Sandra Nachlinger's Blog, page 6

#IceCream and #Hiking - #SaturdaySnapshot

If you've visited my blog before, you know I go on walks and hikes with the Auburn (Washington) Senior Activity Center. However, I probably haven't mentioned our reward for all that physical activity. After each outing we stop for ice cream! 

Here are photos of a few of the ice cream parlors we've visited recently. We've all agreed that while McDonald's or Dairy Queen would be acceptable in a pinch, high-end ice cream is our preference. We gladly detour miles out of our way to enjoy first-class treats.
(Click on photos for a closer look.)

At C. C. Espresso and Creamery, on Main Street, Duvall, Washington, I had espresso flavored ice cream. A kid-sized portion was plenty big!




Every time we hike in (or near) Mount Rainier National Park, a stop at Wapiti Woolies is a must. Their ice cream menu includes huckleberry scoops and sundaes, as well as marionberry sorbet. I've tried both flavors, and they're equally delicious. (They have a fantastic selection of hats, gloves, t-shirts, and other necessities, too.)



The most recent addition to our list of ice cream possibilities is Bliss Creamery, located in University Park, Tacoma. They have unusual flavors that I haven't seen anywhere else. After tastes of the lemon ginger poppyseed and pistachio nut flavors, I settled on cardamom apple pear. Delicious!


As we near the senior center after a long day on the trails, we know we can always stop at Gosanko Chocolate in downtown Auburn. Their primary business is chocolates, but they have a pretty good selection of ice cream, too. I love their butter pecan.




Yummy!

With all the ice cream I've had with the walking/hiking group, it's a good thing we get plenty of exercise to offset some of the calories, isn't it?





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Lord Hill, #Snohomish County, WA - #SaturdaySnapshot

Recently hikers from the Auburn Senior Activity Center traveled north to Snohomish County to explore Lord Hill Regional Park. Lucky for us, the weather cooperated and we enjoyed a crisp, sunny autumn day.
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Our hike took us along shaded paths beneath towering trees. 




As planned, the group meandered along the Main Trail and River Trail to arrive at the banks of the Snoqualmie River in time for lunch. Salmon splashing in the water provided our entertainment. I wish I'd been able to get a picture of one. 


Because the trails are shared with horses, we had to watch where we stepped. However, we saw only a few equestrians and bike riders during our outing. The trails, intersections, and distances were well marked.




We returned to our starting point in the northwest corner of the park and then decided to walk a little farther on the Beaver Lake Trail. Unfortunately, we didn't see any animals on this hike, but we heard frogs croaking and birds chirping in the marsh. Altogether we walked about 5.5 miles.

For more info and photos of Lord Hill Regional Park, link here:
Friends of Lord Hill
Washington Trails Assoc. - Lord Hill








Link to the following pages for more beautiful photos from around the world:



Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To join in or to view photos from around the world: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Sculpture - #SaturdaySnapshot

Some of the walks I take with the Auburn Senior Activity Center are in urban areas--alongside lakes, in parks, on city sidewalks. Here are a few photos of sculptures I've seen along the way.

In Olympia, Washington:


"From the Sea"Artist: Hugh BucholzMedium: Silicon Bronze
"Pendant Mandala"Artist: Kenneth HallMedium: Welded Steel and Fused Glass (Glass by Kathleen Heidenreich) 
"Diver"Artist: Kevin AuMedium: Stainless Steel

"Motherhood"
Artist: Simon Kogan
Medium: Cast Bronze
Date Acquired: 10/1/1999
Location: Percival Landing at Thurston Avenue
Near the Kirkland, Washington, waterfront (Lake Washington): 


Unfortunately, I couldn't find any information about the artist who created this sculpture.
Leap Frog
Bronze
Artist: Prince Monyo Mihailescu-Nasturel
Location: Marsh Park, 6605 Lake Washington Blvd NE
Gift from the Danz family, 1991


Centennial Fountain
Bronze
Artist: James Fitzgerald
Location: Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza
Gift funded by the National Endowment of the Arts (NEA), King County Arts Commission,
Community Friends, and International Rotary
Links to more information about these sculptures and others in these areas:
Olympia, WA, Percival Plinth Project Kirkland, WA, Public Art




Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To join in or to view photos from around the world: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Mount St. Helens - Odds & Ends - #SaturdaySnapshot

These random photos, taken during my three-day hiking adventure at Mount St. Helens, don't fit into a specific category. I've labeled them "Odds and Ends." 
(Click on photos to enlarge.)

We followed this logging truck for quite a ways. I thought the juxtaposition of the logs on the truck and the clear-cut hillside to the left of the road, along with the stand of trees up ahead, made an interesting picture.


I always wonder what caused huge rock outcroppings like the one below. It's not far from Mount St. Helens. Was it the result of the volcano's eruption?


The view of Spirit Lake (Mount St. Helens) from Windy Ridge. The white mass on the lake is made up of logs.



I decided NOT to climb to the top of the observation area at Windy Ridge.


A casualty of the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980. The car's owners perished in a nearby cabin during the eruption. More info about this story and the area HERE.




The trip to Mount St. Helens was a lot of fun, and I'm already looking forward to next summer's adventure. I wonder where the senior center will take me!



Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To join in or to view photos from around the world: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Mount St. Helens (Post 4) - Covel Creek Trail & #Waterfall - #SaturdaySnapshot

As I mentioned in my first Mount St. Helens post (link here), the Auburn Senior Activity Center's hiking group stayed at Cispus Learning Center. Not far from our lodgings we explored the Covel Creek Trail, out last hike of the trip. 
(Click on photos to enlarge.)



Underneath the trail sign is a note: "Bridges Removed." That meant we had to scramble across creek beds. Our hiking poles sure came in handy! Luckily, there wasn't very much water in the streams in August.

The trail was well-marked and wide in most places, though there were steep and narrow sections farther on.


Our destination: Covel Creek Falls. I imagine there's much more water earlier in the summer, as compared to August, but it was still an amazing feeling to walk behind a waterfall.



Here's the view from behind the falls. So cool!



A mossy picnic shelter along the path.

On the way back, we walked along the Trail for the Blind. I tried closing my eyes and relying on the rope for guidance, but there were too many roots and rocks for me to feel steady. I wondered how blind people were able to navigate it safely. 










More info about Covel Creek Trail and Falls: HERE



Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To join in or to view photos from around the world: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Mount St. Helens (Post 3) / Norway Pass Trail - #SaturdaySnapshot

The highlight of my overnight hiking trip with the Auburn Senior Activity Center was the hike up the Norway Pass Trail. The operative word here is "up." Not steep but relentless. However, the magnificent views were worth the trek. FYI: Our group consisted of ten women, including two senior center representatives. 
[Click on photos for a closer look.]


Ready to go.
Along the trail we snacked on huckleberries. I would have been afraid to munch on wild berries, but our knowledgeable leaders knew which ones would be okay to eat. These were perfectly ripe and sweet. Within minutes our fingers were stained blue.



On this beautiful day we could see both Mount Adams and Mount Rainier, two volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains.

Mount Adams on the horizon The snow-capped crest of Mount Rainier peeking over the hilltopsDead trees from the 1980 eruption still cover the hillsides surrounding Mount St. Helens, along with new growth of trees and wildflowers.



Bleached remains of trees on the hillside that were mowed down 
by the volcano's blast
When I got tired or out of breath, I set a goal of walking to a certain tree or clump of flowers on the path ahead and then would stop there to catch my breath. In this way, I made it to the top.


Almost there!Here's the magnificent payoff: a million dollar view of Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake. Perfect place to stop for lunch, isn't it?


The white area on the lake's surface is a mat of trees blown down during the volcano's eruption. (Curious? You'll find more about this HERE.)

A before-and-after photo by the U.S. Geological Survey is posted on the "PBS News Hour" website - HERE.

The distance between the Johnston Ridge Observatory and the Norway Pass Trailhead isn't far... as the crow flies. The map below shows the route by car. The blue patch on the map, between the Johnston Ridge Observatory and Norway Pass, is Spirit Lake.

Thanks for going along with me on my visit to Mount St. Helens. I'll post a few more photos next Saturday.







Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Mount St Helens (Post 2) - #Cispus Learning Center - #SaturdaySnapshot

Ten women (eight seniors and two leaders) from the Auburn (WA) Senior Activity Center recently spent three days and two nights at the Cispus Learning Center. It served as our home base for visits to the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument and hikes in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest. Kind of like summer camp!
(See last week's post about Mount St. Helens's Johnston Ridge Observatory: HERE) 
(Click on photos to enlarge.)


Our cabin ("Alder") could accommodate several dozen people, but our group was the only occupant. We had more than enough shower stalls, sinks, toilets, and beds. We even had plenty of room for line dancing. Everyone brought their own bedding and snacks (and even a couple of bottles of wine.) 


The Cispus staff provided breakfast, sack lunches (to take on our hikes), and dinner. Meals were served family style in this large dining hall. During our stay, we shared the facility with one other group, and they only stayed one night. Can you imagine this area filled with groups of kids? 

Perfect setting for an evening stroll around the grounds with a few of my fellow hikers. The weather was gorgeous--cool at night and just right during the daytime with lots of sunshine. After the first night, we had the whole facility to ourselves.

Wispy clouds greeted us one morning.

Next week I'll post photos from our hike on the Norway Pass Trail. The views of Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake from that viewpoint were magnificent.






Info about Cispus Learning Centers HERE



Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Mount Saint Helens #Hikes (Post 1) - #SaturdaySnapshot

This past week I spent three days and two nights in the Mount St. Helens area of Washington state. The adventure was organized by the Auburn (WA) Senior Activity Center and included transportation, lodging, and guidance on several hikes. We had a great time. I took so many photos that I'll post about this getaway for the next several weeks. 

Today's snapshots are from the Johnston Ridge Observatory in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. First, we saw an informative video and exhibits about the volcano's 1980 eruption and the devastating aftermath. Scientists are observing the mountain's renewal without interfering in any way... a case of letting Nature take its course. 
[Click on photos to enlarge.]

These panels tell the stories of some of the casualties, as well as the survivors.



It's hard to believe much of this barren area was once a thriving, old-growth forest.



The top of Mount St. Helens was obscured by clouds when we visited the observatory. However, the destruction caused by the eruption is evident. 


Now, thirty-eight years after the eruption, weathered tree-sized logs provide proof of the strength of the blast. Some had rocks embedded in them.




A few women from our group took a short hike in the Mount Margaret Back Country area.


The clouds lifted the next day and we got a good look at Mount St. Helens and Spirit Lake from the Norway Pass Trail. I'll post those photos and more in the coming weeks.

Thanks for stopping by!







Links to more info:
Johnston Ridge Observatory
Johnston Ridge Observatory - Fees, etc.
Mount St. Helens Hikes

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Skookum Flats / Tipsoo Lake #Hike - #SaturdaySnapshot

Sometimes when plans have to be changed, the alternative ends up being just as much fun! Yesterday, the senior center had a hike scheduled for the Tipsoo Lake / Naches Peak Loop area of Mount Rainier National Park. However, as our van neared that elevation, clouds of smoke billowed in from wildfires raging elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest. Here's what that looked like. (Click on photos to enlarge.)


We did take the easy walk around Tipsoo Lake, and I captured the eerie scene. The temperature was 39 degrees! 





We all agreed it wouldn't be healthy to take a strenuous hike in smoky air (and besides, we wouldn't be able to see the beautiful scenery on the Naches Peak trail) so we went to a lower elevation and hiked on the Skookum Flats Trail.



Cleaner air, warmer weather, and a new trail for me. Sometimes things work out just fine!
If you're curious about the spectacular views from the Naches Peak Loop Trail, you'll find photos from last autumn's hike here: Naches Peak Loop Trail







Saturday Snapshots is hosted by West Metro Mommy Reads. To participate: Post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky on West Metro Mommy Read's website (link: HERE) Photos can be old or new and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.
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Spunky Girl - #SaturdaySnapshot

The hikes and walks I've been on recently have been repeats, and I've already posted photos from their high points. So today I'm posting a couple of pictures of my adventurous granddaughter. She's seven years old.

Rock climbing at Auburn's Rec Center.

Ziplining at Northwest Trek


Tackling the mud pit at an obstacle course (at age 5)

I'm a lucky grandma to have this wonderful girl in my life.