Mount Baker- Chain Lakes

O Washington. You surprised me in the most wonderful way. I had no clue what I would find on Mt. Baker. After securing housing for the night(not easy outside of ski season) we made our way up the mountain to see what we might find. What we saw had us returning the next day. 

Chain Lakes trail is a beautiful 8 mile day hike. As it's name implies, you will see multiple lakes along the loop. 

Did I mention the trail is dog friendly?  This gorgeous golden retriever nearly gave me a heart attack when she bounded around the corner to greet us. 

This trail had everything I love in a hike. Diverse terrain and incredibly scenic. This trail can also be done as a backpacking trip. 

Mt Shasta Day 2

It's Peak Day!  Hurray! 

As much as I wanted to get a good night's rest for our 3AM wake-up call, I was too excited to sleep. It was probably a mix of elevation, adrenaline and fear. The ranger notified us that just a day prior a man had fallen to his death!  Mount Shasta is no joke!  

Around 4AM our group was ready and started following the trail of lights up towards the peak. 

How awesome to see the shadow pyramid!

June is the most popular time to climb Mt. Shasta. The weather is warmer and less prone to storms yet the snow is still firm enough to climb and hold weight. There were many climbing guides with groups of mostly men, some women, and even one or two kids (how badass)! The guides on Shasta are amazing!  Mountain people are the best! Helping each other out, encouraging one another and offering tips. My inexperience showed as I think I had to stop every 2 steps to catch my breath. 

Around 8:30AM we finally reached the top of the Red Banks!  Yep. It took me 4.5 hours to go maaaaybe a mile. Kingston was a gentleman and stuck by me the entire time! 

By Misery Hill I had major thoughts of quitting and heading back down. Our turn back time was 11AM and I was discouraged by how much time and effort it took to reach the top of the Red Banks. Instead I took it step by step. I chanted mantras to help with my breathing and I took my time. Before long, we reached the top of Misery Hill! 

The group in red greeted us at the top then pointed out the peak. Hallelujah!  Within reach!

The final stretch wasn't bad!  The switchbacks to the top were well carved by people who had come before us. 

And then finally...

WE MADE IT!!  The Summit Seven!  

At the top, another hiker pointed out that at this point we actually only made it HALF way!  We still had to get back down.

By 11AM the sun had melted the snow layer a bit and we started punching through every few steps. I was scared to glissade, but after watching a few people go before me I was prepared to slide down the mountain on my butt rather than hike down and risk punching through the snow and getting my body stuck. 

Best decision ever!  Not only did we speed down the mountain, but glissading is FUN!  It was like a mile long slide and I couldn't wait to do it again!  So once I reached the bottom, I headed right back up!!  JK!  

Once we reached base camp we packed up and headed back down to the car. I slept the entire drive home. 

Mt. Shasta via Avalanche Gulch Day 1

Holy Batman!!  My first 14er! Now how do I get back down from here?!?! 

Mount Shasta sits at 14,179 ft in Northern California, about 4 hours north of San Francisco. Our adventure started Friday night (June 12, 2015). We stayed at Mt. Shasta Inn to sleep and re-pack our backpacks. As my first mountaineering attempt, I had done a lot of online research about what to pack and what conditions to expect during our hike.

Saturday, we started the day at Fifth Season to rent our gear. This hike requires crampons, ice axe and mountaineering boots. Nothing feels more badass than carrying an ice axe!  After stocking up on some snacks and sandwiches, we drove about 30 minutes to the Bunny Flat Trailhead (6,940 ft).

The trail was easy to find with a gradual incline. 2 miles later, we reached our first rest stop at Horse Camp. There was fresh water (take from the tap), a solar composting bathroom, and the Shasta Alpine Lodge. From our resting spot we watched little dots making their way up the mountain and a friendly lady told us that was our route. 

 I was hoping for a lift but was quickly denied. I picked up my pack and off we went. Before long we saw snow on the ground, indicative of our high elevation.

At around 9000 ft we reached the snow line. Time to snap on the crampons! 

Our destination seemed within reach, yet each step started taking it's toll. Finally, as the sun was setting, we reached our campsite for the night, Lake Helen. Sitting at around 10,400 ft, Lake Helen is the common site to camp and acclimate for a 2 day trek to the top. 

After setting up camp, a ranger stopped by to say hello, check our permits and give us some information about the next day's challenge. The recommended start time is between 2 and 4AM so we settled in for the night and did our best to get some sleep.  Day 2 starts tomorrow! 

Painted Hills, Oregon

The Painted Hills are a unit within the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument. They are located in the middle of Oregon near the small town of Mitchell. Before you go, you should know that we had no cell phone reception, so have your directions printed out and a map. Also, fill up on gas because there are many miles between gas stations. 

We arrived late in the day and only had time to do the 1/2 mile Painted Hills Overlook Trail. 

If you have extra time in Oregon or are passing by, make sure to stop at the Painted Hills. Just beware, it is a long drive for a pretty short stop. 

Cheers!

Oneonta Gorge

Oneonta Falls had been on my "must-do" adventure list for ages. It is just one of the many waterfalls located through the Columbia River Gorge, but it is unique in that you must hike through water to reach the bottom of the falls.

Parking is along the road in the designated areas by the Oneonta Bridge. 

Once through the tunnel, the hike starts on the left. A staircase leads down to the river. Almost immediately, there is a log-jam you must climb over. This is where many people turn back. Just go slow and don't slip!

Following the log-jam, the trail is just the creek for about 0.6 miles. Get ready to get wet!  I wore neoprene socks in my shoes so my feet stayed warm. I highly recommend finding a pair!  Kingston's feet were frozen by the end of the short hike, but I felt comfortable the entire time. 

We did this hike in May during a drought year, so there were only one or two thigh-deep water spots and one chest-deep spot. I imagine during the winter or in years with more rain, this hike is probably much more difficult. 

Overall, Kingston and I LOVED this hike. It had everything we look for. Short and slightly challenging with a large reward. 

Packing list:

- neoprene socks

- sneakers (we saw some people do this in flip flops, but sneakers keep the rocks and branches out)

- waterproof bag for camera (ziploc bag is fine unless it is raining. Most people just held their bags above their head for the small sections that are chest-deep)

Lost Coast- Day 2

Day 2 began with the sounds of the waves and the quaking of the earth. That's right. There was a small earthquake that rocked us awake. Figuring it was a sign, we got to work making breakfast and breaking camp. 

We only hiked about 10-11 miles Day 1, so we knew we had about 15 miles left to conquer, including one more 5 mile "impassable during high-tide" section. My legs were already sore from Day 1, but I was eager to hit the trail and finish the hike. 

Thankfully, the first part of the trail was flat and off the sand. Sadly, this didn't last long. Before long we were back on the sand and in to another rock-hopping, ankle-breaking section. 

Although we didn't see any bears (only bear prints), we saw lots of seals, some sea otters, birds and fish. 

Eventually the rocky section turns to sand. 

Then the sandy section turns to more sand. 

The end is in sight but still a long ways away.

Upon reaching these two rocks, you know your quest is almost over. The last stretch is literally a walk on a beach! We start seeing families and dogs running around. Civilization again!

By this time I was exhausted, thirsty and a hungry hungry hippo. I ran the hill back up to the parking lot, quickly posed for a "we did it" photo, then shoveled granola in my mouth. 

Summary:

Tough hike. We met some cool people on the trail, but one group didn't finish the hike!  They wound up hiking up the hill off the beach until they found a road, and hitch-hiked back to the parking lot!  

I probably wouldn't do it again, but it is definitely worth the effort. It is truly priceless being able to watch sunset on a beach from your tent, without any type of pollution. No noise except the sound of the beach. No technology. No human trace. 

If I were to do it again I would pack more water and snacks. I would also consider doing the hike in 3 days, 2 nights instead of 2 days. 

The Lost Coast Trail- Day 1

The Lost Coast Trail is often voted "Best Hike" and for good reason. Located in Northern California, this trail is a 53 mile coastal stretch which highway developers deemed too expensive to build, leaving the area remote and mostly untouched.  The trail is often divided into two sections and we decided to do the 26 mile Northern section through the King Range National Conservation Area from Mattole Beach to Shelter Cove.

Prior to doing this hike, I thoroughly researched weather and tide charts. I also made sure to print and waterproof both the trail map (found on the King Range website) and the tide chart. There are three sections during the hike which are only passable during low tide. The first section at Punta Gorda is very short, but the other two sections are 4-5 miles long. We did the hike in 2 days and thankfully, the tides were in our favor. 

We scheduled a shuttle from Shelter Cove to Mattole Beach through Lost Coast Shuttle. After about 2 hours of heads bobbing through windy roads, we reached our starting point and eagerly stretched our legs by starting our hike. 

This section of the hike was on sand. Add on a heavy backpack, and our legs quickly felt heavier with each step. Thankfully the fog hovering over the coastline cast a spell upon us and before we knew it, we were at our first rest stop, the Punta Gorda lighthouse.

We smelled the seals before we saw them.

Shortly past the light house, we came upon the next "impassable during high tide" section of the trail. In addition to racing against the incoming tide, the trail became littered with large and slippery rocks. I found this terrain more difficult than hiking in sand.

Along the trail we crossed a few streams. Depending on the season, the stream could be a light trickle or a raging river. We went in October so the water was low enough to hop from rock to rock without getting our feet wet. If you go during winter or spring, they suggest bringing water shoes.

After about 4-5 miles of hiking along the beach and racing the tide, the trail led up to a ridge.

Although we had hoped to make it further Day 1, the sun was already setting, so we decided to set up camp at the Spanish Flats.

Packing List:

• tide chart and trail map
• bear canister - rented from REI
• fire permit- free from trailhead
• hiking boots
• gaiters- SO helpful in keeping the sand out
• rain coat
• clothing- bring layers. Tank tops and flannel for tops and leggings for pants were enough for me in October
• socks- pack extra! The waves caught us a few times and having dry socks prevented blisters. 
• hiking poles- most of the hike is spent hopping from rock to rock. 
• tent, sleeping bag, pad
• backpack
• food and water
• water filtration system