Introducing Brenda To The Big Four Ice Caves

I mentioned in the previous post about our Saturday goal for some relaxing, low stress hikes off of Mountain Loop Highway. The Big Four Ice Caves has always been a pleasant, low impact trail and Saturday was no different.

 

Give you a little bit of the idea of the size of the glacier with Brenda standing there.

Brenda looking down at us as I take Bogie down to the crystal clear stream for his routine cool off soak and casual drink.

Bogie did pretty well on this bridge this time. If you have seen the Big Four Ice Cave posts from previous years, you know that he really really doesn't like this bridge!

Saturday Hike At Barlow Peak

The best hiking weather of the season is upon us and we decided to head out for a couple hike off of Mountain Loop Highway up north. Just a little over three weeks after her surgery, didn't want to attempt anything too long. The combination of Barlow Point and the Ice Caves seemed perfect!

Bogie having a relaxing sit down in the shade at the top.

Having a little fun with our collection of USBank water bottles we picked up on our Washington DC trip earlier in the year.

Discovery Park In Ballard Washington - July 22, 2012

Brenda's friend Sherry was in town and we decided to pick out a short hike for our Sunday morning. I pulled out my 60 Hikes Within 60 Miles Of Seattle book and picked number 3. I had gone on this hike many years ago but didn't remember that much about it. Just saw there was a lighthouse and that nearby Ballard would be a great place for a brew afterwards.

Experimented with some wild flower shots. Bogie was into it that much, he really wanted to explore!

One of my blind over the shoulder shots, sometimes they work out.

We went around the lighthouse, Bogie wasn't allowed on the beach. It was quite pleasant!

Hanging out at an english pub in Ballard.

The table next to us had a super friendly lab named Crista!

Bogie and Crista hanging out and greeting the occasional passerby.

Introducing Brenda To Bridal Veil Falls & Lake Serene

Yesterday we decided to head up north to spend the day hiking the Bridal Veil Falls / Lake Serene trail. This turned out to be more challenging than I remembered and we covered almost 8 miles overall. The 4 miles that make up the Lake Serene route were tough and the payoff view at the end made it all worth it!

Going up the wooden stair platforms to the falls!

Here you can see both Brenda and Bogie embracing the cool mist of the falls!

So the falls trail is a 1 mile loop off of the main trail to Lake Serene. So here we start our journey to the lake!

It was a tough one and well worth it! Brenda made the trip to the store for some awesome hamburger fixings and we grilled them up. The burgers and beer were practically ambrosia!

Davis Gulch - Whiskey Town CA - June 2, 2012

A hot one but Mike, Brenda, Beau (mike's lab), Bogie and myself headed out for an early morning hike.

The below shot has a bit of a back story. The heat really got to Beau (Mike & Ruth's large and beautiful black lab). This waterhole by the trail had little interest for him as we set out on the hike and we couldn't hardly get him out on the way back.