Mount Si

For my first major hike in Washington I chose this formidable piece of rock that juts up nearly 4,000 feet out of the Snoqualmie basin. It's the first true head turner as you drive East along the I-90 out of Seattle. As the guide book says, "if it were anywhere else in the U.S. it would be a national monument". The hike itself gains about 3,200 feet in just four miles to the summit. 90% of it meanders through giant pines impacting on the view factor unfortunately. However the views from up top are well worth the wait.
I've been running quite a bit lately in an attempt to get back into some sort of shape. It had been over four years since I last hiked a big mountain and I didn't do too bad all things considered. Although I couldn't believe how tired I was the last mile or so. The guide book says to allow 8 hours and I managed it in 5, there and back - not bad. Mount Si is not so much a mountain but rather a giant wall where at the top, the wilderness truly begins. From the top the snowcapped, glaciated volcano, Mt. Rainier is clearly visible to the south and to the west, downtown Seattle can be spotted over 30 miles away. After sharing lunch with an uninvited guest (to the right) I took off for the rather long knee-popping hike back down.

Recap of trips since our arrival in Washington

Tiger Mountain - 28th July 2005

A quick afternoon's excursion found us deep in forest switching back on trails heading up one side of Tiger Mountain. We were amazed at the girls endurance as Aislinn lead the way and Muirenn quickly followed (after my convincing her that Black bears were only the size of your average golden retriever - which they are.... as baby's!) We didn't reach the top that day, but we know our little one's have the strength in their legs to do it another time.

Denny Creek 'Slippery Slab' - 20th July 2oo5

We took the girls up to the very popular 'Slippery Slab' area of the Denny Creek trail at the base of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. A mile or more's trail working its way through giant lush forest leads us to a series of creeks and eventually finds a wooden bridge where the slipperiest slabs are based. Before you could say "where's the bug spray?" the girls were in their bathing gear and knee deep in ICE cold water, snow run off from the mountains above. These rocks were slippery. Slippery like wet ice and we all suffered from one bruise or another from falls on the rock. Including our camera. Killed on the slab of slippiness. The girls and I took off down the mini-waterfalls finding the odd place for a slide. Too many bugs, grazed knees and sore bums lead us away from the rocks and water sooner than we had hoped. We'll be back but only after the Health Insurance kicks in! By the way, if you're ever asked about insurance on a camera and you're not sure....


Killer Whales & San Juan Islands - 14th July 2005

We got up, showered, ate breakfast, packed up the car and the kids and hit the road. After a pit stop to the drive-thru Starbucks, a Latte for Shane, one Chai Tea Latte for me please, thank you! we hit the open road and drove right out of Seattle, heading north through Washington's beautiful landscape. An hour later we parked the car, hopped on the ferry and cruised over to the San Juan Islands. An hour and a half later we arrived at the Islands, climbed aboard a small charter boat and headed towards Canada. Another hour later we turned the engines off and sat in the middle of nowhere in the Pacific ocean and waited with bated breath. Then quietly, unsuspectingly, like a gift from some divine being a pod of 24 Orca whales appeared on the horizon. With two baby calf's in tow. They swam right toward us and circled the boat as if reading our minds and knowing what we wanted. They rolled, played, dived, stood up in the water and preformed for us. Their beauty was breathless, their grace moving, their quiet dignity compelling. The girls were moved beyond words. We sat there for 45 minutes with them. To see these magnificent creatures wild, free and in their natural environment was an experience never to forget. WOW!!!! What a day.

Lisa G Leinster


Tiger Mountain 'Trail around the lake' - July 2nd 2005


We packed some lunch and headed for the closest mountain range to Seattle, affectionately and locally referred to as, the 'Issaquah Alps'. The first of these moutains is Tiger Moutain containing a labyrinth of trails that intertwine between centuries old pine and cedar forests thick with lush green vegetation. I have yet to see hiking in trails in such good condition. Volunteers religiously work and maintain these trails. We wandered along the above mentioned trail about a mile before finding the most ideal location for a rest and a paddle. As I watched Muirenn and Aislinn play on the waters edge I said to Lisa, "Today is a dream come true".


Snoqualmie Falls - June 28th 2005

Our first excursion into the 'green state' lead us to one of Washington's most popular attractions. The 270 foot falls can be spotted in the opening credits of Twin Peaks. Driving the new Subaru, Shane got to do what he loves best while the girls caught up on their jet lag. We consumed lunch on the most pristine picnic table before taking the mile long hike down to the base of the falls. We hopped over the fence and scrambled over some rocks where we took some pictures, paddled in the water and basked in the warm sunshine. Unfortunately a large 'baffoon' erased the pictures from his new camera by accident. The hike back up was a bit of a struggle for our youngest team member but in no time we were cruising down the I-90 freeway, lemonades and Blended-Iced-Mocha-Frappucino's in hand.