Eightmile Lake, Caroline Lake, & Windy Ridge

Alpine Lakes Wilderness has many places that are a must see, one of them is the Enchantment Lakes, there are 5 zones, they consist of *Snow Lakes, *Core Zone, *Colchuck, *Stewart, & *Eightmile.
Starting the adventure in 2011 I procured my permit for the, *Core Zone, *Snow Lakes, and *Colchuck Lake. In 4 days we bagged 3 zones it was spectacular to say the least !! Our permit allowed us to enter at the *Colchuck - *Stewart TH and exit at *Snow Lakes. (3 zones, 4 days, 18 miles, 4400 ft gain)
Then in 2012 the adventure took us to the *Stewart Lake and Horseshoe Lake for 3 days of exploration of more of God's stunning creation. (1 zone, in 3 days, 12 miles, 2800 ft. gain)
2013 is the finale, the last zone *Eightmile Lake, Caroline Lake, & Windy Ridge ,, wheww :)
The 5th and final zone, and I will have been blessed with a most wonderful adventure that has taken me 3 years to finish, many prayers, lots of conditioning, a couple different hiking partners, and the most wonderfully supportive family and friends a person could ask for.
This was the most difficult of the zones for me,, I had planned for 4 days, with extra camera gear, and we altered the days to 3, this made for a very heavy trip, physically and mentally. It is standard to pack 20% of your total body weight, which for me would have been 31.6 #. How ever on this trip I was packing 27% which put my total pack weight at 42.6 #. (camera gear)
Truly by the grace of God I was able to pull it off, I can't stress how difficult the extra weight and shortened days really tested my reliance on the Lord.
It was truly wonderful how God strengthened me each step, each breath, and in my soul making me know I could do this. There were times when all I could do is stare at my feet and think of how thankful I was for my salvation in Christ, how much I love Him for my eternal spirit. 1 Peter 1:8-12
My discomfort, was very small in comparison to a sacrifice as such He gave for me.

The first day we started very early to try and beat the heat, thankfully the weather had been a little wet so the clouds made for some nice shade here and there..

Entering the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, this area caught fire last yr. a couple days after we came out of the *Stewart Lake zone. You can see in the pic above the resent burn, but God replanted and the greens have sprung up making a most beautiful contrast.

Rugged country, scorched by lightening

Couldn't resist the sunrise down on the shore of Caroline Lake :)

Little Caroline Lake

The flowers need friends too

Atop Windy Ridge 7500 ft.

Sleepy Marmots

Beautiful colors

Hiking tools :)

Mt. St. Helens, WA

       

 Mt. St. Helens

Mit standing on Coldwater Ridge, Johnston Ridge is between us and St. Helens.

 
   I remember clearly, where I was the day that this beautiful mountain blew 33 yrs. ago, and took 54 lives, devastating hundreds of acres in beautiful timberland. 
    I was camping up at Sol Duc Hot Springs, in the Olympic National Park.  

  On this very beautiful day, the main road up to Johnston Ridge was closed still, so we parked on the other side of the gate and hiked the mile up the road to get to the trail head that takes you up to Coldwater Lake Ridge. Coldwater Lake was not even there before the mountain blew. The lahar, (mud flow) blocked the Coldwater Creek, and it made the lake.

Coldwater Lake

Much of the land around the mountain has been designated a monument, and was never replanted in timber, the national forest lands have been replanted, and there is a clear distinction of where that boundary is when you are hiking in this area. On the ridgeline in the picture below you can see the boundary line. 

 

 Coming from a long family line of loggers/timber fallers, it was very sobering when we came across the mangled tower and Cat~ to see this mammoth equipment still here on the ridge, all bent and broken, it is hard to imagine the force that was unleashed, such an enormous event, that created a huge lake, flattened hundreds of acres of big timber, and deposited 150 ft. of mud and ash through out the valleys below.  

 There is a tree embedded in the tower above

 In the above picture, the valley beyond is 150 ft. higher than it was before the blast

 Cat~

Bent metal ~ swivel 

The parking lot was almost empty when we arrived.....

 Mit & I

 and when we got back it was a little over half way full ~ 

 Beautiful Mt. St. Helens

Outside The Box Imidges

all of the images here are captured with the sole purpose of sharing God's creation with all who wish to see

The link below, is a window into this wonderful and beautiful world that our Lord and Creator has blessed us with. 
 
http://pinterest.com/powder36/outside-the-box-imidges/

All the glory to our Lord and savior, Jesus  <3

My Updated Trail Cooking System

My Updated Trail Cooking System

http://www.gsioutdoors.com/

 My GSI system, is awesome !! Light, self contained and if you ran out of fuel it can be used on open flame as well. I like this over the Jet Boil for this reason.  I have the Soloist but it is more than enough for 2 ppl. My brother and I used it on our 4 day backpack trip through the Enchantments and it was plenty.

Hurricane Ridge Snowshoeing 1-19-13

Hurricane Ridge, North Olympic Mountains 1-19-13

I have been wanting to do Hurricane Ridge for awhile now, the weather has been great for a couple weeks, which around here is not always the case. We decided it would work best if we headed out after work on Friday, stay at Port Angeles Friday night and then we could get an early start on Saturday. 

When we arrived at PA Friday night it was high fog cover, and by morning it was a low fog cover and pretty thick. But we were told by the park ranger's at the visitor's center that it was clear and warmer up on the ridge. :) 

We were not disappointed,,, it was amazing, no wind and 50 degrees !! 

Mit and Steve outside the lodge, gearing up. 

Every direction you look is a view, 360 degree views,, unbelievable !! There were plenty of ppl, but so what, it didn't deter the true outdoor enthusiast from enjoying this awesome place.

Steve, with the sound behind him buried under the fog..

Steve and Mit, with the Bailey Range behind them.

Hurricane Hill

the crew

Steve and Mit, Mit decided to just use her micro spikes, Steve used his snow shoes

Mit :)

I decided to keep going on up to the point that looks you right at Hurricane Hill, I am looking back at the crew..

Camp Robber

I climbed up to the top the ridge and in the distance is Hurricane Hill, I will hike all the way there next time :)

Mit, in the lower left of the frame, I am up on the point looking back

shot from the top of the point looking back, stunning country

Steve made it to the point too

My bad boy snow shoes :)

awww, the little couple <3

Mt. Angeles in the back

Surrounding mountains

On the way down, the sun was dropping below the peaks

The fog blanket on the valley floor

View before we dropped back down under the blanket...

Ranger- Park entrance ~ exit 

The End

 

2 Col. Bob ~ Quinault ~ 1/5/13

Eagles everywhere !!

 There were many to view, some times they aren't close enough to get good shots of them, but we were blessed today to see so many with in shooting range :)

BFF Mitzi :)

Steve, loves the biggies !!

 Mit, Steve and I geared right up and started the climb the first mile is switch backs a plenty, I must have forgotten that little detail from last yr. but no matter it was all good no rain so that is always good.. :)

 We are the one mile mark at this enormo tree so of course we had to capture the moment !! 

 Last yr. this section of trail was completely blocked by a very large tree that we had to traverse over and around, it was one of many... 

But the Corp Crew came in last season, of course after we came through and cleared out a long stretch of trail, they did a super job !! Thank you CC :)

 Snowy Col. Bob we didn't get out early enough to bag you today, but next time we will ..

 Soft water treats :)  

Eagle Haven :)