The 2021 Utah Adventure

Looking for an easy hike today - my body needs it. Heading out to hike Naches Peak this morning and then it's killing time on the drive to my next hotel in Puyallup. I'm staying there because I have reservations so I can do my planned Mt Tomlie hike on Thursday but there's rain in the forecast for Friday so I need to get to Mt St Helens tomorrow. I thought about trying to book another night in Kelso (eating the Puyallup hotel fees) so I would be guaranteed a hike at Mt St Helens early in the morning tomorrow but I'll just leave things as-is and have a long drive tomorrow. No early start today. Breakfast is a 7am. Once fed, I head south the Tipsoo Lake (aka the Naches Peak Loop trail). Easy drive and I'm there before 8am. Lots of parking spaces available. I pick one and start on my way. Trail info says to go clockwise so off I go around Tipsoo Lake in a clockwise direction. Lots of blooming flowers as expected. I only go down one side gaining elevation along the way,...

Another early start this morning. I have a 1.5-2 hour drive to Sunrise. Planning on hiking the Mt Fremont Lookout (7181ft) and if I'm feeling good, the Burroughs Trail (7000ft) - 1st Burrough only. I leave the hotel before 6am. Not far from the hotel and emerging from the fog on the right side of the road is an Elk! Yes, I said elk - so exciting!! I zoom by it but as I'm thinking about turning around, there's a whole herd on the left side of the road and a couple on the right side. This time, I stop. Quite a few males (with antlers) and there's one large bull. Way cool! Not too much farther along, I have to stop for a doe and fawn. I see one more doe along my trip. And can't forget the coyote!! Plan is for no stops - except potty breaks. :) The plan is thrown out as I arrive at Reflection Lake and the sun is just rising above the mountains  and Mt Rainier is perfectly reflected in the aptly named lake. I pass Bench/Snow Lakes trailhead; there's only one car and ...

Up at 5am this morning to get up to Paradise before the swarms arrive and I get shut out on parking. And get to a start in cooler temps (heading to 85 today). Oh, the plan is to hike the Skyline Trail (5.5 miles, 1700 of up) On my way to Paradise, I make quick stop to look up Kautz Creek. It looks cool from the road so I stop, hurdle a wooden fence (it bit back and I have a huge bruise), and the picture sucks (too early in the morning). But I found the trail the overlook :) I also stop at the Cougar Rock overlook. I head down to the river. Hey Rainier is out today!  I think about doing the trail but the mission is to get to Paradise so I get back in the car and start driving. I stop for a doe and fawn who are on the side of my lane. A car goes zooming by the other way but I wait. Eventually, they do cross the road and I can move on. I then make a quick stop at Christine Falls from the road (missed that yesterday). Well worth the stop! Then I run into another doe and 2 fawns on the ...