Here's the list for 2015:
My wife and I took a road trip down to the Redwoods. I haven't been there since the mid-90s, I think. This is a hard place to get to, unless you set out to go there, or want to do the 101. A simply wonderful trip, and definitely one of my favorite memories from 2015. We camped in Jedediah Smith State Park, with a nice campfire each night. Note: no campfires allowed in WA and OR, due to a very bad fire season. We went to a campfire presentation by the ranger,
where we learned all about the ecology of redwoods groves. We hiked redwoods trails, and of course, the redwoods are crazy
big. BIG. We walked the beach at Crescent City, as I hunted for
sand dollars. We drove through a tree for $5. I ran the Boy Scout Tree trail, which is like running through Star
Wars’ Forests of Endor. I want to go back to the Redwoods, maybe with a backpack.
Wilderness, this is not.
Central Park though is one of the great parks of the world, and I've always wanted to spend time there, and in the Big Apple.
I won
tickets to the
Global Citizen festival concert, featuring Pearl Jam, Coldplay,
Beyonce, and Ed Sheeran, and so this was the year. We stayed in Brooklyn for a few
nights, and then Manhattan.
The concert
was in Central Park, on the Great Lawn. Later, I knocked out a morning run in Central Park.
Central Park is amazing, as an oasis of nature in the middle of the concrete
jungle. It’s creation and maintenance is a lesson in conservation and
environmental ethics. We also managed a walk across the famous Brooklyn Bridge, visited the Bronx for a Yankees game, checked out Pete Davidson at the famous Caroline's Comedy Club, and rode the water-taxi all around the Harbor, including by the
Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. We got really good getting around town on the subway, which I find fascinating. The Pope was even in town.
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala,
speaking at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park
This was one of two
Ultrapedestrian Wilderness Challenges I
took on this year.
A 32 mile loop on an
exceptionally hot day in July was a fool’s mission, but I’m just that kind of
fool sometimes.
The loop starts at
Chinook Pass by the Willam O. Douglas Wilderness down by Mt. Rainier, and has
about a dozen miles on the PCT, before circling back to the start point via the
Laughingwater Creek and Eastside trails.
I was a dead man walking on the Eastside Trail, and the final climb up
out to Tipsoo Lake was a real grunt.
But
that morning, with the full moon high in the sky, wandering off along the PCT
and kicking up deer, alongside full fields of blooming lupine—this was something really, really special.
Thanks Ras and Kathy for putting this on my map. ( :
Pacific Crest Trail, near Chinook Pass, in July
Mount Rainier from Pacific Crest Trail
I twice hiked up to Railroad Grade in the Mount Baker Wilderness with friend Dean and his good dog, The Dude. Ruth came once! The first hike
was in February, which is downright bizarre, but there was just no snow last
winter. The lack of snowpack was unreal. Railroad Grade is an access
point to climbing Mount Baker, and usually doesn’t turn snow-free until summer.
We also hiked Railroad Grade a few months later, and there must have been 150 people trying
to summit Baker that day from the south. Always a good day on the trail with Dean, Ruth, and their dog, the Dude.
Railroad Grade, Mt. Baker Wilderness, in February 2015
Railroad Grade in June 2015
Mount Baker summit, viewed from Railroad Grade
Early in the year, several good friends decided to run the Seven
Lakes Basin loop over in the Olympics by the Sol Duc hotsprings. I bagged on the loop, which was a total mistake,
as there was an 18 mile loop I know I could’ve managed in retrospect. Still, lemons to lemonade: after camping
out the night with BJ, Mike, Rich, Dan, Justin and dogs, I headed over to the Elwha Valley to see the
recently breached dam. The breach of the Elwha Dam is a big deal for the Olympic N.P. They have been talking about doing this for 20 years, and conservation finally won out. The valley which was formerly a lake is now a recovering greenspace. I understand the salmon are already coming back. 100 pound Kings used to swim the Elwha, like the Kenai in Alaska. I hiked the trail into this valley, through a
sea of stumps and grass type plants. Below, you can see the breached dam.
Breached Elwha Dam, from the drained basin
The Easy Pass to Thunder Creek journey is a favorite North Cascades run of
mine.
This year, I did it for my fifth time, as my second Ultrapedestrian Wilderness Challenge. The trail cuts through the heart of the
North Cascades, through high alpine to river valley. The Fisher Creek valley below Easy Pass is one of my favorite places. I even met a few new friends by doing this as a Challenge, and hope to see them on the trail again this year. Scored some miles for
WTA's Hike-A-Thon here too: 24, by my count. Notable: some excellent
improvements to the trail, with new bridges over some previously sketchy creek
crossings.
Easy Pass, right before a 20 mile descent
through Fisher Creek and Thunder Creek valleys
Hoary Marmot, Fisher Creek Valley resident
I made it back once again to my favorite 50k. 12th time now. My time was slower than ever, but that didn’t
matter much. It was a terrific day on the trail, with the reflection of Mount Baker
on the lake, shining like a mirror in a Disney film. Friend Stan asked my wife
after the event, “What’s with the stick?” as I used a hiking stick all the way.
It helps. Good memory of the
encouragement from Tim at the half-way mark, and chatting afterwards with him,
John, Kevin and a few other good friends. I like it quiet on the trail but I
like to share about the experience afterwards. And the good finish line eats.
Mount Baker, reflected in Baker Lake, from Baker Lake trail
The Suiattle River area has been difficult to access for
over a decade, due to road washouts. With the road recently fixed, I had to get
a day in over there in the Glacier Park Wilderness. I chose to go to Green
Mountain Lookout in the fall, which has been the subject of some controversy in
the last few years. Its an interesting story that would make a good article, as
a wilderness conservation non-profit challenged in federal court the U.S.
Government’s use of helicopters to fly in materials to repair the lookout. As I
recall, the group won in court, despite an outcry against their legal action,
and then special legislation was passed in Congress. Anyway, it’s a very reasonable hike that
keeps getting higher and higher, until you’re at the Lookout, perched on
something akin to the cliffs of Mordor.
The slopes below were full of red and green, declaring the fall season.
Hidden Peak Lookout in Glacier Peak Wilderness
Before we reached the Redwoods, we spent a few days on the
Oregon Coast. This deserves a highlight of its own, and you know what I mean if
you spent any time there.
One night in
Lincoln City to spread the ashes of a friend.
Another night in Coos Bay, which always makes me think of Steve
Prefontaine.
In between, the beach, the
winding road, and views of haystacks and rolling surf, curve after curve.
I also tried the “world’s best clam chowder”
in a few different places. On the way back, we cut over to Ashland and checked out the renowned
Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Sunset at Lincoln City, Oregon
I’ve been to Orcas Island in the San Juan Islands many, many
times in my life. I’ve ran my share of Orcas 50ks and know Moran State Park
pretty well. I camped in the bunkhouse
for my first time when I was 13 years old. Even my Dad knows the island—he
likes to tell me the story of how he caught a big fish Camp Orkila, which had
to be in the 1940s. Over the last few years, I have been hearing about
Turtleback Mountain, which is on the ferry dock landing side of the island. I
finally hiked and ran this wonderful flip side to the island, and It Was Good.
View from Turtleback Mountain (Waldron Island, San Juan Island)
Other than these highlights, my training lagged. I wasn’t a regular runner, but I stayed somewhat active. I managed a trip to
Washington D.C., National Harbor, and Virginia, where I saw the folks, attended a conference, and came back from the Nationals game via a Potomac River boat. Lots of baseball this year: two Nationals games, a Yankees game in
the Bronx, a few Ms games in Seattle, and an Everett Aquasox game. What can I say?--I like baseball.
Nationals Stadium
Concerts were incredible too this year, including right up front
for a Mad Season/Temple of the Dog reunion show at Benaroya Hall, opening night for
Sleater-Kinney’s reunion at the Showbox, and Pearl Jam in Central Park, along with other huge acts. We also made it to the Fifth Avenue Theater for the Sound of Music and the Seattle Opera a few times.
Temple of the Dog reunion, Benaroya Hall
(Pictured, left to right:
Mike McCready, Jeff Ament, Chris Cornell, Stone Gossard)
And then there’s the family events—weddings, get-togethers—a good year on this front, all around. So much more to say there, but I'll leave it be, except to say that this is wonderful. This past year I was also inspired by so many amazing accomplishments of friends. Really amazing. I am very fortunate for all the people in my life.
So here I am on the edge of 2016. Metaphorically, I don't know if I'm looking up the hill or down the hill, but I expect good things are coming.
