Sunday, August 15, 2010

I Feel on Top of the World!

Another HOT summer day here in WA!  Don't think I'm complaining, I do really love it!  I just think I might be choosing the wrong activities to do on these hot days.  So with that being said I gathered up my crazy friend, Kali, and of course Jason and Coda, and we headed out for one heck of a climb.

Today we hiked to Mt. Pilchuk.  It's about a 6 mile roundtrip hike with an incredibly steep climb all the way up to the lookout at the top.  This lookout used to be an old fire lookout, but now serves as a viewing platform for people to see panoramic views of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Baker, the Olympics, Seattle and the San Juan Islands (just to name a few). 

As nice as the shadey parts were for keeping us a little cooler on the way up, they were less enjoyable because of the massive amount of BUGS!  So we seemed to push ourselves a little harder than we would just so we didn't have to stop and get eaten alive.  But as we hit the direct sunlight, we were welcomed with many gorgeous views (and a lot less bugs!) as we continued to make the climb to the top.

Looking back at the view on our way up

Taking a break with a VERY HOT doggie

Beginning to move out of the trees

Kali and Jason

The final part of the climb is a small "boulder scramble" to get to the lookout.  A little challenging with a dog, but we are lucky enough to be able to carry him.

Jason carrying Coda as he "scrambles" up the last part

The ladder is the last challenge into the lookout

Once at the top, the view seems to make everything we just went through totally WORTH IT!  We felt like we were on top of the world!  And we knew the trek down was going to be nothing after making that climb up!!

A view from the top of Mt. Pilchuk

AMAZING!

Kali and me out on one the edge of the rocks

Crazy how the trees just end!

The four of us outside of the lookout

Me and Jason out on the rock

A picture taken from the rock of us at the lookout

This lookout is held up with these lovely cables!

Although the hike up was hot, buggy and tiring...the view was absolutely worth it all!!! The only word I can think of to describe it is BREATHTAKING!


 

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