hike| feburary 2015 | hamilton mtn

Last Spring, Elaine and I hiked Hamilton Mtn, and got almost to the top before we were tired and hungry & called it quits on the false summit. So this time, I was determined to make it to the top. And I am glad I did- but if I did it again, I would go to the false summit instead. It was much better then the summit, which was disappointing (much like dog mountain).

^Elaine managed to save her water bottle, success.
The rest of the way, we just (okay, I) sort of wined about how boring, steep and not pretty the hike was. Also we were very hungry....
but managed to wait to eat till the summit...
and it was like womp, womp.
here is the view:

^I could hardly see over the shrumbs, short people problems.

I thought it was wayyyy prettier just on the trail on the way down:

So, in conclusion, what have we learned?

The summit is not always best.

Save your water bottle.

If you hike Hamilton Mtn, go to the false summit for 100% better views.

It sucks being short when shrubs are high.

feburary 2015 | sleeping beauty

I had tried in January to do this hike- but Caleb and I couldn't get down the road, because of snow. So when Phoebe mentioned she had done it the week before, I was on a mission to do it, lucky me Elaine & Phoebe were up for it, and Phoebe drove us out there, luckily- it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere, I definitely would have missed the trail head sign!
It's not a long hike, we did it in about 2 and a half hours - but we spent a lot of time at the top, too. 

Earlier Phoebe had said Pete was DYING hiking this, and I had laughed at him. I regretted mocking him about 3 minutes in when I was IN MAJOR PAIN. There was not one flat part. NOT ONE. It actually is similar to Mitchell Point, except I had made a horrible mistake going to the gym for the first time in a few months 2 days before and I was still really sore. 

Elaine's face here is a reflection of mine. Those switch backs! So steep! 

Worth it.

^a rare Phoebe picture!

You could see all 4 mountains at the top: Hood, St. Helens, Rainer, & Adams.
The metal thing is part of an old fire tower -how amazing would that job have been?!

^ can you spy me being dangerous on the rocks at the top? Just kidding Mom, all very safe.

We hung around at the top awhile, because the day was so clear the views were just insane, and there were a lot of cool places to check out.

This MAY be my new favorite hike, I know I have said that a lot lately, but I mean it this time :)

feburary 2015 | gillette lake hike

Monday, since we had no school, Elaine, Kate and I decided to go on a hike. We headed out to Gillette Lake, since none of us had done it before and it was describes as pretty flat - & Elaine and I had just hiked Hamilton Mtn the day before.

Taco lead the charge!

It was really pretty, even though a lot of the hike was clear cut I thought it was nice. I don't mind clear cuts, I know how important they are for the health of the forest, so whatev. It's just a different kind of pretty.

The lake was SO amazingly blue.

I want to go back, with s'mores (there was a fire pit!) and my swimsuit this summer and make a day of it. It would be a great spot!

It was such a good day hike. Horray for Mondays off! Every weekend should be three days!

throwback thursday | My mom & brother, 1985.

winter 2015 | pretty views

Once upon a time, in the winter for 2 months, I lived in an insane house in White Salmon that had an insane view...

it was nice while it lasted :)

GALentines weekend 2015 | mitchell point

Last year for Valentines Day the guy I was dating brought me flowers & chocolate to work, and then as I got on a plane to San Francisco to see Donella texted me sweet things all night..... it was all very sweet and I felt so cared about. Later, I found out he was out at dinner that night and spent the entire weekend with his other girlfriend. SO. This year when one of  my closest high school / life friends offered to come spend a few days with me I was like ... YES. I don't want to say I'm a bitter single girl, but draw your own conclusions.

So we had a little Galentines Day (Leslie Knope is the woman I wish I could be). 

Starting with a romantic drive thru the country side, then a romantic dinner, then watching Friends together as we fell asleep. 

When a friend texted me at 10:30 to ask if I wanted to come out, I was already in bed and couldn't muster the strength to get dressed again. 

Happy Galentines Day to me!

The next morning, we woke up really late, at 7pm (hey! we're both teachers, that was straight up sleeping in) and after getting a coffee, doing some errands for me we were hiking by 9. 

 Mitchell Point is my new favorite hike, I just love it so much. The view is insane and it was much easier then last time I did it when I wore snow boots (really, what was I thinking?)- amateur mistake. 

 The view is insane and since we were the first people there, we were all alone at the top for about an hour before a huge group came and we scampered back down. 

Aireanne went back to her husband for Valentines Day, and I went out to a movie with one of my work friends, which I thought was really sweet till he told me the only reason he went was because he was already in town getting groceries. 

Maybe next year will be better? 

Or maybe it won't, and that's okay too...thank god for Galentines Day, really.