Light Boot Hikers Hike to Pack Forest on 4-26-14

On Saturday, April 26, Ted and I were joined by Bronka 88, Joy, Al, Betty and their grandchildren, Tanner 14 and Mason 11 and our grandson, Eli, 11 and our doggie, Buster, 5.

It was a cloudy day, but not bad.  We were ready to get going up to Bethel Rock.  About three miles from the parking lot.  We decided to take the Hugo Peak trail.  It is steep and strenuous.  I like the trail because we can see some nice views of the valley below and the woods are so beautiful.   The boys had fun running up the trail.  We made it up to Kirland Pass, about two miles up, then took Road 2000 to Bethel Rock.    Bethel Rock is a rock that has an inscription on it that says it is in memory of his parents both born in 1915.  His dad Samuel died in 1998 and his mom in 1994.  It is the highest point at Pack Forest with great views.

When we finally reached the Rock, we all stopped for lunch.  The views were pretty good, even though it was a little cloudy we could see the valley of Eatonville below.  Although there was quite the age differences on this hike, we all had a great time and fun chatting with one another.  It is always great to enjoy the beautiful outdoors with people who love being out also.   A day to truly thank God for.

View of valley below on Hugo Peak Trail.  On a clear day, the 

Olympic Mountains can be seen.

Buster wondering what Mason and Eli are doing.

Bronka, Joy and Betty hiking up the steep trail.

Joy and Bronka coming down to Kirkland Pass.

Ted, Al, Tanner and Eli at Kirkland Pass.  

Had a little hail at Bethel Rock, but Ted was prepared!  ha!

Joy and Bronka enjoying the lunch break.

Tanner, Betty and Mason enjoying the feast Betty prepared for them.

One very happy doggie.  He too had lunch!

Our great group, in front, Al, Joy, Betty, Bronka, Tanner, Ted,

in back, Mason and Eli.

I am in this one, the bright red jacket!

Mason, Eli and Tanner.  Great boys!  Mason and Eli standing

on Bethel Rock.  

View of Eatonville valley from Bethel Rock.

Coming back from a fun day at Pack Forest.

Snowshoe Hike to Panorama Point 4-2-14

On Wednesday, Ted and I decided to go on a snowshoe hike to Pebble Creek.  So we got our packs ready and we were out the door before 10:00 a.m.  

There is road construction, so it took us a little longer to get to Paradise.  When we finally got past the construction, there was a car ahead of all of us, (6 other cars behind us), who decided they wanted to slow down and do some sight seeing!   We were so thankful they finally pulled off at Narada Falls.

It was cloudy when we first started with some glimpses of sunshine.  As we started on the trail, we met a nice couple from Puyallup and passed them.  The trail was mushy and there was someone who did not have snowshoes, and was really post holing and making the trail worse.  We finally met up with the guy while going up the steep hill to Panorama Point.   He was sinking into the soft snow to his hip, and decided to turn back, which we were very happy about.   When we got past him, it was a lot easier to snowshoe on the trail up.

The conditions were whiteout off and on, and windy, especially when we got up to Panorama Point.   We decided not to go on to Pebble Creek because of the conditions, so we had a quick sandwich and hot cup of cocoa.  There were several skiers into another snowshoe hiker and he had gone all the way up to Moon Rocks, and he said the conditions were whiteout and windy, so I am glad we did not continue to Pebble Creek.  We came back down.

The weather cleared up a little as we got closer to the parking lot.  As we looked back, we could not see the mountain, so the weather did not get any better up there even though the weather called for sunny conditions.   But Ted and I had a great time.   We enjoyed our beautiful surroundings, the ones outside the whiteout!  ha!

Ted snowshoeing up the snowshoe trail.

Steep hill.  There were three snowboarders up on the hill.  But whiteout conditions above.

Whiteout conditions at Panorama Point.   Could not see Paradise below.

Ted with wind blowing his hats.  It was really cold!

I bundled up and was nice and warm, but ready to go back down.

It cleared a little at Panorama Point, but clouds came in again.

Really looked nice as soon as we got down the hill toward Paradise.

Really beautiful!

Pyramid Peak.   We climbed up there with our friends the Farbers on 

one 4th of July weekend.  

Big smile from Ted.   

Big smile from me.   Happy to come down from Panorama Point and the cold wind!

Big snowball at Paradise.  Ted trying to push it up!  ha!