Month: November 2019

Derek and I planned to hit the trail in time to get up to one of the Rattlesnake Mountain ledges in time for sunrise. And we did.

We hit the middle ledge just before sunrise and decided to stay there, as there was no one else around. Derek suggested we try scrambling the little bit to the northern spur of the ledge, which we did, and got the kind of stunning view above.

The sun was just starting to peek over the mountains to the east:

Rattlesnake Lake is, right now, pathetically low. From where we were we could see no water at all:

It will be interesting to see how well it rebounds in the spring, with more rain and (mostly) lots of snow melt.

A great way to start Thanksgiving!

It was foggy this morning. I could see it, was driving through it, and the radio was warning about it. When I hiked upwards on Rattlesnake Mountain I got above it and snapped the photo above of the fog, which sort of looked like water seeping through the valley.

Nothing spectacular today, but it was a very nice day. No salamanders.

As I was getting ready to shove off from the car a guy came back from his hike (he was a sunrise chaser) with his two huge Newfoundland dogs. Beautiful, friendly pooches. It raised my mood. One of them was a bit chuffed from having done the hike, so he had to get a running start to climb up the ramp into the back of the guy’s vehicle.

But the pooch made it.

Fun morning.

No valid excuse for lack of hiking. I just got out of the habit while I was nursing my little injuries and I need to get back to it.

Derek motivated me, he has been off work lately due to neck problems (doctor cleared him to hike but not carry much weight) so we met up this morning and took off for Dirty Harry’s Balcony.

Nice day, great views.

On the way down we saw what we think is a little Salamander on the trail. A cute little guy:

Fun hike and it was definitely nice to get back out on the trail.