Little Kachess Lake

8/20/2006
Wang Zheng, Xu Ying and Mr. Zhu, Wan Ling, Wenjuan and I, YY, three other girls
Roughly 3 miles rt

We wnet to Little Kachess Lake for a little hike and picnic. Leaving the Albertson (148th Ave & I90) parking lot around 9:45, we arrived at the Little Kachess Lake picnick area around 11:00. Starting hiking about 11:20 and came back around 1:20.

It was a short hike along the hills besides the lake. Lake is beatiful. However, it is a hot day and the trail is very dusty.

Picnic was nice. Knowing new friends is great.

Camp Muir

8/13/2006
Aida, Helen, Cathy
9.3 miles rt, 4836 ft Gain
10:20-2:45---3:15-7:00

Going up was hard. No time and mind to enjoy the beatiful iews behind me. I had to focuse on the steps and kept struggling agaist the snow covered slopes. Going up and up, I needed to take rests more and more frequently. At the final peice of slope, I had to follow the footprints of the mountaineering group to drag myself up to the Camp site.

Camp Muir has been on the top of my hiking list for a long time. Finally I did it! Every step up, i was making a new record of the highest altitude I ever been. At the camp, I had a strong sense that I had achieved a goal.

That's roughly what one can achieve with day hike. Shall I move to the next level? Be a backpacker and even be a mountainieer? While climbing up, when I felt that I was pushing my limit, the anwer was no. Once on the top, after some rest, I did have the seocnd thought. Maybe I can do more.

I doubt whether I can ever reach the summit. That's a trip about "9 hours up, 2 hours down". Before that, one have to carry a huge backpack up almost 5000ft. But I should actively looking for the next target. I certainly can and should do more.

At camp Muir

A lonely hiker coming back from summit

View of Mt Adams

A nice picture taken on my way back

Summerland

8/6/2006
Charlie, Wenying, Wang Zheng and I
8.4 rt and 2200ft gain
11:45-2:30---3:30-5:00

We met at south Bellevue P&D at 10:00am. It took us 1:45 to reach Summerland trailhead.

Trail started very easy in the forest. The trail basically goes along the Fryingpan creek. Once we were our of forest. The big white Mt. Rainier can be seen clearly. There were so many small wild flowers with various colors along the trail. It's really the best time to see wild flowers. After a few switchbacks, we arrived at the summerland camp site.

Blue sky, snow capped mountain Rainier, green grass and various colorful flowers...

Nice trail on a beatiful day!

Trail Just before the switchbacks

Colorful slope

Creek Near Summerland Camp