Annette Lake Drizzle and Mud

We had a wonderful hike in the mud today. It was a bit drizzly at the start, but was mostly dry from the skies. The ground was another thing, mud, rocks and tree roots, nothing we couldn't handle though. Got an early enough start and had the trail to ourselves until the way down. Maybe the weather kept a few people away. There were many full creeks and streams, wildflowers including the last of the trillium, boulders and downed trees, oh and did I saw mud??

A Few New Photos

Here are a few more photos from last weekend of events!

Before

After

Hot, Hot Weekend of Events

Congratulations to our running and walking racers this weekend.

At the North Olympic Discovery Marathon (NODM):
Half marathon: Barb N, Barb S, Becky, Cris, Dana, Erin, Jamie, Leslie, Rachel, Sabina, Scott, Tristan
10 km: Sarah
It was also a celebration and memorial for Sugar, a team member who passed away in the middle of our training. It would have been his first 1/2 marathon.

At the Windermere 1/2 Marathon in Spokane: Judy and Max

Then we had our bike riders battling the heat on both sides of the mountains.

4 Day Eastern Washington tour:
Alyson, Ann, Carol, Deb Fe, John, Linda, Niki, Sandra

At Flying Wheels:
Mari and Merilyn

At the Apple Century in Wenatchee:
Alex, Carrie, Karen D, Karen W, Mike

Then we have people:
In the Amazon (the real one)
Hiking with fabulous views of Mt Rainier
Riding the new trail which will soon go between Bellevue and Seattle on 520
And wildlife in the Arboretum on during our run group

Granite Creek Trail

The Granite Creek Trail is a lovely northwet, oops northwest hike. It was green, green, green: moss, fern, trees, and flowering plants all making it look very lush. The fox glove was in bloom and we were able to feast on ripe salmon berries along the way. Other things that stood out: many old growth tree stumps, tree trunk benches, elk prints, bear scat, large rocks, stream crossings, and hardly another hikers to be seen. Lots of down trees along a portion of the trail, Northwest Trails Association had come through and cleaned it up some, but still lots of climbing over downed trees. Oh I almost forgot to mention that there was a little rain at the start and along the way.

Probably too many pictures, but I couldn't decide what to cut because I liked them all.

Rain hikers

Salmon berries and fox glove

Granite Creek

Fallen trees

Stone creek crossing

Old growth tree stump

Bench to rest your weary feet

More berries and fox glove

Bear scat

Sun Runs, Rain Rides and May Birthday Parties

 It's been a mixed bag of weather lately. Sunny warm days and downpour wonders. Can't keep the team down though. More races running races and bike events coming up. Stay tuned.

Carkeek wonder

Happy Birthday Donut Challenge

San Fran Run

Spring Time at Soaring Eagle Regional Park

Nice day for a hike, well until the last hour when it started to rain. We didn't get cold, just wet. The rain though, brought out the green in the green. Soaring Eagle King County Park is pretty amazing, we saw: 3 mountain bikers, one horse and rider, 4 hikers, 2 runners, one frog, cute little birds, many mushrooms, one done trillium and quite a few other interesting greenery.

Find the frog

Pretty lunch stop