a little snow on the trail up, and quite a bit on the loop back down.

Breaking new trail in mid-calf to thigh-high snow is tiring but fun (can't help but laugh when falling butt-first into the snow, throwback to childhood?).

All lined with no-place to go

Poor perspective, but this is my leg knee-deep in the trail.

Being out on the trail really is one of my favorite things in life. Not much can beat a day of activity in the beauty of the great outdoors. Feeling so blessed to live in the spectacularly fabulous NW and to have the time and ability to hike so often.

The Tally:

Rainier 17 miles 9,000 feet elevation gain

Training hikes so far 13.5 miles 3,500 feet elevation gain

For American Lung Association and Climb for Clean Air donation page click Here, and as a bonus you get to see my beautiful mug @ the top of Hamilton mountain :)