Hard Core Hikers

On Monday morning 8 PCT hikers left out from Trinity headed to Stehekin but first they had to get across Buck Creek Pass a 5900' pass to get to the PCT and back on course to make it to Canada, there was new snow down to about 5000' and they were hoping to make it there and headed down again before the day was over but they had to contend with the snow that had fallen and the clouds surrounding the mountains. It rained all day yesterday with the mountains only peeking out of the clouds for brief moments during the day. Yesterday afternoon while the rain had let up we went for a walk as the kids were getting restless and we came upon a couple of more hikers headed up to Buck Creek Pass but it was 4pm at that time. They had made the trip before but not with this much snow on the ground and more on the way with the snow level down to 4500' and then down to 3500' tonight and 3000' Thur which means all of the hikers will be doing most of their hiking in the snow, to me it didn't appear that they had the gear to get through much snow and the weather service shows that there is around 4-15 " at the elevations they are going to have to travel over. They are trying to beat the winter snows to Canada, this should be interesting for them this early in the year. We send them all Trinity vibes and best wishes for a safe journey to all of them on the trail.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

From Dry to Very Wet

As I have mentioned this past summer was a very dry summer and very dusty on the road to Trinity especially with all of the people that just like to drive around and make more dust, so we started getting light rains and snow in the upper elevations but couldn't see it Sat because clouds were very low and covering all of the mountains but Sunday got a glimpse of the snow on the mountains even heading south down the valley on either side but only the very top. We've gotten over 1.5" of rain since Sunday and we really needed it and looks like it will be here all week almost like Nov started out last year and we really could do without a repeat of that storm especially in Oct. The colors of the leaves are quickly changing from green to yellow and red it is quite spectacular to see. For all of those that have been waiting for the snow to arrive, it won't be long and you can get early views of it out here right now but bring a slicker as you might get wet, the nice thing today is there is no wind. I also want to apologize for not including photos with these little ditty's like I usually do and will upload them soon but due to technical difficulties like breaking my computer and having to put it in the shop 2 weeks ago and now just waiting for it to get fixed so at this time I can't add photos, I've taken quite a few I'd like to share with you. Think Snow!!!
We found out Paradise, hope you find your's too.

Real snow on the Mountains

This weekend we got some much needed rain and saw snow on the mountains down to about 5500' but most was above 6500'. Sat morning we saw a little snow on Chiwawa, Massie& Buck mountains but nothing else down the valley not on MT Maude or Carne of any of the others of the Chiwawa's it was like there was a line where it stopped. Sunday morning we woke up to very wet conditions and the clouds were basically sitting right at the tree line right out back and we couldn't see the mountains or the snow on them. Once or twice we got a glempse of little patches of snow but not much could be seen through the clouds/fog. I had seen 8 hikers on the road between Basalt campground & where the pavement stops when I was heading out to town, well yesterday evening one of the owners came and knocked at my door to let me know that we had 8 PCT hikers spending the night in the cabin. They had made it here and were heading up to Buck Creek Pass but turned back because of the snow that had fallen overnight, beside being very wet from the rain wasn't hard but lasted all day we got about .75" here and the temperature never got higher that 38 yesterday. It was the first time since I 've lived here that that many PCT hiker's have come through at one time or stayed overnight. They left this morning hoping to make it to the PCT this afternoon and over Buck Pass which is the highest point they will have to cross from now on. I wish them the best and safe and happy trails. I'm sure that we will be seeing more this week hurrying to finish and arrive safely in Canada before the snow sets in for winter.
Too all of my friends who have been waiting for the snow to arrive well it won't be long now, I'm going to be watching the clouds and mountains daily to see if we get more of it, or it disappears quickly. Get those skis and snowmobiles tuned up it's almost time, " LET IT SNOW".
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.

Cedar Street Block Party

This weekend Leavenworth was crowded with visitors because it was Autumn Leaf Festival with booths, art show games for kids and of course all of the stores enjoying the large group of visitors especially in the downtown area near the gazebo-- but a few blocks away on a usually quiet street there were barricades blocking the ends of Cedar Street for a couple of blocks and in the middle of that CLF Chumstick Liberation Front was set up getting ready to play for the crowd that had gathered. Aaron and friends & neighbors had gotten together and pulled off one of the best events I've attended in town with a few hundred neighbors and friends showing up from Leavenworth enjoying the food and drinks and getting to know new friends. Personally this is what I think of when I think of Leavenworth and would like to see it happen much more, it is a very close knit community which is why I like being a part of it even though I'm the furtherest Leavenworth resident well my mailbox is anyway. Many of the people that were there said they just happened upon it as it really wasn't advertised that I'm aware of Nat mentioned it to me at the grocery store as we were both getting ice cream, glad he did as I love live music and the venue was great, aeven the kids and dogs were welcome and no problems other than the music getting cut short because of sprinkles happening, even as the equipment was being pickled up an impromptu jam session with Sergio on accordion and Mike on drums along with several of us helping keep the beat, it was very enjoyable.
Before heading home for the evening we were making a pass through town just to see what was happening and to see if anymore live music was happening, well it was Paul Sweeny was playing at the Tumwater so I stopped in to see who was there, I only intended to stay long enough to drink a glass of tea, instead I ended up staying a couple of hours and several of us helped Paul sing the songs of our youth wasn't really planned but we just all jumped in right from our seats. Several of our friends wanted to see Peace & Bear so we went to take little walks with them , they don't meet strangers and everyone that meets them falls in love with both of them . Peace & Bear Love are both blessings to me, they have many aunt's & uncle's in town that like for them to come around and that makes my life much easier since they go everywhere I go, we are a family with very many extended members of that family that live in town. Life is great.
We found our Paradise, hope you find yours too.