Mt Teneriffe and the DNR's great idea

Ok, I try to keep most things positive. At least that's how they start out. This isn't going to be totally positive, and I make no excuses.
Mt Teneriffe (not the one in some far away land), near North Bend and the Mt Si trailhead has had some "updating." Apparently, the Washington State Dept of Natural Resources and Sound to Greenway organization got together and decided to change the road into a tail. They did any exceptional job, and I'm sure it wasn't cheap. The trail is much more aesthetically pleasing compared to the road, and I felt like I was in deep wilderness rather than walking into someone's large parcel of land. Enough of the good stuff---what were they thinking!!
If I wanted a walk in the woods were I had to constantly watch every step so as to not trip over something, or turn my ankle on a softball size rock(of which there are plenty now), I would have hiked Mt Si! The best thing about Mt Teneriffe was the long haul up a steep, flat, crushed gravel road. Letting your mind wander as you sweat out every pore while climbing nearly 7 miles up is the absolute definition of a good time! Sure the road had some problems, but fixing the drainage problems would have been quick and relatively inexpensive compared to changing the entire path. I think the trail is marked for hikers only now. I never rode my mountain bike up/down the hill, but I'm sure those that did will miss the old road.
Anyway, the road is gone and I miss it. The views, however, are still exceptional and certainly worth the long haul up the new trail.
To get to the trailhead--drive past the Mt Si trailhead about a mile to 480 Av Se, and the parking will be on the left. Most of the parking is shared with a school bus turn around. There is no parking in the turn around area during school days from 6am-5pm, but there is still room (away from the turn around) near the gate for about 5-6 cars. You'll need a Discover pass.
For those of you (the two people who read this blog ;)), that haven't been up to the top of Mt Teneriffe, here's a brief description- up.
Here are some pictures of the new trail and views from the top of the world--

Looking East from summit

S/E from summit (Mailbox peak)

N/E

North from summit

Looking west - Mt Si Haystack

S/W- Mt Si on right side

Zoomed in to the east-Cascades

One of two survey markers at top

older survey marker

A few feet down from summit- looking N/E

New trail near top- muddy and soft

Old trail/road to top saddle. Trail now heads south. See next photo

Beginning of new trail to summit

What much of the trail looks like--big rocks and an ATV track

Bandera Mountain

The Ira Spring tail (Mason Lk/Bandera Mtn) starts just off exit 45 near the bottom of Snoqualmie Pass (west side).
Another test of rain gear as I gear-up for my PCT attempt next year. I wore my favorite trail hikers (New Balance 910V1) and expected to get them good and wet...I wasn't disappointed. My test wasn't so much about the shoes, they've already proven themselves, but rather socks. I'm curious if wet thick wool socks keep the feet warmer than mid-weight. I tried heavy socks on a nine mile soggy walk about 2 weeks prior, and was rewarded with a heel blister. To be fair, I wore my old Salomon trail runners. On the Ira Spring trail I wore mid-weight Darn Tough socks, and discovered that thick or mid weight doesn't really matter. Both keep the feet sort of warm. I didn't get any blisters with the Darn Tough socks. I just love getting in the shower and discovering a new skin-rubbed-off location.

I also tested Frogg Toggs ultra light rain suit and a poncho. I'm sure this debate with continue, but a poncho is just so damn easy to throw over everything (hiker and backpack) and for the most part, everything is kept dry. Then there is the air circulation. A rain jacket, Frogg Togg or otherwise, keeps in heat and makes you sweat. I'm guessing for now, the rain jacket wins. I look at my rain jacket as a layer of warmth, the poncho does add a little warmth, but not like the jacket. Then there's the wind and access to water, foot, and other things on my bat belt. The poncho covers this stuff up, and I found out that I drink less water while wearing the poncho because of the difficulty of getting at the water.

Here's a quick review of the hike...
The first 2.8 miles are a total breeze. Some up hill, but who doesn't love a good hill?! The trail was given a good dose of refurbishing about 5-6 years ago right up to the Bandera Mountain cut-off. At 2.8 miles, start heading strait up the ridge towards the top. Big boulders, large steps, and burning calves await! Steep, Steep, steep! I love going up, but down always makes me think of a trip and landing squarely on my face. An improvement would surely result, but ouch. I'm already an accomplished trip-facelander, and my technique can hardly be improved upon...so I'll stop trying. It took me about 45 minutes of serious up to reach the summit. Interesting cloud formations, and then the rain blew sideways. Perfect gear test weather. Here are some pictures...

Looking south towards McClellan Butte

Trail at about 2 miles

Looking west towards Granite Mtn

I-90

Near top of Bandera Mtn

At Bandera Summit

The actual summit

Summit

End of Summer in Summerland

  The first snowfall marks the end of summer. The higher elevations become barren and cold as a blanket of while engulfs the whole region. The end of something is ostensibly the beginning of something else...I like to think so. The unsettling thoughts of not being able to visit my favorite mountain meadow leaves me hollow and yearning for next June or July, or sometimes August. The short hiking season is so unfair. Maybe I should move to the desert and learn to love the sand and cacti. At least there I will have the opportunity to visit my favorite places (after I find them) each and everyday of the year. Who am I kidding, the desert? Not going to happen. I need the trees, lakes, and flowered mountain meadows.
   Writing that I need the mountains begs the obvious question. Why? Is the answer to be found in some lame philosophical explanation involving my parents, or maybe it's a form of escapism? Or, here's another explanation, or lack there of, who cares! I think too many people evaluate and attempt to "discover" their motivation in life, that they never really learn to live. That sounds like a classic "avoiders technique" (thanks Todd). Whatever the reason, when I hike I don't think about much else..."one foot in front of the other" is about the end of my brains involvement. That's not entirely true, but hiking does put a muzzle on the chatterbox that's continually evaluating the "right way to live." I've looked for the answer to the "right way" in the back of dusty, ancient books and in the faces of those that "have it all together," and I'm still not convinced. I highly doubt that anyone holds the golden key to that little gem of wisdom.  I apparently need to go on another hike. Here's a little write up of my last adventure in the wilderness - Summerland, Mt Rainier 10-16-2014.
    I left at high noon. The dense forest was dark and unnerving; especially after I saw two bear prints in the mud almost as soon as I stepped foot into the woods. I turned on my Iphone external speaker and listened to Michael Buble' (and sang along) as I quickly headed towards Summerland. About half way up the trail I passed three other hikers going the other direction. I informed them about the bear tracks...they weren't too impressed and continued on. At about 3 miles I made it to the bottom of the switchback and a light coating of snow on the trail. Arriving at Summerland 30 minutes later, I was rewarded with beautiful views of The Mountain and a solitude that I have grown to love. I like meeting hikers on the trail, but the solitude of being alone in an inhospitable location adds value to the experience. Being alone in surroundings that require you to rely solely on your own faculties does something to you, not really sure what or if it's even positive, but something happens. (I'll save that for another article). After staying at the camp for 30 minutes, I decided to head back down. It was only 2:30, but the sun was setting behind Columbia Crest and soon the imaginative beasts would be roaming the deep woods.
   While hiking down the switchbacks, I came across a nice lady that was hiking up. She said she was from Greenwater, and appeared to hike everyday of her life. Ah, the life a daily hiker. I'm getting there (yes, another article in the making). Father down the trail, I saw a beasty looking animal scampering towards me. It refused to yield, and a confrontation was imminent. I posted a video  (below) that details the skirmish that left both of us unscathed. (couldn't up video-will try later to post video of Porcupine).
    A wonderful ending hike to a near perfect summer...cant wait for next summer!

 

Bear

Summerland Camp

Mt. Rainier

Porcupine on trail- halfway to trailhead

Bear paw print

Muzzleloader heaven - Chinook Pass-Oct 2014

    So I start hiking at 10:30 am on 10-07-2014, S/B from Chinook Pass, and immediately came across two Elk hunters carrying muzzleloaders. They were wearing camo clothing, sweating heavily, and walking towards the parking lot without any killed animals or evidence there of. Don't mistake my tone for being anti hunting. I get it, and understand the sport of hunting. I used to hunt ducks and other small birds that taste good, but the expense of it just didn't make sense. After writing that, I just thought of the thousands of dollars I've spent in the last year to just walk and camp in the woods. I suppose the best part of hunting, when I used to hunt, was the wilderness part. Anyway, back to the hunters.
     I almost always stop and talk to people on the trail, hunters or otherwise, while hiking. I asked the hunters if they had any luck and they said they had not seen any "spikes" or "cows." And here I thought they were hunting Elk. Just kidding. I know what a "cow" is, but still not sure of what falls under the classification of a "spike." I'm guessing its a young bull elk. The sweating-heavily hunter said that they were within 50 yards of a bull, but neither he nor his partner had a bull tag. I should probably let you know that the temperature was around 70 degrees and I was wearing my running shorts and short sleeve shirt. The hunters were wearing heavy camo outfits so the elk ostensibly could not spot them. I thought elk, deer, and moose were color blind? I'd make a horrible hunter. If I were ever invited to go hunting, which is pretty much as likely as growing a full head of hair, I'd show up in a safety vest with an orange hat. Enough of the hunters, on with the rest of the hike.
    This hike was, in addition to enjoying the beauty of the wilderness, an effort to try out my new sleeping bag and tent. I'll do a separate write up of the reviews of each in the Gear Reviews (where else would I put reviews?).
    Hiking south from Chinook Pass (east side of Mt Rainier) the trail is  "mostly" easy ups and downs At about 3 miles I came to Dewey and little Dewey lakes. A sizeable lake that appears to be quite deep on the side opposite the trail. I marched right on past the lake and continued to Anderson Lake at about 2 miles farther down the trail. Anderson lake is small, but beautiful. Another mile farther down the trail I came to the junction of the PCT and American ridge trail. I turned left (E/B) and followed the ridge trail for about a half mile to American Lake, another small, but beautiful lake. At 1.5 miles from the PCT trail junction, I arrived at another junction. There is a 4X4 pole with a pink ribbon on it marking the intersection. After spending about 45 minutes trying all the various trails that left in every direction from the intersection, I started heading down the correct trail towards Cougar Lake. So which trail is the correct trail? Easy, its the trail that is immediately on your right as you arrive at the junction/4X4 with ribbon. Just make a hard right turn (almost heading back the same direction you just came from), and you'll be on the correct trail. From the junction, it's .8 miles down to Cougar Lake. Which incidentally didn't look anything like a cougar, nor did I see a cougar...which is good. As I arrived at Cougar lake, or what I thought was cougar lake (it was actually a little lake next door), I made a mistake of hiking around the right side of little cougar. Here's what you do...stay to the left, hike past the big camp site next to little coug, and then turn right and hike on the strip of land between the two lakes. The good camp sites are on the far end of Cougar lake. Cougar Lake is hiding on the other side of the trees that are on the left side of little cougar. I found a nice camp spot on the extreme far end of cougar lake, about 30 feet from the lake.
    A word about camping next to a lake, at the bottom of large bowl during October. Don't. The amount of dew is pretty much like camping in the rain. Everything got soaked. The evening was exciting though.
    As dusk fell the bull elk became very active. I heard bugling for most of the night, but from across the lake. It sounded like one bull came closer and closer, but I never saw him. I also heard a loud BARK from the woods about 50 feet from my camp. At first I thought it was a dog, but then I realized it couldn't be. It must have been a coyote. I never saw him, either. Here are some pictures of the hike---

Dewey Lake

Dewey Lake

Rainier

Dork

Anderson lake

Anderson lake

Camp at Cougar lake

Camp at Cougar looking away from lake

Cougar lake in early morning