We were there for an art show but I kept getting distracted

This weekend we drove to Winthrop in eastern Washington to 1) go on an artists' studio tour 2) see the poor burnt trees 3) be outside 4) see different stuff from what we usually see. It worked out pretty well except for the first two because the second two kept getting in the way.

Resplendent ridgelines, bossy birds and ... Earthquakes? Oh my!

I'll admit that this hike didn't start off as my favorite. For the first two sweaty miles the forest felt suffocating as I plodded uphill, becoming crankier with each step. It was probably going to be the last 80 degree day of the year, and I fantasized about laying out on a pier in the middle of a lake, soaking up some vitamin D and occasionally dipping my toes in the water to cool off. Then, suddenly, everything changed. The forest receded and the mountain unfolded its views under the abundant sunshine.

Up here, I could breathe again, and the uphill that was a chore just steps below was now exciting as the views got better and better. We'd done this hike years ago, and where it forks we had continued to the right to ascend to the top of Bandera Mountain. This time we turned left, down to Mason Lake.

Once again, this hike surprised me. The ridge suddenly took a sharp turn behind the mountain to a narrow path leading down to the lake. The forest took on a primordial feel with mossy boulders sprouting new evergreens.

When we arrived at the lake my mood was transformed. We scrambled over a pile of boulders to a lunch spot which we shared with several new friends who unabashedly stole our snacks as we contemplated the view.

Just as I was about to pull on my socks and shoes for the hike back up, the boulder I was sitting on jiggled. In my experience, boulders don't generally jiggle without an extreme cause. We later learned that a 4.0 earthquake struck about 12 miles ENE from where we were hiking. 

Our lunch spot and scene of the boulder jiggle.

Oblivious to the earthquake, we reluctantly made our way back to the trailhead with distant views of Mt. Rainier to keep us company.

In case you were wondering what it looks like

We decided to spend the 4th of July on the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States. In other words, where the road ends in the Pacific Northwest. So where does the road end? Well, it ends at Cape Flattery on the Makah Indian Reservation in Neah Bay on the Olympic Peninsula. It also ends when the yellow median line that runs through town stops at the trailhead parking lot (this was pointed out by the guide at the Makah Cultural Museum who simultaneously handed us a map and told us to ignore it).

I didn't take any photos on the reservation out of respect to the tribe, but it was impossible to keep my camera down when we finally reached the end of the road.

In the distance is Tatoosh Island and its deactivated lighthouse. Access to the island requires written permission from the Makah Tribe.

 

On the the drive back to Port Angeles we moved back inland to walk among the giants in the Ancient Groves and take a peek at Lake Crescent. We skipped the fireworks that night because a man-made wow factor just wouldn't compare to all the natural beauty.