Mount Baker

Thursday May 17, 2012

The sun is shinning again today so off we go to see another mountain.  Mount Baker is just a few miles from Lake Tyee. 

After Mount Rainier, Mount Baker is the most heavily glaciated of the Cascade Range volcanoes, the volume of snow and ice on Mount Baker is greater than that of all the other Cascades volcanoes (except Rainier) combined. It is also one of the snowiest places in the world; in 1999, Mount Baker Ski Area, located, 8.7 mi, to the northeast, set the world record for recorded snowfall in a single season—1,140 in.

At 10,781 ft. it is the highest mountain in Washington State and the fifth-highest in the Cascade Range, if Little Tahoma Peak a sub peak of Mount Rainier, is not counted. Located in the Mount Baker Wilderness it is visible from much of Greater Victoria, Greater Vancouver, and, to the south, from Seattle,and on clear days Tacoma, in Washington.

 

Mike and I at Mount Baker, and a close up of the mountain with Sandy’s camera.

 

Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan

As we were driving back to the lake we came upon this fellow.  Mike guessed it was probably  a 2 year old cub. He has a 3 leaf clover in his mouth, he must be a good luck bear.  The bear had no problem hanging around while we were taking pictures.  These 2 are pictures Steve took, he got the best pic’s of all of us. 

Parties and Boats at Lake Tyee

I can see why Sandy and Steve spend their summers up here in northern Washington, everything is so green and lush.  I keep telling them the trees up here are on steroids, we have big trees in MN, but they are giants in WA.  I think it has something to do with all the rain, although since we got back from MN it has been pretty sunny and in the upper 70s.

Even Lucy is enjoying the sunshine.

 

With the warm weather we were able to spend time on the Lake.  Lake Tyee is a privately owned lake, so no fishing license is required.  The lake is stocked with Rainbow Trout, which Mike is looking forward to catching.

 

Another couple, Roger and Eileen King, here at the resort invited us over for dinner, salmon was cooked on the grill,  Roger cooked it perfectly. 

 

A humming bird stopped by to entertain us for a few minutes.  Roger and Eileen's place backs up to a beautiful creek.  As your sitting outside you can here the rushing water, so soothing.   

Cascade Mountains

Monday May 14th 2012

When the sun is shinning it’s a good time to see the mountains.

Washington pass 5477 ft. and Rainey pass 4875 ft. are two Mountain passes on State Route 20 (North Cascade Highway) in the North Cascade Mountains.  The passes are closed between Nov. and May.  They opened a few days ago so we were off on another adventure.

The Cascade range extends from British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California.

  

The entrance to the North Cascade National Park and a Dogwood tree at the visitor center.

  

Pinnacle Peek elevation 6805 feet.  Diablo Overlook

 

Another waterfall.

Rainey Pass on State Route 20.

We made it over both passes and stopped for lunch in Winthrop Washington.

  

Winthrop is a cute little western town.  We had hot dogs and ice cream before heading back over the mountain. 

We stopped at a small store on the way down and Steve had to join the self kicking club.

Monkey Tree and Tulips

Friday May 11th 2012

Friday was another sunny warm day, a good time to see some sights here in Northern Washington.  On our way to Skagit Valley to see the tulips, we stopped in Sedro Woolley, a small town up river from Concrete. They have a Monkey tree.  This is not the first one we have seen in WA, but it is the only one I got a picture of.

 

I have never heard of a Monkey Tree and here they are in Washington.  I’m not sure if they are native to Washington or where they come from.

Skagit Valley is known for it’s tulips, they have a festival every year, but we happen to be in MN when it was happening.  The fields of tulips were done blooming when we visited, but we stopped at RoozenGaardes to look at their tulips.  They have more then a 1/4 million bulbs that bloom every spring. 

   

 

My camera battery died before I got all the pictures I wanted so Steve and Sandy let me download some the took.

  

 

They gardens also have daffodils, and irises and an authentic Dutch windmill. Mount Baker and the Cascades provide a scenic backdrop for the gardens.

I went on line and did find some pictures of the fields of Tulips.

 

  

 

A Few Days With Friends

May 7th 2012

I wish I could keep current on the blogs, but we are so busy having fun it’s hard to keep up.

We stopped in Lakewood Washington upon returning from MN, to visit with friends Dave and Joan Hunn.  We met them many years ago at Big Balsam Camp and Resort. We see them once a year over the 4th of July for 2 weeks and have a great time fishing and boating. Two of our Grandkids, Ryan and Lizzy, have become very fond of Dave and Joan and spend a lot time fishing with them. 

They invited us to spend a couple of days seeing the sights around Tacoma.

 

Dave and Mike having morning coffee discussing something important.

The flowers in their neighbor are unbelievable, I took a morning walk and took some pictures.

 

Tuesday we all headed up to Mt Rainier, what a beautiful ride, so many waterfalls and creeks with the water cascading down the mountains from the spring thaw.

  

I think we stopped at a dozen waterfalls and creeks on our way up the mountain. Each one was more exciting then the last.  I love waterfalls and creeks, they are so romantic, sitting on the rocks having some cheese and wine and enjoying the sounds of rushing water.

Of course the higher we climbed the more snow we ran into. 

 

Mike and Dave.  Mt Rainier in the clouds, wish it had been a clearer day, would have loved to see the top of the mountain.

  

Mike spotted this visitor coming from the trees to the parking lot at the visitor center.  He must be a regular looking for a hand out.  The fox was equipped with a transmitter around his neck as you can see from the last picture.

As we were driving down the highway after leaving the visitor center we ran into another fox.  Dave was just commenting on how in 25 years he had never seen a fox in the area and bingo the second one shows up.

 

We stopped at another turnout in the road and spotted a couple of guys getting ready to hike up the mountain and spend the night.  Not sure as to why you would want to do that when you have a perfectly warm bed at home.  I guess for adventure, I do remember those days.

  

We stopped for lunch at a wonderful little restaurant, Cooper Creek Inn, in Ashford for lunch.  I would definitely recommend stopping here if your in the area.

Just down the road from the restaurant we saw this deer off in the trees. 

Thank you Dave and Joan for a memorable time, and your ribs were the best ever.