One night, two days

Thunder Knob Trail
Situated in the North Cascades it starts off at a campground and makes its way through deep moss, lush undergrowth, and the damp forest floor. After a bit, the scenery starts to change as it becomes more dry and arid like an eastern mountain climate. Mountain peaks with snow predominate the views higher up and the scrub brush springs up everywhere. The switchbacks are not steep but crisscross the mountainside. Once on top, there are a few well-placed benches to sit upon while enjoying lunch and the view of Lake Diablo, Mount Ross, and David's Peak. To the south is Colonial Peak.
Somethings I wish I would have brought:  hammocks because there are trees at the top perfectly placed for one or two hammocks and the sounds are peaceful.  Something more substantial to eat than cuties.  I'm thinking cheese and crackers would have fit the bill.  Also, the crackers might have tempted the yellow-throat-ed bird a bit closer for a photo.

Nehalem and the Dam
At the Nehalem, there is a very short walk called the Trail of Cedars along with Ladder Creek Falls just up the road behind the dam.  Both of these offered a nice place to stretch our legs and read up about the history of the area. The signs along the Trail of Cedars explained about the growth of trees and there were very clear examples of new growth and old growth.  We found ourselves looking around for each example and I felt like I was on a little bit of a treasure hunt. The marks left by a fire 50 years ago was evident.  This is the 75th anniversary of the story of Smokey the Bear. Granted that happened in California but still applicable to today.  Just down the road at the dam, we wandered behind it, climbed to the highest viewpoint for the ladder falls and had it almost to ourselves.  Unfortunately, the footbridge across was closed to renovations otherwise we would have done a little loop.  Beautiful moss covered rocks, logs, and cement structures giving it an abandoned and old world feel to it.







Winthrop was the quintessential western town.  A couple of blocks and we covered the main street. It had cute antique and home shops, saloons and restaurants, clothing stores and mini golf.  Our hotel was on the other side of town across the bridge along the river. The next morning, I grabbed some coffee and made my way down towards the Adirondack chairs facing the river for some quiet. With my journal, my camera and a blanket in hand I spent the next 45 minutes thinking and writing. Eventually John joined me and we made our way to breakfast and then back to town to take in a few more shops.  Being on vacation I needed ice cream as well and wasn't disappointed at all. Pretty soon it was time to make our way back home. There were a few more trails and look outs that I wanted to stop at before getting over the pass.  The first trail was Cutthroat Lake.  We started off in a snow filled parking lot and made our way along the trail, following the tracks in some areas and walking on bare trail in others.  The lake was tucked away surrounded by peaks on all sides.  We were alone. It was incredible.  It wasn't difficult just out of the way and worth it. I just felt so small in that space. The shore of the lake was covered with snow so it made it difficult to tell if the snow made it out to the ice crusted lake or not.  The next stop on our way was the Washington Pass Overlook.  It was closed and we needed to walk about 1/2 mile.  So worth it. I could see the whole pass and the road winding its way to the top. Again we were alone and as we came around the corner and our view was no longer blocked by pines, we gasped when we saw it.  How could I not have been here before?  It only took 18 years to go.  I approached the barrier and barely leaning over I felt as if I could look straight down.  We wandered the area a bit, walking along the trails, checking out other sights with barriers but that first view was the best.  This is worth a spot, even when busy.

Happy Birthday my dear Isaac.  We celebrated in our small family style of making brownies, and opening the few gifts we give.  It isn't fancy or large.  Generally no friends, just small and intimate. However being his 21st birthday we did go out for drinks at Red Robin with one of his friends that is actually old enough to drink.  a couple of shots of vodka later and it was done.

This year's prom photos were taken in the mall.  I've done photos here before and they can look stunning. This was a fun group, some were friends, some where boyfriend- girlfriend, some were exes and going as friends. They was a fun group to shoot. A little shy and reserved, a little giggly but full of smiles for the evening to come. they headed off to Kyotos for dinner and then to the Ferry Terminal for dancing.  They ended up back at our house a little after midnight.  A successful fun evening, even if Job and his date left at different times with different friends.

And so ends another high school season. Yet this one didn't end just for a season but for life. It was his senior year and then there would only be rec soccer.  Competitive, at times but the high school aspect is done.  It is time to move on to other sports, other things, a different life.  It makes me think of the song by Bruce Springsteen, "Glory Days". 
"Glory days, well, they'll pass you by
Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye..."

Birdwatching, identifying and watching was the spring break assignment and I was stoked.  He, on the other hand, wasn't as excited. Especially when I said we were waking up early to do this. It was spring break after all but the assignment was 20 birds. 20! I felt like it was hanging over my head. I could feel stress with it. He wasn't worried. I felt this was something that could b done well since I had the camera and equipment for it. So we put on our rainboots, batteries were charged and CF cards were in the camera and we headed out the door to find our backyard PNW birds.
The first morning we visited Vanderyatch Park where they had previously place bird feeders. A heron stalked its prey and came up with a fish. Redwing blackbirds called shrill from the cattails. Robins perched high in the trees, woodpeckers hopped higher and higher as they searched for bugs beneath the bark of the cottonwoods.  Small black-capped chickadees raided the last of the wither red fall berries in the brush. It was a success but it wasn't 20 birds. It meant another day of photographing and walking.
Our next outing was to Tenant Lake where we spied a swallow just as it was taking flight. A morning dove casually made its way along the trail and into the tall grass. Mallard ducks calmly floated in groups while other dabbled and dove in the lake.  Another heron fished along the shore. Success yet still not 20, although getting closer.  We drove to Lake Terrell where upon arriving we were greeted by Canadian geese making their way to the water. Brown sparrows flitted among the bushes. When our feet became wet from an accidental dunking we decided to make our way home. We chose the long way so we could stop at the nest near Axton road.  High in the treetops, we could barely make out the head of the resident Bald Eagle sitting in her nest presumably on her eggs. And yet the elusive 20 birds escaped us.  A seagull and a crow were two more easy ones to include. A visit to a friend's hummingbird feeder, unfortunately, didn't yield any little hummers as I was hoping. The tall cottonwoods near the interstate did have a hawk perched in its branches. At the end of the week, he had 18 birds plus one rubber chicken.  I was extremely satisfied with the outcome of the photos and this assignment. Of course, he still needed to put the finishing touches on the assignment; a powerpoint presentation with facts and information still needed to be done.  I had the easy part of accompanying him on the outings.