Icicle Ridge, sans icicles....

Well. THAT was a steep hike. The boys had their little GPS toys, so we know we went 4400 feet elevation gain in 5.1 miles, for a 10.2 mile total round trip. Perfect weather for it, just cold enough to keep us from burning up, but nice enough that there was no need to bundle up (heck, I did the snow free portion in shorts...).

These signs relay important messages, that you actually need to follow. I've always wondered who the hell makes these? They are COMPLETELY bonkers, and impossible to take seriously.... I mean come on, look at those horses!




That's highway 2 down there.


The boys with the toys.


I have a lot of pictures into the sun because that's where we were headed.




The "snow lake" trail into the Enchantments....


Where we called it a day.




If you want to instantly and unequivocally win my heart, you will find out where to buy this product, and buy me one. (Andrew got it as a gift, and doesn't know)




Fuck BPA, I like this thing.


Best picture from the day, in my opinion.




On the way home, we passed the "Bonefish Grill", where they have a skeleton of a fish on their sign. I immediately thought of fossils, was inspired, and have decided to open a fish and chips restaurant, and call it "The Devonian Grill".

Good weekend in Feb-tober!

Ten points to anyone who knows what skit is being referenced in the title.

While el nino is a double edged sword, to be sure....the little bastard sure gives us some great weather, and mountain conditions we don't usually see until May.

Saturday was a simple field trip for a geology class, of the "hop out and look at something, wave hands around while talking, get back in van" variety....which I don't mind, but not very thrilling or photogenic. We followed the snoqualmie river, and talked about river stuff.

For Sunday, I came up with the somewhat crazy (in retrospect, definitely a bit crazy) idea to bring a bunch of people hiking up to Mt Forgotten. Disturbingly awesome weather, ended up laying on the snow shirtless (like I did last June, in almost the exact same spot, oddly). However, while there wasnt much snow, everything down in the trees was patchy black ice, on a steep slope, which was a recipe for very slow going, and a lot of very sore ankles, knees, and wrists. I really do feel bad about dragging these guys up there, but they seemed to have a good time, and it WAS gorgeous..... I'll just be sure that the trail is not solid ice next time I invite them out....

Also, we got the data we needed for our geomorphology project, so quite a bit was accomplished.

So saturday was thus:






Sunday, day of soreness.


Keep on truckin'


Evan, taking up the rear.


Read the mouseover caption....awesome.


Zee lovely mountains. Though I can't seem to find the source of that speck in the left side of every photo.


Kenny decided he had earned a victory cigar, and Andrew smelled it but when he looked over, Kenny was sipping from his camelbak, so Andrew asked in a shocked voice "is that a hookah pipe?!?" So we made a photo.


We were all tshirted out, it was good times.


This might be one of my favorites from the day.


We took a few, but this one had such attitude!


Ms Baker, and her volcano.


The Turk, and the shadows of people standing in line for photos....


I didn't realize how vibrant people had dressed until I started uploading photos...


Breana was a trooper.


Evan, with the borrowed sunglasses....I brought three pairs, and they all got used.


I actually have no idea what was going on here.


I just now saw the sun reflection in my sunglasses, which looks awesome and fake.


The whole group, minus Peter, who sadly fell behind and was eaten by Velociraptors...you know, lots of them.




After I took the above photo, I realized just how red her hair looked in that light, so told her to stop for a second and took this:


Feeling like a sore, creaky old man right now, but a good start to getting in awesome shape for the year.