West Glacier Hike

Saturday the 13th was an incredibly beautiful day. We did our chores Friday night so that Saturday morning would be free for hiking.

Mr. X has been saying for weeks that he's wanted to see how far the glacier has receded, so we went out to the West Glacier Trail, took the turnoff marked "Unmaintained, hazardous trail" and hiked down to the glacier.

Mr. X decided to turn us up hill, so the glacier would rise to meet us, rather than have us scramble down the scree and back up again.

I took a few steps out on the glacier. That's all the farther I would go, though, without ice climbing gear. The area that we were at was almost slushy, and we could hear and see ice falling off, so really that's all I was interested in.

Knowing that Mr. X's definition of a good time involves bushwacking, I suggested that we head back to the West Glacier trail from our current position rather than doubling back. Mr. X agreed and we started scrambling through the small brush, up the side of the mountain, using a stream for our navigation.

After 45 minutes we were ready to sit down and take a break before heading into the second half of our scramble through devil's club and Sitka spruce. I looked around and said, "isn't that the trail right there?" Sure enough, it was. We hiked down the trail a way until we came to a look-out where we settled down for a break and looked out over the glistening Mendenhall lake, pounding Nugget Falls and blue glacier.

Cowee Meadows

Our friends called us on Saturday to go for a hike. We met out-the-road for the short jaunt out to the Cowee Meadow cabin for a snack and then to the beach for some rock slinging. It was a beautiful day. We saw eagles and beavers. Fireweed and cotton grass were in full bloom. The Devil's club has gone to seed.

Washington layover

After all our fun down south, I ended up with an 18 hour layover in Seattle - yipee! It meant that I was able to spend just a little while with my mom and brother.

Here's the boy all decked out for trek youth conference.

Mom showed me her new garden and fed me steak off the BBQ and fresh greens for lunch.

Summer Trip Stop 3: Indiana

Brown County State Park - elevation 1058'

Mr. X's other brother had moved to Indiana two weeks before we traveled down south which meant we needed to travel a little father south to see him and his family.

Shipshewana, IN

Mom drove us down, and since we didn't need to be in Columbus until the evening, I suggested we stop in amish country for lunch. Yeah, it's out of the way, but good grief we're the ones who drive three hours (after 7 hours on a ferry) for lunch at Whitehorse's Pizza Hut.

Fire look-out tower, Indiana sandstone shelter

In Southern Indy, we went swimming, mini-golfing, paddleboating, hiking, raptor watching. Mr. X was involved in some trampoline hijinx that had him holding his back for weeks.

Brown County was celebrating Smokey Bear's birthday. In honor, they held a Raptor show.

All in all a successful trip.

Summer Trip Stop 2: Michigan

We flew from Baltimore to Detroit Friday night and Mr. X's mom picked us up so we could be in Michigan for my niece H's baptism.


It was great to get out of the heat and humidity in D.C. and into the relatively cool temperatures in Michigan...heheh.

We spent the week relaxing, doing some small house projects, visiting the Friends of the Library bookstore and watching Harry Potter.


One of my favorite things about visiting Michigan, is the house, more particularly the view from the bedroom window.


We spent evenings watching dry lighting flash across sky and woke in the morning to the sound of orioles in the trees and a groundhog or rabbit in the yard.

Summer Trip Stop 1: Washington D.C.

Last fall when I started planning our 2011 travel, I plotted out an elaborate trip to D.C., West Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan via plane, train and automobile. I'd even gotten a fancy Washington D.C. map at the Friends of the Library ($0.10). When I presented the plan to Mr. X, he good-naturedly nixed everything but plane and Michigan. (note: We have different vacation styles - I like to cram, cram, cram. Mr. X prefers down time.)

I was very surprised when two weeks before we were to leave for Michigan, Mr. X agreed to tack on a D.C. leg to visit his brother and family. Sweet!

Day 1) National Aquarium and Inner Harbor, Washington D.C. Temple

Day 2) Union Station, US Capital, US Botanic Garden, Museum of American Indian, National Air and Space Museum, Zaytinya restaurant, D.C. bike share, Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, FDR memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, White house from Pennsylvania Ave, Old Post Office Tower, and since the headlines screamed: "Heat Index 115" and "Freakish Humidity" a water fight in the back yard.

Day 3) Library of Congress, US Capital, Senate Cafeteria, Post Office Museum

We enjoyed playing with our nephews - even if Mr. X totally ruled CandyLand- , eating fabulous food and I enjoyed seeing so many historic places.

July 4th

On Sunday, the third we wandered over to Point Louisa for just a little walk. While we inspected some tidepools, two young brothers hiked by, set down their tackle and cast into the water. On the second or third cast, the six year old reeled in a big one.

Mr. X looked at me. I looked at Mr. X and said together, "We can do that".

On the Fourth we packed up some snacks, reading material and Mr. X's tackle. On Mr. X's third cast he caught a salmon. He was fishing from an awkward rock, though, so before I could get to him, the fish jerked it's way off the line.

With the surf pounding in, we relocated to a less steep approach. Again, Mr. X caught a salmon. Before I had a chance to open my book or enjoy those snacks, Mr. X was beating a line for the car.

We had a tasty fish fry for our Fouth of July dinner. In fact, we had fish all week because we realized we'd caught a Chum - which are fabulous for cavier but less great frozen. Pan fried, curried, tacos all week. Yum.