She who hikes and climbs

Today we woke up to beautiful sunshine and blue skies, which I was very happy to see. It means for  a sweltering hike but that is okay, we could deal with that. This was an easy hike with about 1400 feet elevation gain and according to our GPS we did 10.7 miles round trip.   To get to Goat Lake take the Mountain Loop Highway heading East to Granite Falls. You will drive past the Ranger Station. (Stop here and get a Northwest Forrest Pass if you do not have one, because this hike requires one.) Follow the road all the way to the end of the pavement, continue going and go right on Forrest service road (FR 4080). There is a sign that says Elliott and Goat Lakes. Keep going until you come to the parking lot.  Since today was Memorial Day the parking lot was full and we had to park on the side of the road. I didn't take any pictures of the parking lot or the information sign or the register book because there were people standing around. There is a pit toilet, and no running...

    L and I  took the kids and dog hiking yesterday on the Sultan River Canyon trail. Now I thought that I had done this trail before when I was a kid and lived in Sultan. (Sure enough I had, confirmed that with my folks.)     To get to the trail take Highway 2 east or west, turn left if coming from the west or right if coming from the east when you arrive at the light for Sultan Basin Road. Continue on the Basin Road until the pavement ends and turns into gravel. Follow the gravel road until you come to an information kiosk. At the kiosk you will fill out a paper for signing in and stating that you will follow the rules for the basin. (Interesting fact the lake provides 80% of the water for Snohomish County.)  Pull out and bare left at the Y-intersection and follow the road to the parking lot.    The parking lot is large and if you go past the yellow gate and meander down the road there is a bathroom and some picnic tables. However there is n...