9/15/2025 M – Start of 7,388-mile trip to Portland OR and West Coast. Drove 500 miles to Kingdom City MO, parked behind a motel to sleep.
9/16 Tu – Drove 12 hours (750mi) to Dearfield Black Community, a proposed NHS, east of Greely CO. Photos around 7pm, with a storm on the way.
Dearfield was an African-American Agricultural Colony started by Oliver Toussaint Jackson in 1909. By 1920, Dearfield had over 200 residents. There are three remaining buildings: a gas station diner and what is left of Jackson’s home. After the “Dust Bowl” (1940), only 12 people remained.
NPS and CO state grants are being used to stabilize the site.
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Monument was donated by the Anadarko Petroleum Corp and the Greely Monument Works in 2010.
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The storm hit around 9pm, just as I was starting my drive into the Rocky Mountains on I-70. It was now dark. The rain and wind became more intense; then it started to sleet and then snow as the temperature dropped to 34 degrees. The road was under major construction with many barrels and changes of lanes. Some semitrailer trucks were moving slowly up the mountain essentially blocking the right lane, while others were going the speed limit and throwing up spray that I could not see through. The conditions were horrible, totally unsafe, when I pulled off into the Grizzly Creek Rest Area for the night. This drive ranks in the top ten of the most difficult/dangerous drives I have done!
9/17 W – started driving early and was at the BLM Grand Junction Field Office at 8am when it opened. I was able to get better maps and travel guides for the two National Conservation Areas (NCAs) I visited on this day. The first was the Dominguez-Escalante NCA only 25 miles south of Grand Junction CO.
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I started my hike into the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness (and NCA) at Bridgeport on the Gunnison River.
The first part of the trail followed the east side of railroad tracks to two bridges crossing the river.
The first (old) bridge was closed. So, I crossed the Gunnison River on the second (new) one.
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Looking back at the old bridge –
I passed an old mine – note the sluice trough.
And then came to the gate into the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness.
I hiked around Triangle Mesa toward Big Dominguez Creek.
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However, after hiking about 3-miles, I had not got to the creek. So, I decided to return to Bridgeport.
Union Pacific railroad train moving through canyon; the North Branch of the Old Spanish Trail passes through the eastern part of the NCA.
It took about an hour to drive SE to Delta CO and then on to Austin where I then drove S on Peach Valley Rd into Gunnison Gorge NCA and Wilderness.
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Ute Rd is a 4WD Track that ends at a lookout in the Gunnison Gorge Wilderness
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Descending back into the Gunnison Gorge NCA
Sidewinder Trail through the NCA
Back at Peach Valley Rd
OHV Play Area
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I stopped at a Toyota dealer in Delta CO because the Sequoia had an unusual sound that had been increasing since I left OH. Manager test drove it and said I probably needed one or two new front wheel bearings, but he was booked for a week. He gave me the names of three repair shops in Grand Junction where I was staying that night. I immediately called the first on the list and was told to bring my SUV in at 8am the next morning. I stayed the night in a Super 8 motel.
9/18 Th – I had the Sequoia at Shrums Auto Repair at 8am. The head mechanic and manager both test drove the SUV and stated that the sound was likely one or both front wheel bearings. I said to go ahead with the repair and walked downtown to tour and have lunch. I really liked Grand Junction and thought that I might like living there.
When I returned to the repair shop, the front wheel bearings had been replaced, but the mechanic and manager said the noise was still there! They proceeded to look at other possibilities and even put a sound system under the vehicle at each wheel to record sounds while driving to try to find the problem – no luck! They were dumbfounded and said that the only thing they could come up with was a gear box problem, which they could not look into for two days! We agreed that I should take the vehicle and drive it until the sound was worse and then have it evaluated again. That put me at risk for getting stuck somewhere, perhaps with no cell phone service, but I felt I had to do it to maintain my schedule.
So, I got on I70 at 4pm and started driving West. It took me 5.5 hours to get to Leeds UT, where I slept in the SUV.
9/19 F – Up early and drove into the Red Cliffs NCA at daybreak. It is a large area (45,000 acres) in SW Utah, just N of St George.
I-15 and the Red Cliffs
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints “called” Orson and Susann Adams and 41 others to move to this area in 1862. There family lived in this house from 1864 to 1892.
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My first hike was 0.5 miles on the Anasazi Trail to an Archeological Site that was the home to Puebloan farmers. I am lower right in photo.
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I then took the Mano and Red Reef East Trails about a half mile to a Dinosaur Track Area
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That was followed by a short hike on the Red Reef Trail that follows Quail Creek.
McMullin House in Red Cliffs Recreation Area – Williard C. McMullin, a stone mason from Maine, built several stone houses in the area, including the Adams House.
After leaving the NCA, I drove to the Bureau of Land Management (including BLM) adjacent to the St George airport to collect information on both the Red Cliffs and the Beaver Dam Wash NCAs. I needed the latter to decide on my route to and through Beaver Dam Wash NCA, which is located about 12 miles west of St George.
Old Highway 91, which passes through Beaver Dam Wash NCA, was the route of the Old Spanish Trail, a National Historic Trail (NHT).
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Entering Beaver Dam Wash NCA. Congress designated these 63,645 acres in the SW corner of UT a NCA in 2009 – storm ahead
Watch out for Desert Tortoises
Early Explorers
Joshua Tree National Natural Landmark is within the NCA
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I drove toward the Woodbury Road Climbing Area
And then exited the NCA through the Woodbury Study Area into AZ
Drove 325-miles through Las Vegas and Death Valley NP to Lone Pine CA and the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area (BLM). I stopped at the painted “Monkey Head” on Whitney Portal Road just west of Lone Pine. The first pic is from 1992 with Manuel, our exchange student from the Canary Islands (Spain), on the monkey’s head and Chad leaning on his nose. The second photo is what it looks like today.
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This was my fifth time in this area. The first four were related to climbing Mt Whitney (14,505ft), the highpoint of CA and the highpoint of the 48 contiguous states.
The sun had just set over the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but I was still able to drive Movie Road and had enough light to briefly explore Lone Ranger Canyon. There have been over 400 movies filmed here, primarily “Cowboy Flics.”
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I had to be careful not to trip on the 0.6-mile Arch Loop Trail to Mobius Arch – it was dark by the time I got back to the SUV. I used the light on my cell phone to finish the trail. The photos are deceptive because the camera adjusted for the lack of light.
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It was then a one-hour drive to Bishop CA and the Liars Club Social at the Whiskey Creek Restaurant. Afterward, I signed into the Best Western Lodge for the Highpointers Club Konvention.
9/21 Sun – I was up early to drive to the Mammoth Mountain Ski Lodge to catch the 9am Shuttle Bus into Devils Postpile NM. The road into the monument was closed due to construction but buses were running on the weekends.
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I was here in 1967 with my friend Jay, but I did not have any written or photo evidence that I had been here – hence the reason for my visit today.
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My first hike was about 1.5-miles from the Ranger Station to the intersection of the John Muir and Pacific Crest Trails and back – a Two for One!
Middle Fork of the San Joaquin River
I then hiked the Devils Postpile loop Trail, about one mile. It goes up over the top and then back to the Ranger Station. As basalt lava erupts and cools, it shrinks and then cracks. Sometimes it will form vertical columns with three to seven sides.
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The 60-foot wall was exposed during the last glaciation.
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After exiting the bus at the Lodge, it took me 45 minutes, with a descent of 2,600ft, to get to the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area Visitor Center (USFS), just east of Yosemite NP.
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Toured the Visitor Center and had a nice conversation with the ranger. He said that he normally worked as one of the Climbing Rangers in Yosemite NP.
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There is a good view of Mono Lake and Black Point from the Visitor Center.
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I then drove a short distance to Navy Beach and the South Tufa Area.
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Tufas are produced as underground springs mix with the carbonate in the lake water to produce calcium carbonate.
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Chad (15) and I visited here during our 1998 “bonding” trip. Mono Lake has receded significantly in the last 27 years!
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I next drove two hours north to Carson City NV and had dinner in a small strip mall at the Hot Potato Pie fast food restaurant. I was told that this was the first in the country and they were about to open a second in Carson City. You order a giant potato and can choose from a multitude of toppings. Like ordering a pizza but with a much greater variety of toppings. I predict this is going to become a national chain!
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I slept in the Sequoia behind a motel.
9/22 M – My first stop was the Carson City District Office of the BLM. I spoke with at least three employees asking about two new BLM National Conservation Areas (NCAs) outside of Carson City. I collected information and purchased a BLM map for Walker Lake (2006), which shows the location of Black Mountain. A BLM employee drew the location of the Pistone-Black Mountain NCA on this map. I was also given written directions to find the 4WD route to Black Mountain (3,941ft).
I drove past the Walker Lake Recreation Area and an old homestead along the East Walker River.
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I continued for another half hour until I realized I was going south – the wrong direction! I turned around and headed back. When I got back to the Recreation Area, I stopped a state pickup truck going the other way to ask directions. That is how I met Ryan, the only person I saw for the four hours it took me to get to Black Mountain and then back to a NV state highway. He put an app on my phone that allowed me to track my location. I was now on my way to Black Mountain.
I passed a fenced area that looked like it contained a solar powered weather station.
The track started to gain elevation along a power/telephone? line.
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I got to a point where the Sequoia 4WD would not take me further up the mountain. So, I hiked over the hump you see in this photo.
On the other side I found a fenced structure that looked like it may have been a covering for a mine entrance, in middle of first photo.
This is a magnification of the above photo –
Looking at my phone, it appeared I was in the Pistone-Black Mountain NCA. So, I slowly backed down the track until I found a spot to turn around. I then proceeded down the steepest sections in my lowest gear.
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Heading back to civilization –
I took these photos of migrant workers outside of Yearington NV. They were starting to harvest a field of red onions. Another group was working back toward them from the opposite side of the field.
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My next task was to get to the Numanaa Nobe NCA before dark. There is one part of the NCA that has easy access off of Rt-50 east of Fallon NV – the Grimes Point Archeological Area. The majority acreage of the NCA is NE of this location.
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There are about 150 Basalt boulders with more than 1,000 petroglyphs in the area.
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“Some petroglyphs show animals and humans, others form unique designs with lines. Visitors can also find petroglyphs in the “pit and grove” style, featuring groups of circular pits and long, narrow grooves. This technique is the oldest known style of rock art.”
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I did the 0.5-mile Petroglyph Trail.
Some of the petroglyphs here may be related to the ritual practices of the tribe’s shaman.
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It was dark by the time I made it back to the SUV.
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I drove to Fallon and checked into a Motel 6 and then went out to fill the gas tank and get dinner. I got out my phone and put the location of a Maverick gas station on Google Maps and pulled out onto Rt-95 headed north. I looked at my phone, and it had gone dark. I did not want to adjust it while driving and there was no road shoulder. So, I pulled off onto a dark side street to get it working. Within one minute there was a police car with flashing lights behind me and a voice yelling at me to pull ahead. Had I done that, I would have had an accident with another car that was going by. The loud voice yelled at me again to pull ahead. I did so and got to a small parking lot in front of a business. The policeman pulled directly behind me so I could not move. He asked for my license and registration. I asked why he had stopped me. He stated I was blocking a crosswalk. I said there was no one there and explained that I was in a safe position to adjust my phone. He was young, overweight, obnoxious, and rude. It was clear I was going to get a citation, no matter what! He wrote me a $90 ticket, and stated I could come back from OH and argue my case to the magistrate! This was not a good way to end a long day.
9/23 Tu – coffee and donuts from a gas station, then a four-hour drive to Gerlach in the NW corner of NV.
Read the Gerlach sign –
Map showing a small southern part of the Black Rock Desert – High Rok Canyon Emigrant Trails NCA
The Black Rock Station, BLM Visitor Center, was not open due to the government shutdown. However the signage and information were good.
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Rt-34, starting into the NCA.
Map showing the route I took, first on Rt-34, then Rt-200, then onto the Playa at the Cassily Mine Campground, and finally my exit at the 12 Mile Playa Access.
Truck driving on Playa, notice the dust trail –
Right turn onto Rt-200
According to Wikipedia: “Burning Man is a week-long large-scale desert event focused on “community, art, self-expression, and self-reliance” held annually in the Western United States.” It started in 1986 at Baker Beach in San Francisco and moved to the Black Rock Desert in 1990. It has a tumultuous history. A symbolic man is created and burned symbolically at the end of the event. The event usually occurs around Labor Day. I met the fellow in the next photo who explained how he had worked at the event but quit because of a conflict with his boss. He cautioned me not to drive into the designated Burning Man “Black Rock City.” He said the workers, who live there year-round, do not like others entering the area. The event had a crowd of 74,126 in 2023. Several people have died in relation to this event.
Getting ready to drive onto the Playa –
I drove 7-8 miles on the Playa and exited at the 12-Mile Playa Access. I only saw a fraction of this NCA and would like to spend more time here.
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I returned to Gerlach and drove Rt-34 NW to Vya and then took CA 8-A into the “Surprise Valley” of NE CA on the Barrel Springs Back Country Byway.
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This “cowboy” invited me to go for a ride with him in Surprise Valley. However, I was trying to get to Portland OR before midnight. As it turned out, I should have taken advantage of this opportunity.
I stopped at the BLM office in Cedarville CA but it was closed. I saw a sign for the USDA Modoc National Forest Warner Mountain Ranger District and followed the arrow to the office. The people there were very helpful and gave me a Modoc Country Map that was useful in following backcountry roads to Medicine Lake, which is in the new Sattitla Highlands National Monument (USFS). Sattitla means “obsidian place” in the Achomawi language. President Joe Biden established the monument by proclamation under the Antiquities Act on January 14, 2025. President Trump was sworn into office on January 20, 2025.
I took Rt-299 W through Alturas to Canby CA, then Rt-139 N to Tionesta, then Forest Service road FS-97 to the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway, then 2.6mi N on the Byway to Medicine Lake. It took a good deal of time to figure this out using at least three maps with varying route numbers.
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It is a beautiful lake with a number of camping areas. I happened upon a Buddhist group that was praying for World Peace.
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The Monk was giving individual blessings, and they were enjoying tea and symbolic snacks.
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After receiving my blessing, they welcomed me and asked me to stay and become a part of their community. So, I texted Helen and told her I had joined the group and would not be going home.
But alas, I was overcome by remorse and continued my route through the NM stopping in the Glass Flow Geological Area. It is difficult to take good pictures into the sun.
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I continued on the Byway (Rt-47) through the north part of the Sattitla NM to and into Lava Beds NM. Note the damage from a Forst Fire earlier in the year.
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To the south entrance of Lava Beds NM.
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The road surface improved and I stopped at the Visitor Center, which was not open.
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Helen and I explored this NM in 2007 and did hikes into five Lava Caves along the Cave Loop Road.
The Mushpot Cave was the only one with lights.
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In the others, we used lanterns. Note the lantern in Helen’s left hand.
Photo of the Fleener Chimneys 2007
We also hiked the 1.5-mile Captain Jack Stronghold Trail. Photo of the Medicine Pole.
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On this trip, I stopped at the Devils Homestead Lava Flow
And then drove to the Petroglyph Point Trail Section
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Tule Lake NM, which was a Japanese internment camp during WW II, was only three miles away. I visited here in May 2018 and posted several photos on our Blog. However, there are no photos of me. Hence, this photo to document that I DID visit this NM Unit!
There was no Visitor Center here in 2018. You can now see one in this photo.
I called Helen in Portland and said I could make it there about 12:30am. She said, go somewhere else, because we do not want you to wake us up or upset the dogs? I said, does that mean you want me to sleep in the SUV again with my pee bottle? She said, yes – what the heck! So, I drove to Crater Lake NP (took about 2-hours) to sleep in the Sequoia with my pee bottle.
Crater Lake NP is a great place for Sky Gazing, and it was a crisp cold night.
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I also treated myself to Mushrooms Bruschetta plus a Manhattan and relaxed in front of the fireplace in the Crater Lake Lodge!
My first visit to this NP was in 1967 with my friend Jay. We were on a 10K mile trip through the U.S. and Canada.
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Helen and I visited in 2007 – photo from the Watchman Overlook
The Garfield Peak Trail is 1.8-miles one-way with a 1,000ft gain.
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Just the Facts:
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Mount Mazama
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2005 OR State Quarter
9/24 W – Arrived in Portland for lunch and a five-day visit with Kate.
9/25 Th – Left after lunch for a 2.5-day excursion. Our first stop was the Kurt Cobain “under the bridge” memorial in Aberdeen WA.
Kurt grew up here and spent some time under this bridge. His song “Something in the Way” recalls his experience under his bridge.
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He shot himself in 1994 (27-years-old) after struggling with addiction. Signs in front of the house next to the memorial.
We made a quick stop in the Quinault Rain Forest of Olympic NP. The following descriptions and photos follow a counterclockwise drive in and around the park starting within the Quinault Rain Forest (S) and progressing to Hurricane Ridge (N).
Then proceeded to this sign near South Beach
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Olympic NP has three major Ecological Regions. I will have photos related to each one.
Our next stop was the Kalaloch Lodge, which is in the park and on the Pacific Ocean. Our cabin overlooked the beach (#23). We decided to take a sunset stroll before dinner at the Lodge.
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9/26 F – 7am breakfast at the Creekside Restaurant in the Kalaloch Lodge
We were at the Hoh Rain Forest Visitor Center at 9am when it opened.
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Gauging rain by month in the Hoh Rain Forest. Rain totals 140-167 inches per year!
Slugs
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Our first hike was the Hall of Mosses Trail, 0.8-mile.
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Then the 1.2-mile Spruce Trail
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“Nurse Log”
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Followed by 0.5-mile walk on the Hoh River Trail
We have visited Olympic NP at least seven times. I will be adding photos to this Blog post from previous visits. I will include the year of the photo(s). These were taken in 1969 – my mother Cecile on the Hall of Mosses Trail.
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My Mom and brothers Pat and Mike on the Spruce Trail
1.5hrs (47mi) from the Hoh Rain Forest to the Quileute Indian Reservation in La Push. The two photos are from 2005. Note Helen at bottom of totem pole.
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I have photos from three hikes along the coast in 1969. The first hike was a three-leg 9-mile hike that started from the Ozette Lake campground and went 3-miles to the ocean at Cape Alva. The second leg was a three-mile hike on the beach and over rocks to Sand Point, and the third was a 3-mile hike back to our campsite.
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Petroglyphs
The second hike was three miles round trip (rt) to 3rd Beach south of La Push
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The third hike was to 2nd Beach (2-miles rt) with my mother, brothers Mike and Pat, and Helen
Mike and Pat holding piece of kelp
2nd Beach
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Tidal Zone – Helen’s foot
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We returned to 2nd Beach on this trip (2025) with Kate, because it was our favorite.
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Arch close-up
Jellyfish
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Storm debris
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Return to Kate’s car. Sequoia was in the shop in Portland for a left rear seal leak, which required new axle shaft, seal, and complete wheel brake system. The same repair was done in LA two years previously, but it failed due to poor workmanship.
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Stopped in Forks for an ice cream. It is the setting for the popular vampire series “Twilight.”
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In 1969, Helen and I drove to Sol Duc for a backpacking trip with the hope of climbing Mt Olympus (7,980ft), the highpoint of Olympic NP. The Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort was not open that year, but it is open now. We started our backpack toward the mountain not knowing what to expect.
I asked Helen to stop for a photo – she was not too excited about that!
In the end, the snow was too deep and we aborted our mission. On the way back we came across a newly born fawn. We DID NOT touch it because then the mother would abandon the child.
Grown deer –
Lake Crescent is located in the N of the park. H & T had a beautiful tent campsite there in 1969. Storm King Mountain (4,534ft) is located just east of the lake, this photo is from 2025.
The Trail to Storm King Mountain and Marymere Falls begin near the Lake Crescent Lodge. This is another “Forest” area in the park.
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In 1967, Jay and I climbed Storm King Mountain. I took this photo on the way down. Sailboat on Lake Crescent.
I have hiked the 1-mile rt trail to Marymere Falls three times. The first was with Jay in 1967. The second was with my brothers Mike and Pat in 1969. This is a photo of Mike – “The Thinker.”
The third was this year (2025) with Kate.
Crossing Barnes Creek –
Lower view of Marymere Falls –
Upper view of Marymere Falls –
Returning to car –
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Hurricane Ridge was clouded in on this trip. However, Helen and I had a good day when we traveled there from Seatle on 6/1/1969.
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We loved our VW “Beatle.”
We took a couple of hikes along the ridge. Mt Olympus is to the right in this photo.
Wildflowers had just started blooming –
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Olympic NP mountains were usually visible from Seatle – they beckon you to visit! We took advantage of this beautiful day to do exactly that! Checking trails –
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Vancouver Island Canada is on the other side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
By the time we got to Port Angeles it was dark. We continued driving around Puget Sound to Kent WA where we stayed in a Best Western motel.
9/27 Sat – Ron and Pat met us at the motel for breakfast.
Afterward, we drove 3hrs to the Paradise Henry M. Jackson Memorial Vis Ctr in Mount Rainier NP.
Mount Rainier from airplane August 2025 –
Top of the mountain from plane in 2005 –
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I saw Mount Rainier (Mt Tahoma) for the first time in 1967 when Jay and I tried to climb it. We needed a permit and met with the climbing rangers to get one. However, they would not give us one because we did not have climbing experience on glaciers.
Marmot
We did climb 4,639ft and more than 9-miles to Camp Muir, which is located at 10,000ft
Mount St Helens from Camp Muir – before it erupted!
In 1969, Helen and I invited our Canadian friends George and Linda to climb Mount Rainier with us.
Mt Rainier from the West –
We would all climb to Camp Muir and then George and I would summit early the next morning, while the ice was still stable.
The Skyline Trail –
Backpacking up the Muir Snowfield –
Camp Muir
Our tent, note the stove and cook pots –
Mt Adams left, Mt Hood center, Mt St Helens right
After having a problem with altitude sickness, George and I decided not to attempt the summit. We packed up after a light breakfast and headed down the mountain. This photo shows us descending through “sun cups” with Mt Adams in the background.
Back on the Skyline Trail with Mt St Helens in the background –
Helen and I visited the NP several times 1968-69. In the Fall of 1968, we drove to the Sunrise Visitor Center on the East side of the mountain.
Note the Emmons Glacier on the left of Steamboat Prow. It is the largest glacier in the lower 48 states and provides another route for climbing the mountain.
Starting our 7-mile rt hike.
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We hiked the Wonderland Trail to a point overlooking the Winthrop Glacier. The photos follow the glacier from its origin to its terminal moraine.
Note Crevasses
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Toe of the Winthrop Glacier, moraine, and Mystic Lake
We met Bob and Sue from New Zealand on this hike; they became our lifelong friends. They were living in Tacoma at that time but then moved to an apartment complex on Mercer Island, right next to ours! Bob was a doctor on a grant at the U of W. He specialized in the cause and treatment of pain and was also a spelunker (explores caves). Here is a photo of my favorite mountain from the U of Washington.
My birthday cake – June 1969
In July 1969, Bob and I went on an adventure to explore the ice caves in the Paradise Glacier on Mount Rainier.
Bob
These caves have collapsed because of global warming.
The color of ice – with light filtering through
In August 1969, I took my mother and brothers Pat and Mike to the Visitor Center and Paradise Inn.
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On July 12, 1991, I arrived in Kennewick WA to visit Stacy. She had a Paper Science and Engineering Internship at a Boise Cascade White Paper Division Plant. The next day she picked up Ken and James, and they followed me to the White River Campground on the east side of Mount Rainer.
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Early the next morning, we drove to Sunrise for the sunrise. It was beautiful!
We then went back to the campsite and hiked to the Glacier Basin Overlook.
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Afterward, we drove around the SE corner of the NP –
to the Paradise Visitor Center, where we took a walk on a snowfield.
Stacy, Ken, and James returned to Kennewick WA, and I slept in the van.
The next morning, I signed in with Rainier Mountain Guides, met my tent mates Steve and Peter, and started up the Muir Snowfield in a heavy mist and rain carrying a 50-pound backpack. I was on a five-day glacier climbing seminar.
We set up camp at 9,700ft, just below Camp Muir. I hiked up to take these photos.
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Nisqually Glacier
The next morning, we had ice axe, crampon, and basic rope practice and then trekked across the Nisqually and Wilson Glaciers to our next camp.
We had to find a way through the crevase fields.
Camp 2, 9,000ft – Peter, Steve, Tom and gear had to fit into one of these VE25 North Face tents.
About an inch of snow fell overnight. In the morning, we had more crampon, rope, and crevasse rescue practice. At 11am, we started a strenuous climb up the Kautz Glacier. Camp 3 was on a rocky outcrop at 11,200ft.
We were up at 2am to prepare for the push to the summit. We left camp at 4:15am with headlamps to light the way. The guides placed fixed ropes on a steep slope next to the icefall, and that is where the steepest climb began. Photo taken day before.
Reached the summit, Columbia Crest 14,410ft, of Mount Rainier at 9am on July 18, 1991. I had a teammate take the obligatory summit photo.
We then found and signed the summit register; tentmates Peter and Steve.
Descending from the summit crest – Mt Adams in background
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Dropping down onto the Kautz Glacier
Passing icefall on the way down to Camp 3
We had a rest stop and packed up our gear at Camp 3.
We then descended 3,000ft down the steep slope of the Kautz Glacier. The top was slushy because of the sun with ice underneath. Everyone fell at least once and used the ice axe self-arrest to stop. Photo of rest stop; notice, we are all tied into the rope for safety.
I was able to get this photo lower on the glacier.
Camp 4 –
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Photos taken on the descent to Paradise
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In 2005, Helen and I made a visit to the east side of Mt Rainier. These photos were taken near Chinook Pass, when we did the 3.5-mile Naches Peak Loop Trail. The first is a popular view of Mount Rainier from Tipsoo Lake. I have seen it on several Calendars.
The Pacific Crest Trail crosses this bridge over Rt-410, the Mather Memorial Parkway.
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In 2025, we visited the south end of the park with Kate.
Leaving from the Visitor Center, we hiked the Skyline Trail to the Glacier Vista at 6,336ft, a gain in elevation of almost one thousand feet.
The Tatoosh Range to the South
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Mount Rainier covered with a lenticular cloud, indicating high winds at the top of the mountain. It is recommended that you not climb into such a cloud.
These photos were taken on the way down
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We then did the 1-mile rt Myrtle Falls Trail.
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After stopping at the Henry M. Jackson Memorial Visitor Center for an ice cream, we had a 3-hour ride back to Portland where I picked up our Sequoia – with the left rear axle, seal, and brake repaired. I was fortunate to get it fixed without having to change our itinerary. Kate went to pick up Benne and Greta and we met at her home for dinner.
9/28 Su – after mass at the Chapel of Mary at the Grotto, we went to the Javi restaurant for breakfast.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing and packing for our circuitous trip back to OH.
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