Snowshoe Hike and Ice Axe Training - 4/27/13

Today, Bronka joined us on a snowshoe hike at Paradise.  Our friends, John and Sharon, as well as Ted and I are planning to climb Mt. St. Helens on Memorial Day weekend.  So their friends, Tammy and Ken joined us on this snowshoe so John and Sharon can teach them ice axe techniques.   So we all decided to warm up and snowshoe Edith Basin.   When we got to the top of the hill, we decided to have a break and eat some lunch.   We snowshoed to some trees nearby and it was great as there was no wind.  We were planning to do the Edith Basin loop, but we could see the clouds coming down from the mountain and decided it would be best to turn back.   So after lunch we came back to the parking lot.   Bronka decided to go to the Jackson Center and stay there while John and Sharon helped Tammy and Ken work on ice axe techniques.   We up a hill by the parking lot.  Tammy and Ken did great!    Although the day was cloudy and windy, we all had a great time!

Ted and Bronka getting ready for our snowshoe hike.

Ken, John, Tammy, Bronka and Sharon. 

Bronka leading the snowshoe hike.

Lunch break, Ted, Bronka, Ken and John.

Ken, Sharon and Tammy enjoying lunch. 

Clouds and whiteout condition at Paradise

Snowshoe Hike to Pebble Creek, Mt. Rainier - 4/23/13

We had a very early start on Tuesday.   We left about 7:00 a.m.,  Bronka, Ted, our friend, Liz,  and me!  We were all excited about all the sunshine, the weather was great!   It was a little cool when we left the parking lot at Paradise.  But once we started up the hill, we warmed up fast!  The snow was hard, good for snowshoeing.  We eventualy got to the hill going up to Panaroma Point.  Ugh!  It was steep and icy in places, but we all made it up!  Ted and Bronka decided to rest and have a snack at the top.  Liz and I decided to continue on to Pebble Creek.  As we got up to about 7400 feet, the clouds were coming down pretty fast and looking like whiteout conditions, so Liz and I decided to turn back.  We met Bronka and Ted and told them we all should turn back as the clouds were really coming down.  And they agreed.  We all managed to get down that steep hill.   Bronka did great!  As were coming down the trail, we ran into a group of men.  While Liz and I were waiting for Ted and Bronka, we spoke with the men.  They were from the Olympia Wonderers.   One of them recognized Bronka, Larry Wood,  a retired Phd Physicist.  He is also a friend of our good friend Wally Music.  Larry was very happy to see Bronka and visit with her.     When we all finally got to the parking lot, we could not see the mountain, so we all made a good decision to turn back.  Another great hike!

Getting started on our snowshoe hike.

Wow, steep hill to go up.

It was a beautiful day.   Little cloud forming above the mountain.

Views of Mt. Adams and Mt. St. Helens. 

Bronka enjoying her surroundings.

Bronka and Ted having lunch.

Snowshoeing down the steep hill.

Larry Wood and the Tuesday Group.

Bronka and Larry.

Larry is a friend of our friend, Wally.

Heading toward the parking lot, Yay!  Great workout!  And clouds are following us down. 

 

Amazing Day at Paradise, Mt. Rainier - 4/22/13

Monday Group and Light Boot Hikers group,  which included Bronka, me, Ted, Carol Wright, Kelly and Josh went on a snowshoe hike to Edith Basin in Mt. Rainier.  The weather was wonderful!  We had a great time visiting with one another and just enjoying our wonderful surroundings.

 Carol Wright, Bronka, Josh, Kelly and Ted and me.   What a beautiful day!

 Bronka snowshoeing up the trail.

 Bronka, Kelly, Josh, Carol and Ted

 Lunch time!  We had fantastic views of the mountains and peaks.

 Castle, Pinnacle and Plummer Peaks

 Great views.  Mt. Adams in background.

 Mt. St. Helens in background, such a clear day!

 Bronka's new snowshoes.  

 Kelly and Josh

 Heading to the parking lot.  End of a beautiful day!

Ran into this guy who invented skis and backpack contraption.  It was interesting!

Snowshoe Hike at Paradise - 4/15/13

It was a cloudy, slightly snowy day up at Paradise.   We were hoping for some sunshine, but it did not appear.   The snow was deep as it had been snowing for the past couple of days causing much accumulation.    We had planned to do the Edith Basin loop, but the clouds came down, causing whiteout conditions.  We did the hardest part though, going up the hill!  Bronka and Ted had new snowshoes and were anxious to try them out.

 Bronka and Ted

 We were the first ones at the Paradise parking lot.

 There were a group camping out.   They made a couple igloos, but can hardly see them.

 Bronka in the distance.

 Coming down the hill toward the parking lot.

There's the parking lot and the clouds and snow coming down with us!

Bronka and the Haugen Family on 4/7/13

Bronka stopped by our home for a visit.   My son, Chris, daughter-in-law, Vena, grandchildren,  Aleah, 12, Eli, 10 and Ethan 5, had a great time visiting with Bronka. 

 Eli, Bronka, Aleah and Ethan

 Silly face photo!

 Eli, Bronka, Vena, Chris, Aleah and Eli

Snowshoe Hike to Edith Basin, Mt. Rainier on 4/1/13

Great hike with Bronka, Carol L., Carol Wright, Margie, Bruce and Carol Morrison and me!  There was a bus load of Koreans from Korea.   The lady below stopped and spoke with us.  She asked several questions.   Bronka was telling her that her grandson had been in Korea. 

 Korean Lady, Carol Wright, Bronka and Margie

 Another beautiful day on Mt. Rainier

 Carol Wright and Carol Morrison coming up the steep hill

Carol L.,  Bronka and Carol Morrison

Snowshoe Hike to Edith Basin, Mt Rainier - 3/25/13

Another wonderful time on the mountain!   The Monday group was joined by Bronka, Bruce and Carol Morrison, and Carol Wright and me!

 Carol usually meets someone who knows her.   This is Stefen, who is a guide.

 Bruce, Carol, and Bronka coming down the steep hill.

 Carol Wright snowshoeing toward Edith Basin.

 Bronka and Bruce.  I think Bruce is about 6' 7"

 Great picture!

 Bruce and Carol Morrison.

Bronka loving the snowshoe hike!