[sarbar]

I really, really needed a good hike at this point-I haven't had a good hike since my birthday on March 1st! Along with the stress of moving from a laid back island lifestyle to living in a urban, concrete world, I haven't had the time or energy to hike Then this week I had the brilliant idea of checking out the 3 state parks near the house. All went well, and I was getting a nice workout doing the strolls there until I decided to visit West Hybelos State Park in Federal Way. It was the middle of the afternoon on a sunny afternoon, and we were about halfway around the boardwalk loop when across the wetland I could hear violent cussing and then a handgun go off At that point I grabbed Ford (my son) and I ran faster than I think I have ever ran in my life. I didn't even blink before I started running-I didn't want to know what was going on. I hit the truck going so fast, we didn't have our seatbelts on till we hit the pavement. This made me very upset and I found excuses to sit in the house all week - like "the boxes need to be unpacked". Finally, today, I knew I had to get out there and reclaim MY RIGHT TO BE ON THE TRAIL!! But being new to this area, I had NO idea where to go, and then I rembered Karen's hike o' the week from 2 weeks ago about Greenwater lakes in the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie NF up on Hwy 410. THANK YOU!! It was just what I needed-waterfalls, a river, trillums popping out, and a ton of birds. In a healthy forest with a ton of sunlight It was perfect-me and the kid got good and muddy, saw a few other friday suckers (I love hiking on fridays-just me and the senior citizens!) A totally nice early season hike, it was just relaxing! That and I think I found a new area to hike! (Ah, I will miss hiking near Mt. Baker and Hwy 20 though!) I feel like me again My gaiters are muddy and I know the Mts will be open soon.....

[McPilchuck]

"I feel like me again My gaiters are muddy" Ah, it doesn't get any better... McPil

[sarbar]

Life is good when the mud is gooey I can only hope for a sunny day next week

[McPilchuck]

Same here. I haven't been out for a month now, had two engines (2.8s) in both Blazers to install, gad they take forever to take out and put a new one back in. My last outing was Mar 31s. see: Dashing Little Waters and last post in the Rainbow topic. I now have cabin fever <grin>. McPil

[sarbar]

And it didn't help that I stopped at the ranger station in Enumclaw and got loaded up with info on more places to go Oh, my hurting wallet....Those rangers know how to fleece me every time!!!! And now I have SEVER cabin fever too!!

[dicentra]

Hey Sarbar! funny, I've done that hike off of 410 and we heard gunshots there... Pretty hike to some nice lakes though. How you likin your new digs?

[sarbar]

I'm loving them Dicentra! I'm to the point where I am ready to go, be on the trail exploring-not at home looking at boxes Hehheh!! Nice to see you on these forums!

[dicentra]

Yeah, I should tell you the story about how I found this place sometime (off the forums of course) You'd get a good laugh... I haven't gotten to do much hiking yet this year because of all the field trips for school and work, but I am still looking forward to meeting you (and the others) this summer.

[sarbar]

I'll be waiting - I think we'll have some good stories for around the bp stove

[dicentra]

definitely! I can't wait to get out there!!! June 15, baby, June 15! Dunno where I'll be living yet, but hey, I'll be in the Oly's so who cares! Looks like we might have one more (from these forums) that may want to join our group. Its going to be such a fantastic hiking year!

[sarbar]

Cool! Now to get off me butt and go check the food dehydrator-Synchro and me have been having WAY too much fun with our new foodsaver food vac sealer, and our dehydrator......I'm so ready for summer

[dicentra]

Wrong Bridge had a post looking for hiking partners near the Oly's coast, so I am thinking she could join us for our big trip. I'll be out at the Hoh this weekend. um, working, yeah that's it...working!

[sarbar]

I'm sure you'll be working hard Breathing all that fresh air........Darn you!!!

[dicentra]

We usually get rained on when I go along... yet, they still take me for some reason. Guess I shouldn't tell you that next week I get to go up in the Wind River Canopy Crane and to Mt.St. Helens (on its eruption anniversary)!! (rub rub) Got lots planned between now and June, but NO backpacking plans...I'm going to try and do a day hike after class on Thursday (I haven't been *real* hiking since february! ) and I have one free weekend at the end of this month, so I'm hoping...Maybe Ingalls creek. I missed out on doing that one last year and the flowers are supposed to be incredible.