Hunting for Poo Poo Point

I wouldn’t say that I have a keen sense of direction or am an expert hiker. I still struggle with which way is North, South, East and West (thank goodness for the compass app), but I have NEVER gotten lost on a hike where I couldn’t find my end destination. But I guess there is a first for everything!

This Easter, instead of hunting for eggs, my friend Jordan and I hunted for Poo Poo Point in Issaquah. Let me first start off by saying that this is not a rural trail. It is heavily traveled and publicized. I usually research the directions,which are usually quite, prior to the hike, but this time were a little sketchy. First, park at Issaquah High School and then find the trail. Well, as I am sure you can imagine, the high school parking lot is pretty big. Luckily, we ran into another pack of people headed up the trail and by putting all of our heads together we found the trail head which is a little past the high school on the left hand side (easy to spot from the road).

We started up the trail and took in the sights, passing signs that lead us to believe that we were going the right way. However, we ended up going down the trail and hitting another sign that said that Poo Poo point was back up where we had come. After hiking what I am guessing was close to 4 or 5 miles, we gave up. It was still a beautiful and fun hike, but we never made it to our end destination. We will just have to make another trip : )

 

A Combo Worth Running For: First Thursday Adventure Run

I used to loathe running. The thought of lacing up a pair of tennis shoes and pounding the pavement was a chore, something athletes did, not me. I had never run more than a mile in my 20 something years of life and that was in middle school P.E. class. But for whatever reason, in 2010 I thought why can’t I be a runner? What is preventing me? I started running, 2 or 3 miles and then one Saturday afternoon, decided to push it to 7 miles and I did it. I came home on cloud 9 and I felt strong. That evening, I signed up for the Portland Marathon. The training was time-consuming, but a few weeks in, it become a relief. It became my outlet. I started to sort through problems with my work, my relationships and dreams while I was out running. My mind would zone out and at the end, I was invigorated. The marathon came and went. I didn’t break any records, but I discovered something about myself. I could do it. I could do anything. The moment I crossed the finish line, I was changed forever.

Since that time, I’ve tackled 5K’s here and there and found a satisfaction in running. I started exploring local runs in my neighborhood and came across the Road Runner Sports First Thursday Adventure Run.

This isn’t your traditional run, it is more of a scavenger hunt for runners. Essentially, a map is revealed and you run to as many spots on the map as you can in an hour. When you arrive at the destinations, you are rewarded with raffle tickets. You get double raffle tickets if you are wearing the Adventure Run t-shirt. After an hour, you meet back at the original location (behind the Road Runner store) and have a chance to walk away with all sorts of prizes, gift certificates for running gear, restaurants and more.

My first run, I walked away with a gift card to a local Greenlake restaurant and a fuel belt! The best part is, it’s completely free. By pre-registering participants are rewarded with a $1 beer. Free run, free stuff and cheap beer. It really is a triple threat. The First Thursday Run is the first thursday of every month at Road Runners in Greenlake.

It is a great way to meet people who love to run. Even if you’re not a run lover or a marathoner, its worth a try. Who knows, you might learn something about yourself. If not, you could walk away with some swag and that’s never a bad thing. If your not convinced, watch this video! These events are all over the country. The next one is this Thursday, May 3.

 

Snowshoeing in Snoqualmie Forrest

The crunch of snow underneath your boots, the fresh smell of pine, the sound of a cool stream and laughter among friends. There’s nothing like a new adventure to bring people together.

I’ve wanted to try snowshoeing for as long as I can remember, but it obviously requires more equipment than your traditional sneakers. A group of friends and I had decided to give it a whirl. First stop, renting snowshoes. REI has a good rental program for members. $22 for a 3 day rental and $20 for a lifetime membership. After the equipment was all squared away, it was time to pick a trail. The WTA has an awesome list of trails good for snowshoeing in Washington. We selected Lower Gold Creek Basin in Snoqualmie Forrest.

After all the planning and prep, I anxiously awaited our trip. This past week was particularly tough, but I powered through with images of snow-covered trails in my head.

My friends, Jenn, Jordan, Meredith , Stephanie and I headed out Sunday morning. Gold Greek is located right past the summit. You need a snow park pass and a discovery pass to park, a day pass is $30. We suited up and took off down the trail. The trail is pretty compact at first and you probably don’t need snowshoes, but once you get past the main trail, there are plenty of areas to explore.

We found a frozen lake to take a few photos and explore the snow-covered bridge (see slideshow below). This is essential, gab, photos, refuel and restart. I thought that walking in the snowshoes would be tough, but once you get the hang of it, it isn’t hard and you can go anywhere! Don’t get me wrong, there were a few fumbles and tumbles, but I won’t single anyone out : ).

About a mile or so up, we found a spectacular view of the snow-covered mountains along the river. It was breath-taking.

It’s hard for me to explain the feeling that you have being surrounded by absolute serenity. It completely cleared my mind and made me focus on what really matters and what makes me truly happy. Who needs therapy, right?

We spent about 3 hours exploring the snow-covered woods and there was much more that went untouched. For another day I suppose.

 Now, for all of you non-believers that think snowshoeing is lame, consider this…snowshoe for 2 hours and burn more than 1,000 calories. Yup, so we did NOT feel guilty about rewarding ourselves with liquid goodness at Snoqualmie Brewery on the way home. Every adventure has a happy ending : )

 

 

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Discovering Cedar Butte: Making the Most of Sunny February

It is truly amazing, what a little sunshine can do. It seems to always put a little pep in my step, and sun in the Seattle area this time of year is something to be treasured and taken advantage of. This weekend I decided to take full advantage of the gorgeous weather by picking out a new hike and hitting the trails with friends, Jenn and Jordan.

If you are looking for a good hike the Washington Trail Association has a great site that gives you options based on the location you want to explore. Additionally, fellow hikers provide trail reports that give you a good gauge of the conditions.

Given it was Super Bowl Sunday, we decided that a short morning hike to Cedar Butte summit would be appropriate and give us that edge to not feel guilty about an extra serving of dip while watching the game. Cedar Butte is located off I-90. If you are coming from Seattle take exit 32 and turn right. You’ll drive just past the Rattlesnake Ledge parking lot. You need a discovery pass to park in the lot, but there are some ways around it. You can park at Rattlesnake Ledge and walk, but I’d recommend getting the pass and supporting our parks : ). The hike is 3 miles round trip and offers some great scenic opportunities to snap some photos.

What I like about Cedar Butte is really the serenity. There were not a lot of people on the trail, which is a nice change of pace to Rattlesnake Ledge and other heavily traveled trails.

The hike is pretty mild, but there are some steep switchbacks that will make you feel like you are getting a workout! Along the way, there was evidence that this might be a good place to spot wildlife, aka droppings, so watch your step!

At the top, there is a gorgeous look out nestled among the trees. You can see Mount Si, Teneriffe, and Mailbox on the horizon.

We climbed out onto this tree to get another photo opp, but be careful! It’s a long fall down if you don’t get the right footing, and sadly there were no kind gentleman waiting to help us!

It was a very pleasant hike, there were some downed trees from the snow storm a few weeks ago, but nothing you can’t maneuver around.

While taking in the sites and sounds, my friends and I started brainstorming a bucket list for the blog, places that I’d like to tackle this year around Washington. That post will come soon! Next up, snowshoeing ; ) I can only hope we get more weekends like this past one! I hope everyone got to go out and enjoy the sunshine.

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Snow, Snow. Let’s All Play!

For those of you that live in Washington, I’m sure you’ve probably experienced some part of snowmageddon this week. Unless of course, you live under a rock. It prompted me to realize that not all adventures in Washington require a car ride, sometimes discovering Washington can take place right in your own backyard.

I’ve been working from home the last few days, but ventured outside to explore and see just what people were doing in the snow. Greenlake, in the summertime is a playground for runners, bikers, rollerbladers, walkers, kids, basically everyone! And on a snow day, it provides the perfect playground for sledders and skiers!??

On my Greenlake adventure, I was shocked to see people whipping out their skis to take a lap around the lake. It is actually quite genius and looked like a lot of fun.

I was curious to see just how much snow we got, more than 3 inches had accumulated in Greenlake to my surprise and people were taking full advantage of it.

 Even these ducks were out for some fun!

I would recommend taking a stroll around Greenlake sometime if you haven’t. There are a lot of activities from biking to kayaking to paddleboating. Or, if you can make it out before the snow melts away, grab a sled! It’s perfect for kids (or kid like adults that enjoy the sled  ), no cars!

But be careful out there though, I took a nasty spill on the ice. I feel flat on my back, legs in the air in front of a fire station. A fireman ran out and said, “Are you ok!?” I was shocked so it took me awhile to mutter, “ I think so.” The fireman replied, “Well it looked Really cool.” At least I fall gracefully. Anyway, try these yaktraks to avoid embarrassing spills on the ice! They are great for hiking too.

My favorite contraption was this little sled, to keep the kiddies dry, warm and entertained.

What do you like to do in the snow? Any places I should be trying out?

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Pretty in Pink-Girls Take on Rattlesnake Ledge

Traditionally I spend Sundays dreading Mondays, and it is inevitably ruined by the knowledge that I have to set an alarm clock and get back to the grind. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not my job that gives me this feeling, it has been my reaction to Sundays since grade school. But this past Sunday I have to say, I really enjoyed. A group of girl friends and I went up to Rattlesnake Ledge, a 4 mile roundtrip hike right past North Bend.

It started with a spontaneous Facebook post midweek, spurred by the desire to keep my resolution and continue to “discovering Washington one weekend at a time.” I had never been to Rattlesnake Ledge and invited others to join via Facebook. I received responses from three girls that I had never been hiking with before, a different mix of gals that don’t hang out too often and the result was a pink parade up Rattlesnake Ledge and a spectacular afternoon.

We started up the crowded trail at a good pace, felt a nice burn, but we were able to be chatty. It was fantastic learning about the recent developments in all of these ladies lives. It’s about a thousand mile or so elevation gain.

We reached the top and were rewarded with a spectacular view of a lake the Snoqualmie Valley, including Mt. Si and Rattlesnake Lake. We stopped for a snack and snapped some photos on top of the gigantic rock and this is where the real fun began. Along the trail, we encountered a very friendly gentleman in his 50’s who was eager to share his suggestions for photo opportunities and extra adventure. I’m not sure how, but he convinced me to A. Jump off of a rock for a picture and B. Crawl down into a rock cave. The rock jump resulted in me falling flat on my bum in front of more than a dozen fellow hikers and no photo. Apparently, I was so spry it was hard to capture me air born. Naturally, I HAD to try again. This again ended unsuccessfully with this photo and scrapped hands.

And off course the same gentleman also convinced us to do a little rock climbing underneath the lookout point…not really sure why I thought that this would be a good idea, considering the whole jumping off of a rock routine. But never the less, my friend and I went for it.

I  got about half way and wanted to turn back because there was a steep jump down that I pictured ending badly. It was wet and mossy with very little places to grab onto. However, the extremely friendly gentleman offered to lend a helping hand. And when I say a hand, I mean a hand. He jumped below and said he would help me and make sure I wouldn’t fall. I nervously tried to gain my footing and realized that this gentleman had comfortably grabbed a hold of my derrière for support. I didn’t really know how to react considering that my life was in his hands (ok, maybe not my life, but it would have been a nasty fall), so I concluded that his helpful hand was warranted?? After finally mastering that step, we realized that getting out would be equally as challenging. Of course, the kind gentleman was eager to help two damsels in distress yet again. All in all it was much appreciated, and friendly gentleman, if you are reading this, we did appreciate your help and realize your intentions were probably pure. : )

Once we wrapped up, we headed down the trail and rewarded ourselves with lunch. It really is amazing how a trail, a view and some gals in pink can really hold the key to salvaging Sunday.

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New Year, New You, New Hike!

The new year is a good time to set goals, and seek new adventures. This year I celebrated the near year with a new hike to Twin Falls right past North Bend.

My friend from college came to visit and I wanted to show her what beautiful sites Washington has to offer. My friend was slightly apprehensive about venturing out into the mountains so I wanted to select a hike that would not be too difficult, but would showcase the beautiful sites that Washington has to offer. This hike was only 3 miles roundtrip with about a 500 foot elevation gain. You need a discover pass to park, but you can pay at the parking lot for $10 so bring cash!

The hike starts with a nice steady walk through the forest along a river. There are a lot of great spots for photos. The trail then heads up a series of switch backs, but the real treat is the waterfall at the top.

A spectacular site and good for the new hiker. Make sure that you go to both lookouts. Before you get to the main bridge there is a series of stairs that take you down to look up at the waterfall and both trails are worth a look.

I would recommend this to anyone, no matter what your experience level you’ll enjoy this hike and the beautiful view. Because of the large amount of rainfall in the area, this is a great trip year round. The waterfall was going strong.

I want to take this time to reflect on the past year and share with you why I began this blog in the first place. Last year I had experienced a lot of change, some good and some bad and I have been using some of my adventures, hikes etc to gather not only physical strength, but emotional and mental strength. It has helped me through some hard times. It has been a wonderful journey, one that I hope to continue this year and kick into high gear. I can not begin to tell you the happiness that I experience when I am venturing onto new turf and facing fears head on.

I’ve learned a lot about myself and would like to push myself even harder to become the person I want. Strong in health, heart, happiness and mind. Thank you for joining me on this adventure and I hope you find a similar experience. Like I’ve said in my previous posts, it’s about the journey!

 

Hanging By A Thread: How I Survived A Ropes Course

Life looks different when your hanging upside down 50 feet in the air. Your breaths are short and quick, your heart pounds like a drum and your thoughts are meaningful yet scattered. Though I knew deep down I was not truly in danger of falling, the what ifs did cross my mind as I hung upside-down in my harness from a cable 50 feet in the air at the Adventura ropes course in Woodinville.

I had never done a ropes course before, but a friend of mine had mentioned a Groupon for Adventura and it looked like a fantastic adventure. For Patrick’s birthday (you’ll see from previous posts that he often accompanies me on my adventures) I thought it would make the perfect gift.

When we arrived the place looked like a gigantic jungle gym high in the sky. Instantly, I questioned why the heck I signed up for this. The instructors passed out the harness and did a quick demo of the equipment and then we made our way up. Each person climbed up the cargo net and my palms instantly started to get clammy. I should mention that I have a slight to severe at times aversion to heights, but I’m all about facing fears and overcoming obstacles so I wasn’t going to let that stop me (though I will admit that at times during this course I did contemplate just getting down). Once we got to the top, you had several options for which way you could cross. You must use your carabiner to latch into a cable and make your move. The first obstacle was a plank with steps sporadically spread. You had to hop onto each one.

From there things only got harder. Patrick led the way and of course took the more difficult obstacles, but I had a perfect formula- watch Patrick stumble through it, and then learn from his mistakes and ask the instructors for pointers. The next obstacle was a series of rope loops requiring you to walk to each one. As I stepped on to the first loop I instantly started swinging. My heart was pounding with adrenaline pumping through my veins. “I can’t do this. I yelled.” But as I got to the other side I had a wicked sense of accomplishment and was ready to try the next one.

I never felt really good about any of the obstacles, they all presented a challenge. But my brush with death happened on a tightrope that consisted of walking on one rope, holding two and then switching halfway onto another rope.

Let me point out that I was not the only one that struggled with this obstacle. I watched several people tumble. I gathered all of the pointers that I could and set off determined not to make their mistakes. However, right as I tried to switch ropes I lost my balance and flipped upside-down. I was hanging onto every rope I could for dear life and screaming. Other ropes course patrons yelled, “Let go! Your harnessed in.” But there was no way in heck that I was going to let go of those ropes. If my harness at least I would have those ropes. I was stuck. There was no way to get un-upside down and this must have concerned one of the instructors because he barreled from across the course to my rescue  (let me point out here that no one else got the privilege of being rescued). After safely making my way to one of the platforms, I continued on.

Despite my brush with death, I had an amazing time. It was challenging, but extremely fun. I laughed more than anything. The finale? A zipline down from the ropes course.

 The reward!? A nice cold beer from the Redhook Brewery which we toured. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to try something out of the ordinary. I also saw a TV segment about a course in Portland that I would like to try called Tree to Tree Adventure Park. Maybe that can be a future adventure!!

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Mud. Run. Fun.

What I love about the Northwest is the outdoors. Regardless of the weather, people in Washington all share a bond of loving the outdoors, rain or shine. Of course most of the time it is better when it shines, but there are some events that really are a hoot no matter what the weather conditions. One of those events is a mud run. If you have never experienced one, I suggest that you hop onto this band wagon and hop on real quick.
My first love affair with a mud run began at Warrior Dash in North Bend. The Warrior Dash is about 3.5 miles, complete with 11 obstacles ranging from a fire pit to a cargo climb. I had heard about various mud run obstacle courses and wanted to try it out. When I heard that the Warrior Dash was coming to Washington for the first year, I thought this was the perfect opportunity. The video of Warrior Dash is really the selling point. People in crazy costumes, running through mud, having a ridiculously good time. I thought to myself, I like to dress up in costumes, run, have a good time, challenge myself and get dirty so this is really a win win.

Patrick and I signed up for the race and showed up decked out in black face paint, camo and fake tattoos. I’m sure the pig tails also screamed warrior, it really seemed to give me an edge.

After snapping a million pictures, because I like to capture everything possible, we checked in and took our place at the starting line. We started off going slow because of the mass of people, but after passing the pack, the route widened up. The obstacles for the most part were manageable, but the end was by far my favorite.

I scrambled my way up a cargo net only to be greeted on the other side by not one, but two fire pits. This immediately stopped me in my tracks, but after encouraging words and screams from the crowd, I was able to overcome my fear and jump over the flames (twice).

The end of the race was signaled by a mud crawl. No way around it, unless you wanted barbed wire to scrap you.  The end result is below. A muddy fun mess. A word of advice, bring a change of clothes. You will thank me. Another fantastic plus of the warrior dash is you get a fun shirt and a fuzzy warrior hat.

When I heard there was yet another mud run hitting the area, this one with 13 obstacles and MORE mud, I just had to get in on it. Hell Run out in carnation is another incredibly fun must do. This time, it seemed appropriate to dress like super hero, but really any costume is acceptable as long as you don’t mind getting muddy.

Kelly, Patrick and I tested our toughness in Carnation decked out in as much face paint, spandex and flair as we could muster. Hell Run was similar to Warrior Dash, containing the key ingredients, mud, running, costumes and beer. But let me tell you , there was a lot more MUD. There were mud pits or as I would like to consider lagoons. It really is impossible not to get dirty on this one and you get muddy a lot sooner. We also had to wade through an ice cold river. Did I mention that it is October!??

Though I don’t think mud runs are unique to Washington, I think that we have some great spots to hold these fantastic events. There is one coming up this weekend called Gladiator run that you might want to consider. Don’t let my bad assness in these photos fool you, most people can complete these, it’s all about the fun : ) What are some of your favorite running events? I’m looking for a new challenge.

 

Mt. Ellinor: A surprise adventure!

After climbing Mt. Rainier it had been over a month since I climbed anything besides the stairs to my apartment so when Patrick suggested climbing Mt. Ellinor I figured it was time. I looked up the hike online and it really didn’t seem like a big deal. A 6 mile hike roundtrip. EASY. I thought to myself. Nothing but a nice stroll.

 I put on my running sports bra top, spandex capris and running shoes. We started the journey bright and early, leaving from Mason Lake. It took about an hour and 30 minutes to get there, up a winding gravel road. We parked in a small lot. There was a couple that pulled in next to us and I found it curious that they had an ice ax, hiking bag and boots. Man, I thought, they are really over doing it. I was content with my choice to keep it light. I had spent months training with a weighted pack and it was nice not to have to carry such a large load.

The hike was absolutely beautiful to start off. It was bright and sunny and the trail was well maintained. Just a nice stroll. A few miles in, I saw a little snow and was surprised slightly. It was a quick change from the lush green occupying my sights for the last few miles. No biggie, the snow wasn’t deep.

We continued walking up a small hill, but as I looked up, my jaw dropped. “Um. Are we going up THERE!?”  The small hill, was now more of a cliff, There was a group hiking in the distance and it was obvious they were carrying trekking poles and were equipped with crampons.

I shot my look of disgust and irritation at my hiking companion and continued on. I wasn’t going to let this little hill beat me, hell I summited Mt. Rainier, I thought. The difference was, I was less than prepared. The clouds started to roll in and it became foggy and the farther we climbed, the more I wondered how the heck we would make it down.

Once we got up the first “hill” there was a crater and then another “hill”. I felt cheated each time, but the view was more and more beautiful and as soon as I saw these mountain goats, it really was worth it.

We finally made it to the top and had a bite to eat. Absolutely gorgeous view.

Now was the complicated part, how do we get down? Along the way it seemed like there were “slides” carved out by people who had chosen to slide down on their bums instead of walk. Glissading seemed like the most logical choice to me and much faster. Patrick and I each selected a stick to help us brake down the mountain. The first few slides were fun and pretty easy. I just had a frozen butt. You could hear Patrick laugh like a hyena the whole way down.

I chose to be much slower and cautious in my sliding, but at one point I got going so fast I lost control and shot out of the snow slide and rolled down the hill. Finally, we got to the bottom of the snow. I couldn’t feel my ass, my hands and I was bleeding, but at least we got down much faster than it took us to get up.

It was definitely an adventure, but just keep in mind that if someone suggests hiking Mt. Ellinor, be prepared! It isn’t just a stroll in the park : )