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)