Friday, September 23, 2005


I went hiking today (9/23) to Mason Lake in Snoqualmie Pass. Not a terribly long hike, but there were some crappy steep areas that I did not like. I kept slipping, especially when I was coming back downhill. Part of it is my shoes with no tread, but I saw other marks from people slipping too, so it was not me. But....a nice hike. If only the clouds had gone away---I would have had Mt Rainier pictures to post, and I have a serious Mt Rainier obsession. I think that is what I am going to ask for for Christmas--a national parks pass and a gift certificate to Arco (cheapest gas!). I LOVED hiking there. With Jobie, we did not get a good Mt look, but Tolmie peak was AWESOME. I am all about hikes with a payout--there has to be something at the end. A lake, a view, something nice. This Mason lake hike ended up being a little clouded in, but I had a good time, sweated up a storm, and got in a bit of exercise. All in all, a good hike.


slimy mushroom nestled in moss


I think this is Mason Creek, flowing down past the path. It actually goes from here into a culvert, which is definitely not photogenic. But how pretty is this?!


Little waterfall along the way.


Cool pointy peak whose name I must find out!!


Another group of peaks whose names I must discover


Looking west at I-90 and over towards North Bend and Issaquah


Greenery growing out of an old logged/cut down stump


Top of a little tree growing next to the path. kinda cool up close


Dark blue/black berries


I love the color of this unripe green berry!!


Look----twins!!!


Indian paintbrush


A little garter snake I scared along the way. I don't like poop, so I didn't grab him to get a better picture


All the colors---fall reds and late summer greens with the beautiful blues of the sky and the everpresent whites of the Puget Sound clouds. And, I-90 rolling westward.


Beautiful green treas and clouds rolling in to the west


Huge rockslide area


Clouds rolling in below


spiky red leafy plant. Red because it is fall, or red because it always is??


Sign pointing me along the right way. I went to Mason Lake, since I like the water pics. Bandera Mt would have been nice, but it was sorta cloudy and I wouldn't have been able to see Mt Adams or Mt Rainier


Mt Rainier is off behind those clouds. I waited and waited, but they just wouldn't go away and let me see it!


Fall is coming!!


mossy things along the path


closeup of mossy rocks and downed trees


I loved this downed tree caught up between some standing, mossy trees


First look at Mason Lake


I will lighten this one up later.


Beautiful, clear lake


such a clear lake, no wind and a pretty reflection


Look--you can't even see the lake!! This fog rolled in so quickly. I was looking through my hiking book, and felt really cold all of a sudden, then looked up and saw that the lake was gone!


totally fogged in lake


foggy lake again


rocks reflection in the lake


trees along the lake after the fog came rolling in


mushroom


cute little mushroom


green mossy stuff that covers the forest floor. Looks like carpet!


more zoomed out look at mossy thingies on the forest floor


greyish green old growth trees with moss near the lake


Leaves turning gold and red


spiky red flower with a spiderweb


spiky purple flower


Part of the rock slide area, meadow and some trees near the top of the ridge


Tree growing at the edge of a meadow turning to fall colors


baby fern


ferny sort of plant growing sideways out of a wall of dirt


shiny, thick leafed plant


red berry


granite. I want to use this as a scrapbook background


waterfall at the start/end of the trail