A Hammer and a Nail: Rewards

After the one amazing hike, we were ready to go again to the mountain on a different trail while the flowers were still blooming. We talked of returning the next week, but that turned into the following week, the following month, when the weather improves, when we have more time etc etc. Before we knew it, it had been a month or more since the hike. Finally, we were able to venture out again on a lovely evening. One child missing due to a foot injury, we were only three of us. Due to the nature of the trail above the tree line, we did not anticipate as many flowers or lovely green. Our efforts at re-experiencing the multicolored beauty of the previous hike were only rewarded with bits of color here and there, mostly in the Indian Paintbrush as below. The remaining flowers had reached their zenith and were fading at the trailside, covered in dust, wilting away.

However, we were rewarded wtih amazing views and lovely light and shadows dancing along the trees and trail.

Wildlife was in abundance like the marmot sunning himself on the warm rock below.

After our exit from this trail below, the deer that had entertained us from the relative safety of the woods, ventured onto the trail normally tred by humans. Look closely and you can see them grazing along and on the trail. (if you double click the picture, it will enlarge too)

Nearing the top, our shadows lengthening, we paused to appreciate the view and enjoy our water. The hike is only 1 1/2 miles but it is all uphill and coming from sea level to over 5,000 above sea level, it is always more of a challenge to acclimate and adjust to breathing at this elevation.

The view that surrounded us was stunning.

I loved the play of light on The Graduate's blonde hair too.

Deer continued to entertain us, scampering along the edge, oblivious to the beauty surrounding them.

As the sunlight waned, it was at the perfect light to capture some photos of the photog, me.

I am usually the face BEHIND the pictures and it is like I was never really there :).

Reaching the top, we paused to catch our breath and enjoy the majesty of the Olympic Mountains.

Not wanting to be on the trail (and driving down the mountain) after dark, we headed back down in the waning sunlight and cooling temperatures. The trail down was much easier than the trail up :)

I wished we could have stayed to see the sunset from the top because as we rounded the mountain, we were unable to see it completely. Through the trees, it began to set and the sky lit up with it's colors.