Artist Point snow camping

Mt. Baker, Glacier, WA.  February 4 and 5, 2012.  

'the' stairs

the 'Eastlake' stairs.  My workout buddy.  The stairs are divided into two sections intersected by Broadway East.  The pictures show the view from the top, middle, and bottom (in that order).  I love these stairs.  I hate these stairs.  I think there are 282 total steps.  I registered to participate in the 'Big Climb' fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society- in part to motivate me to run stairs more consistently than I currently do.  And because it seems like a lot of fun.   The event will be held at the Columbia Tower in Seattle, WA on Sunday, March 25.  788 feet of vertical gain with 69 flights of stairs and 1,311 steps. 

Mt. Teneriffe

New favorite I-90 hike!  Close to the Mt. Si trailhead.  Cal, KG, Leigh, me.  Snow + biting cold at the top.  Steep.  Dramatic drop-off from the summit.  Mixed trail; forest walking, ridge climbing, rock scrambling, scree stumbling, kick stepping.  Exceptionally fun day.   30-35 pounds in pack.  First official training hike for the 2012 season.  Felt ok - was tired and mentally whining with about 700/1,000 ft to go.  Teneriffe falls pictured below, 1 mile from the trailhead.

North Pole, Alaska

University of Alaska Fairbanks

Snowing.  Heavy cloud cover today. 2:30 PM.  Chilly.

Chena Hot Springs. Fairbanks, Alaska

En route.  Sunrise, 10:30 AM.  Mile 50 on Chena Hot Springs highway.  -23 degrees fahrenheit! - see the frost on my hair in the picture below.

In the outdoor geothermal natural rock bed.  Scent of sulphur, exposed hairs quickly frozen.

Miscellaneous shots from the resort grounds.

Granite Mountain

Kirsten and I headed out early this morning for a hike up Granite (exit 47 off I-90).  We turned back at about 4,400 feet because of low visibility and wind/ice.  Plus, we weren't exactly sure where we were going and didn't have enough warm gear with us to feel comfortable navigating the unknown.   Winter has arrived in the mountains!