September 2016

Evergreen State Fair and Yellow Aster Butte

Kenny, magnet fishingHiking around Tiger Mountain


At Ft Lewis airshow


Kenny, with the first money he ever earned, tutoring a 1st grade girl in math


Kenny with Ryan, the first day of 7th gradePeter, on the second day of 4th grade (missed the first day)


Making no-knead breadAt the clay pit, in Cougar Mountain State Park


There's a whole pile of brick debrisAt the Evergreen State Fair these are show beef cattle, very well cleaned and groomed


Yes, they're being blow-driedThis cow just got a special spray mousse put on, that apparently makes each individual hair stand up


Show sheepThe fruit and vegetable displays had clearly been there a few days, but were still prettty


Chainsaw sculptureA hike around Naches Peak


Lunch


Kenny and Peter met some other kids, and went frog huntingDewey Lake. We unfortunately got off track, and detoured down here


This bridge is part of the Pacific Crest TrailJean, Gary and I did an overnight backpacking trip to Yellow Aster Butte. It was one of the most scenic hikes I've ever done. I had a hard time winnowing down the photos, this is my best attempt.


The blueberry bushes were loaded






With Mt. Baker in the background


I think this one is Mt. ShuskanOur first glimpse of the lovely basin filled with little lakes, or tarns


Hiking down the steep switchbacks to the basin




Along the trail to Mt. Tomyhoi






Dinner








A marmot - we saw lots


The rare and elusive white mountain goat dog.We set our tents up on the little bump of a hill, with the trees


Gary amidst the blueberry bushes


On the edge of a cliffGary's tarp


My tent, from the other sideAnother marmot


A pit excavated by gold prospectors


A morning walk up a nearby hill, to catch some sun after a cold nightI loved this cute mouse-shaped cairn


I aimed to get to this interesting lake with a cliff on one side, but it ended up being further than I thought.


BreakfastPacking up to leave


On top of Yellow Aster Butte




On the hike down there was a bear up on the hill


Jean, caught "blue-handed"