Granite Mountain Lookout

Well, another day off so another adventure. I feel like I must say that often. This morning when I awoke, I knew I wanted to go somewhere but I just wasn't sure where. After packing up my gear, getting some food and filling my car with gas, I headed East on I-90. Depending on the weather would determine my route, either Mt. Si or Pratt Lake or maybe a climb up Granite Mountain.

As I approached North Bend, I saw that it was going to be a clear and gorgeous sunny day, so heading up to the top of a mountain and having lunch at an old fire lookout sounded wonderful. Granite Mountain Lookout, I was on my way.

You find the Granite Mountain trail by first starting at the Pratt Lake trail head. About 1 mile in, you hit a fork on the trail, a point of divergence for if you go straight you hit a chain of lakes at the base of the mountains (Talapus, Ollallie, Pratt Lakes et. cetera), but if you turn up, a great ascent is ahead of you. When you start climbing you start climbing rapidly, about a 4,000 foot climb in around 3 miles. I'll admit it...it even kicked my ass.

After you make your way through the old growth and ferns, you break over the ridge into a large glen of wild blueberries that were absolutely delicious. As far as the eye could see were blueberry bushes. I spent the greater part of the trail run grabbing handfuls of berries and shoving them in my mouth.

As you make your way past the glen you walk along the ridge for a bit, jumping along big boulders, where remnant of snow linger in the shade. It was strange to still see snow in the end of September, but that is just proof of how bad our winter was this year.

Once you crest and can't possibly go any higher, you can see the old fire lookout in the distance. If you turn around, a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier can be seen. If you look straight ahead, a spectacular view of Mt. Baker is off in the distance. You are simply surrounded by beautiful mountains. Looking down over the north side of the trail , you can see lakes at the base of Granite Mountain, lakes that I believe you can access from the Pratt Lake trail.

Once I made my way up to the lookout, I sat down and had my lunch. The wind was cool but felt good against my sweaty back. It was great taking in all the scenery and it is amazing just how much beauty is so close to home.

Pratt Lake and then some

Another day off and so another trail run in the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. This time I had Casey choose a run for me out of my 50 Trail Runs in Washington book and this is what she found...run #20 Pratt Lake, a 12 mile out and back. You can add mileage by dipping down to see some of the other lakes in the region, the Alpine Lakes Region, such as Talapus Lake and Olallie Lake. By adding those two, the mileage is upped to about 16.

The run started out wet and rainy, but I liked the cool air. Once I started making my way into the Pratt Lake basin, the sun came out as I made my way across the large scree areas. The screes were some of the most beautiful ones I have seen as of late, with lots of moss and foliage growing in, on, and around a lot of the rock.
Well enjoy the photos...

Baker Lake Trail Run

I had a day off so I decided to take a solo day trip. After flipping through the pages of my book, 50 Trail Runs in Washington, I settled on Baker Lake, a dammed lake. The run is a 26 mile out and back, along the banks of Baker Lake, which is near the base of Mt. Baker. From Seattle, this is a 2 hour 30 minute drive, but I figured I would getting my monies worth with the trail run mileage.

With my bag full of fruit, a few books, my camera,and lots of water, off onto the trail I went.

Turns out there is a 50k Trail Run there soon. Wish I could but I have to work that day for Sherman Alexie will be reading poetry at my branch.

Anyway, here are some photos of my trip.

Discovery Park Trail Run Sample

A day in the life of a Discovery Park Trail Runner....(04/21/2011)

Frankie Four

Yesterday I woke to the rain pouring down over Ballard. It was a cold, dark and dreary morning, not the kind of morning you want when you are scheduled for an afternoon beach swim suit shoot at Carkeek Park.

I went out for my morning coffee, per my usual routine, enjoyed an everything bagel with cream cheese, and spent the early morning reading some Washington Trails books. I am trying to plan out my trail runs throughout Western Washington for the upcoming summer months. If I can manage it, I would like to tackle a trail or two a week, with the goal being around 30 new trails to add to my arsenal.

It was still raining steadily as I finished my hot coffee and I headed home, to change into my running clothes. With the raindrops being as heavy as they were, I knew that Discovery Park would be all rivers and waterfalls and I simply couldn't pass up the opportunity to play around in this.

I ran around the park loop once (4.25 miles) running and jumping into puddles, taking in the rain and enjoying the cool crisp air on my face. When I got back to the beginning I didn't want to stop. It is just too much fun, after all I was already drenched, muddy, and still full of energy. I ran around the park a second time, reversing the direction for a new experience.

When I had my fill I rode back to Ballard and jumped in the warm shower and sipped some more hot Kona coffee, coffee that given to me as a gift from Angela and Jason upon returning from Hawaii.

The rain never abated and now it was time for our Frankie Four photo shoot, which is looking more and more like it will be an indoor shoot. Angela had made a lot of new men's vintage swim suits for me to model, as well as, our friend Charlie. Ruthie would be our female model, with Julie Harmsen our wonderful professional photographer. Any true Seattle native would tell you to take the weather in stride...it rains and then is stops...it then rains some more and then it stops. You just have to go with the flow. I feel like I am being more like a native Seattleite with each passing day, for I just take the weather in stride and it doesn't stop me from much of anything. The shoot was a lot of fun, even though we were a little constricted due to our location. I am just hoping something good turns out that Angela can use for her website. We will just have to wait and see.

Born To Run Booktalk

Here is my Booktalk for Christopher McDoughall's Born to Run using Jing.

Trail Run and Library Thoughts

Yesterday I had a chance to trail run through Discovery Park before work, taking in the sunny weather as the first days of spring have arrived. What a great way to start my day, to get my blood flowing and settle my thoughts. My usual route, the Loop Trail, is a 4.25 mile trail around the park, through the forests, down the bluffs, and onto the Lighthouse beach. Because spring has arrived, however, there were Seattle Parks Department workers clearing and maintaining the trail (thank you) so I had to diverge and explore some other trails that zigzag through the park. It was fun hitting up those trails for I haven't visited them much lately, primarily because I have been sticking to the outer edges of the park.

Today we had a branch staff meeting, so I had to work the morning rather than have a full day off. No matter to me really, because after the meeting was over I had a lot to ponder over and I needed a place to think. Off the Discovery Park I went and with a lot of time to spare.

I ran the park trails twice and had to resist going for a third. I have a hard time holding back because there is just so much beauty in that park and it is so calm and serene that no matter how I am feeling I always leave feeling at peace. Now with spring here, a lot of the plants are starting to bud and the forest is getting denser and filling up with life. This was the first run I've had in weeks that the route was relatively dry too; I had hardly any mud on my legs.

At the Seattle Public Library, we are gearing up for the launch of our new Strategic Plan, a plan that will guide us and challenge us to be the best at what we do. It is an ambitious plan, but it must be otherwise what's the point really. If you don't set goals, if you don't challenge yourself, then really are you striving to be the best? Library work is all about service and innovation. This plan puts down on paper our motivations for why Librarians do what we do. And this is the kind of thinking that will keep us relevant. If we succeed in this Strategic Plan, it is easy to believe that libraries would be around for many years to come.

old friends

While running around Discovery Park today I ran into an old friend. I was in the middle of an 9 mile trail run and there she was, my friend Amy LaVare, one of the best Children's Librarians the Seattle Public Library offers. We worked together at the High Point location but since I have been moved over to the Ballard Branch, I haven't seen her in some time. Actually, the last time I did was over beers at the Beverage Place Pub for my going away party, a very bittersweet party. I knew I would be leaving good friends behind as I took the next step in my librarian career, but that still doesn't make it easy saying goodbye. I wish I had the time to really chat with her, to catch up, to check in, but it wasn't the time or place for this.
Amy, you are missed.

Running

I've been running a lot again lately and it has made me the happiest I've been in a while. It is funny how sometimes you just get so bogged down with life, with work, with educational advancement, that you are forced to sacrifice some things you love temporarily....and then you re-discover it.

Running around Discovery Park is one of things that makes me overly joyful. I love the feeling of it, the mud between my toes, the fresh crisp air, the serenade of the trees singing as I glide by, the birds chirping. The physical rush, the chemicals my body produces is also addicting, all the adrenaline and endorphins. An article (here) explains just what I am talking about and I am one who has to say I completely agree because I can associate with this wonderful feeling. Running is not painful, it is sheer bliss.

On my last run I almost stepped on a cute little chipmunk that darted across the trial in front of me. My closest call so far to stepping on a little animal. It made my heart leap a little, as I leapt across the trail trying to avoid it. It was also very windy that day, with branch bending and braking all around. It was really beautiful to hear. I know with the broken branches comes new life and I can wait to see it.

It is raining pretty hard at the moment. I am sitting in a coffee shop, with my Americano almost empty, with the itch to go running. I love running in the rain, the slap of tiny raindrops on my face, the coolness on my body. I love how with heavier rain comes little rivers all through the trails and I have to trudge through it, sometimes ankle deep.

Soon the snows will start melting in the mountains around Seattle and I will be able to tackle some new terrain. I am already mapping out some trail runs. For now I'll stick with Discovery Park and loving every minute there.