September 2016

Evergreen State Fair and Yellow Aster Butte

Kenny, magnet fishingHiking around Tiger Mountain
At Ft Lewis airshow
Kenny, with the first money he ever earned, tutoring a 1st grade girl in math
Kenny with Ryan, the first day of 7th gradePeter, on the second day of 4th grade (missed the first day)
Making no-knead breadAt the clay pit, in Cougar Mountain State Park
There's a whole pile of brick debrisAt the Evergreen State Fair these are show beef cattle, very well cleaned and groomed
Yes, they're being blow-driedThis cow just got a special spray mousse put on, that apparently makes each individual hair stand up
Show sheepThe fruit and vegetable displays had clearly been there a few days, but were still prettty
Chainsaw sculptureA hike around Naches Peak
Lunch
Kenny and Peter met some other kids, and went frog huntingDewey Lake. We unfortunately got off track, and detoured down here
This bridge is part of the Pacific Crest TrailJean, Gary and I did an overnight backpacking trip to Yellow Aster Butte. It was one of the most scenic hikes I've ever done. I had a hard time winnowing down the photos, this is my best attempt.
The blueberry bushes were loaded
With Mt. Baker in the background
I think this one is Mt. ShuskanOur first glimpse of the lovely basin filled with little lakes, or tarns
Hiking down the steep switchbacks to the basin
Along the trail to Mt. Tomyhoi
Dinner
A marmot - we saw lots
The rare and elusive white mountain goat dog.We set our tents up on the little bump of a hill, with the trees
Gary amidst the blueberry bushes
On the edge of a cliffGary's tarp
My tent, from the other sideAnother marmot
A pit excavated by gold prospectors
A morning walk up a nearby hill, to catch some sun after a cold nightI loved this cute mouse-shaped cairn
I aimed to get to this interesting lake with a cliff on one side, but it ended up being further than I thought.
BreakfastPacking up to leave
On top of Yellow Aster Butte
On the hike down there was a bear up on the hill
Jean, caught "blue-handed"