Up Up and...back down again

After months of prep, dodging bad weather, and coordinating schedules, Sean, Ben and Nick finally made the push to summit Mt. Hood. (super detailed page about the mountain here) I'd like to say we made record time, and were ready to face anything the mountain threw at us, but in reality we took forever and slept for 15 hours the next day. I passed out no less than 37 times on the ride home. Not a hard climb technically, but after no sleep and a hectic work week, my body wasn't quite as ready as I had hoped.

Conditions were amazing and we summited around 8:00 after getting a late start and slogging up in the dark next to ski lifts, while sno-cats buzzed us every so often. Our reward, (other than sulfer smells up until 10,000ft) was a fantastic view at the top of the entire valley, including Mt. Adams, Rainier, and a smokin' St. Helens. Well worth the trip.

Check out the adventure pics here.

My niece is better than your niece.

I am the last person to point out a cute baby, since most of them frankly are ugly things. My niece Talia has been beautiful from her earliest morning, with the smarts and positively fun disposition to match. Top this.

Nick meets the Enchantments

After a trip to the desert concert Sasquatch, Nick and Sean scaled Mt. Dangertoothtailpeak. They hit a goat, a glacier, and a gdarn good time.

After traveling through the strictly Bavarian town of Leavenworth, (weird...just plain weird) we arrived at the Enchanted Lakes wilderness area trailhead and started our trek to the 5,400 ft campsite at Colchuck lake. The weather was beautiful but some cloud cover was coming in. We got to the campsite around 6:00, (after hiking since 11:30) and just managed to set the tent up before it started hailing. Kids and older folk were heading back at about the same time we were setting up, which means they got a face full of hail, wind and rain for about 2 hours. Proceeded to pass out and not wake up until the next morning at 6:00. No space age indian food in a bag for us till tomorrow.

Hike up in the morning was fantastic. Saw a majestic mountain goat in the morning, and made our way up colchuck glacier before the sun was out. Then a traverse over to dragontail just as the snow was starting to warm up. An 80° day made hiking in leather boots and a base layer just perfect. Plus it protected my body from serious sunburn. (My neck was not so lucky however, as I discovered the next day in the shower.)

Sean kicked steps all the way up a 55° slope and we made our way to the peak to enjoy some lunch overlooking the frozen lakes, Mt. Stewart and the entire valley (able to see Mt. Glacier eclipsing the view).

Getting back was long, but shrink wrapped indian dinner, cookies, and pringles made the whole slog downhill worthwhile. Later we were treated to that same mountain goat eating a bush where we (accidentally) peed on earlier. Note to self, do not pee near camp ever again, as the goat returned over and over for a taste of the sweet, sweet urine. Mmm.

Long drive home from Washington, but worth the trip to see the Enchantment wilderness.

Check out more photos here.