. . . . and while we aren’t back in school, the season is clearly changing, and we’re trying to get in some last summer activities before the fall weather keeps us inside.
Two weeks ago, Cathryn, friend Jim, and Jim’s 35-year-old nephew Ben left home at 5AM and drove to Paradise, on Mt. Rainier. Ben lives in Honolulu, poor boy, and wanted a snow fix. Five hours climbing the 4 miles up to Camp Muir at 10,000 feet of elevation, the high camp for people continuing on to the summit, then three hours back down, glissading every time the steepness of the slope afforded an opportunity; add that to 6 hours of driving round trip, and we had an exhausted, stiff, but happy Cathryn Friday night.
The next weekend we met up with our Canadian-Baja friends Doug and Jill in Leavenworth, in the Methow Valley of eastern Washington. They were just beginning a month-long road trip in the U.S., so we took the opportunity for one last visit for the year. On Sunday we hiked the Icicle Ridge trail, which is just out of town. 
Two and a half miles and 2000’ feet up the ridge, we arrived at a grand view overlooking Highway 2 winding its way up to Stevens Pass. Perfect weather and good company, including Lua, their well-behaved German Shepherd.
Next up was Cape Flattery, just west of the tiny town of Neah Bay at the northwestern extremity of the “lower 48” in the U.S. We don’t believe people who travel the world over have seen more beautiful scenery than this, right in our own “backyard”. We’re astonished at the number of long-time Washington residents who have never been here.
This is one of our favorite places on earth, no matter the weather. Which is good, since this weekend’s weather was what you might expect when you visit a rain forest when it is officially Fall!
We were traveling with Lynn and David and drove up one day, did the Cape Flattery hike, then stayed the night at the Cape Motel in Neah Bay.
Let’s just say that it’s supposed to be a lot better than the other Neah Bay alternative, the Tyee Motel, which one review on Trip Advisor recommended be condemned, then burned.
The next morning we started our hike to Shi Shi Beach in the Olympic National Park. It’s about 2 miles in, through the rain forest, and the weather fit the name.
A beautiful spot, but the rain lead us to wolf down a quick lunch, engage in some brief exploration of the beach and then head back to the car.
Despite the rain, it was worth the trip. Shi Shi has been on our list for a long time, and we’ll go again, perhaps when the weather is dryer.
