Rockport State Park

Saturday, August 23, Mike, Jim, Vickie, Gail, and I drove to Rockport State Park, It was a beautiful day. We enjoyed a delicious gourmet lunch prepared by Jim at a picnic table in a nearby wooded area. After lunch we hiked the Evergreen trail which took us 2 1/2 miles through the forest in a loop around the park. The Vine Maples canoping the moss covered trees were part of the scenery at this mini rain forest park. Even though I somehow lost my hiking boots there, this was a terrific day. P.S. I later bought some better boots at the REI sale the next week.

Adventure Trail

Today, Saturday, Jim, Vickie, Mike, and I headed out on the same trail we had hiked on Monday. This time with a map in hand from REI, we completed the loop from Adventure Trail around Brink Trail and Swamp Trail. After about two hours of hiking we stopped to enjoy the lunch we had each prepared. It tasted delicious and we enjoyed the picnic among the beautiful old trees. It was a great day! Tonight Mike and I stay all night with Tyler at his house while his parents attend Scott's high school reunion.

Tiger Mt. Hike

Monday, Jim, Vickie, and I returned to Tiger Mt for a hike at the base of the Mountain. As we had no map, we retraced out steps back through the woods from where we started vowing to know the trail better next time. Regardless, it was a very nice hike on a beautiful day. Afterwards, Jim, Vickie,and I stopped for lunch at a quaint restaurant in Issaquah.

Tiger Mt. Hike

Jim's blog says "Mary, Mike, Vickie and I drove to the parking lot at the High Point entrance to Tiger Mountain. We started up the steep three mile route to a viewpoint, but two members of the party turned back after a little more than a mile. The other two continued on the 3.75 mile route shown below" We were sorry Mike and Jim got tired and we had to split the hiking party up. I would include pictures however I haven't been able to find them on Jim's Twitter site. When I do, I will add them to this post. It was a fun day and some of us plan on visiting Tiger Mt. again tomorrow

Ohanapecosh

Today, August 9, 2008, Mike and I drove to Ohanapecosh by the Stevens Canyon entrace to Mt. Rainier National Park. We first went through the Visitor Center and then had our picnic at a lovely spot by the camp grounds. After lunch Mike and I hiked the Silver Falls Loop trail which took us across the Ohanapecosh river via a wooden bridge. We then drove over to the trailhead for the Trail of the Patriarchs. Here we saw and took pictures of 1,000 year old trees. It was a great day!

Monday August 4, 2008 Jim, Vickie, Mike, and I drove up to Sunrise on Mt. Rainier. It was a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. The weather was warm and comfortable. After a nice picnic near the visitor center we took a hike around the base of the Mountain past beautiful trees, lakes, and forested creatures, all with the view of the enormouse mountain beside us.