2010 Comes to a Close: Cascade Snowshoe Hike

Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another.  ~ John Dewey ~
As 2010 draws near, Yukon Johann and GrizzLee take to the Cascades for some conditioning training. Its been cold at our house and the temperaures have barely broken the freezing level.  The snow is sticking around. Undaunted, we took our snowhsoes, trekking poles, new pair of boots and Kamiah (the wonder dog) up to the mountains. We are pleased to say that we saw no Sasquatches and snowshoeing in the dark can be really fun. Especially now that all the bears are asleep for the winter. Although we did come across a fresh set of Cougar tracks in the snow.

We may as well get use to it. The forecast is calling for more cold and possibly some more snow in the week to come!

 Johann enjoying a cup of joe (actually hot coco) along a 10 mile trek from Snoqualmie Pass to Twin Falls.

 Icicles formed from a nearby cascading fall.

 The views were great as the sun was shining, but the temperaures remainined in the 20s-30s... colder for us as we trekked most of the day in the shadow of the mountain.

 Kamiah, contemplateing leaving the trail and heading back. She thinks these guys are nuts... she thinks to herself "I could be home chewing a bone and basking in the sun on the patio".

 In reality, Kamiah loves the snow and was waging her tail all the time on our trips.

Happy New year.

We wish you many happy adventures in 2011.
We have big plans and lots of adventures planned in the new year.
Feel free to join us. 

Hope to see you on the trail.

Until Next time...

Winter Is Here

Do not bite at the bait of pleasure, till you know there is no hook beneath it. - Thomas Jefferson

We got our first snow of the year. 2 days before thanksgiving. It's going to be a great winter season. 

Happy Thanksgiving from GrizzLee, "Looksha" Lori , "Yukon" Johann, & Kamiah

Until Next Time....

Tales of Northern Life (Kim Beggs - Yukon Folk Artist)

Good to see you 'round here

Old pal, old friend

Just falling through

The rice paper map of your life

And the bye-bye days

 - Kim Beggs (Old Pal - Streetcar Heart)

During our paddle adventure on the Yukon River in 2007, Johann and I had the opprotunity to meet up with Kim Beggs along the river. Our paths crossed at one of our favorite places in the world, Fort Selkrik. Since that time, we have been mesmerised by Kims music. Her music is drawn upon real life experiences. Whenever, we want to take a mental trip up north, we listen to Kims CDs. Songs such as "Carry My Guitiar, Fury, Wanderer's Paean, Banks of the Yukon, Heartache Shoes, etc...  paint a stunning visual image of life in the north through her music. Her music has a timeless quality about it. We recently had a chance to catch up with Kim at the Rogue Folk Club in Vancouver, Wa.

Johann was excited and was using the opprotunity to add to his school art project. The concert was also his birthday present. Johann is our little goblin born on Halloween.

Special guest and story teller, Ivan Coyote, opened the concert with a true tale set to music by Kim called "Maiden Heart".

 Kim and "Yukon" Johann.

We will be heading back up north, possibly the Yukon for 5-6 weeks next summer. Maybe we will see Kim at the Dawson Music festival or on the river again.

Word is that Kim will be passing this way again in March. Maybe we will have a chance to see her live in concert again.

If you get a chance, visit Kim's Webpage. http://www.kimbeggs.com/

Buy some of her music. You won't regret it.

Until Next time....



Hin-mah-too-yah-lat-kekt (Thunder Rolling Down the Mountain)

Quote of the week: "The earth is the mother of all people, and all people should have equal rights upon it." ~ Chief Joseph

With fall upon us, it was a tough choice this weekend. Do an overnight hike/climb or take what may be the last big fling for the year on the bike. After a quick game of mental rock-paper-scissors, the bike trip won out. Besides, the great weather, Lee was hoping to try out the new helmet and is happy to report that the new Shoei Hornet worked out well. It doesn't repel bugs any better, but it is quieter and more comfortable than the older helmet.

This adventure trip took place through the North Cascades Highway, up over though Winthrop and onto Alta lake state park. The night was warm with a bit of rain in the early morning. The next day heading out to Pateros, Omak and down to Nespelem to see Chief Joseph's grave and then over to Grand Coulee. Passing through some spectacular mountain scenery with fall colors ablaze. Believe it our not, the bugs were still out in full force as witnessed by the nearly blackened windscreen on the bike. A windy ride home along the Yakima river became a real challenge and off in the distance storm clouds were rolling in over the Central Cascades. Rain was in the air. All told, about 700 miles of travel. The bike now has nearly 7,000 miles on it!!

Cutthroat Peak is located about two miles west of Washington Pass in Washington's North Cascades. This rugged mountain appears to be a stand alone tower from most vantage points along the North Cascades Highway but, the mountain actually has a north and a south peak.

Travelling through Disautel Pass (el. 3252 ft.). Traversed by Wa state route 155 on the way to Gran Coulee form Omak on the Colville indian reservation.

"The first white men of your people who came to our country were named Lewis and Clark. They brought many things that our people had never seen. They talked straight. These men were very kind." "~Chief Joseph

Chief Josephs grave site is a spiritual experience. Especially for those who have read the struggles and strife his people have suffered. Buried alongside him are others of his time who fought and lived side-by-side with him, including Yellow Wolf.

"We gave up some of our country to the white men, thinking that then we could have peace. We were mistaken. The white man would not let us alone." ~ Chief Joseph

"Good words will not give me back my children."  ~Chief Joseph

Chief Joseph died at the Colville Reservation on 21st September, 1904. They say he died, not of old age, but of from a broken heart.

This rest area was new. Lori and Lee last visited this area ~16 years ago.

The reflections off of Banks lake made for some neat photos.

Great motorcycle roads. Speed Limit 60. Hmmm...

Grand Coulee Dam in the distance

More dam.

Until Next time......

Harstine Island Getaway

 

Qoute of the Week: "You can make a new friend, but you can't make an old one"  ~ Tom Bodett

Last weekend Lori and Lee took a "mini-vacation" to join up with our friends, Jim and Carol (aka, "Skeeter Jim" and "Caribou Carol".)  Jim and Carol are retired and are great folks to hang out with.   They have a cute, early 1900's log cabin on Harstine island. The setting is very inviting and relaxing. We've done some kayaking together with them in the past, so when they invited us down to their cabin for the weekend, we couldn't resist. The weather was just warm enough to nap in wether we were on the beach or on the deck chairs by the water just down from the cabin.  

View from near the water

Jim, Carol and Lori with Olympic mountains in the back.

Marine Wildlife taking advantage of man made floating platforms.

Looksha Lori looking good in her kayak.

Skeeter Jim and Caribou Carol taking to the water like pros.

We beached a couple of times duirng our 13 mile paddle trip around Squaxin Island.

All-in-all, a very relaxing weekend. We were spoiled by beer, salmon, steak and cherry pie. Now we must head back to the gym to work off our sins.

Until next time...