18.5-mile Hike

When I was completing a rotation at the Puget Sound Veterans Hospital, a patient of mine told me about the hike that he went on one weekend. He mentioned a waterfall called Otter Falls. It was so refreshing to hear about a waterfall named after a cute, cuddly animal than for say something that bites (i.e Rattlesnake, Bear). Therefore, Otter Falls has been on my bucket list of places to visit since August 2012.

During Memorial Day Weekend I finally visited it. Otter Falls is located in Snoqualmie and Mt. Baker National Forest. The trail is not a loop so my friend and I were going to hike 5 miles in and then turn around and hike back to the trailhead; however, we got ambitious and ended up hiking 18.5 miles, which took us about 6 hours.

As expected, it rained, trail was muddy...but an added bonus was that we had rushing creeks (from the melted snow) that we had to cross. There were moments when we were literally up a creek without a paddle; in other words, my socks and shoes got wet. In addition there were lovely logs that we had to climb over and a there were sections of the trail covered with mossy rocks; therefore, I had several graceful moments. In comparison with other hikes that I have gone on this one was the best marked, which was much appreciated. The trail terrain was diverse and I loved it. The scenery was monotonous (lush, green forest) but that didn't bother me one bit. After the waterfalls then the trail has a more abrupt incline to the lakes (Snoqualmie, Deer, and Bear Lakes), it was here that the scenery changed.

Overall, I LOVED this hike. I would love to go back and camp overnight and hike further into the forest and see more of the lakes. The trailhead required a Northwest Forest Pass which I picked up the annual pass at REI beforehand. To find more information about the trail one can look on the Washington Trail Association website. At the trailhead there is a map that I recommend hikers take a picture of before beginning the hike. It was immensely helpful when deciding when we should turn around and which paths to take.

Here are some pictures from the trail:

The rushing Taylor River that one encounters at the beginning of the trailhead

What the trail looks like for approximately the first 3 miles

Otter Falls

The bridge over Otter Falls.

The trees in the forest.

The density of moss covering the trees in the forest.

One of the creeks that you have to cross to get to Big Creek Falls. My socks and shoes got wet on the way back over this creek.

Also known as the "peeing behind" rock

Behold another creek that one needs to pass

Big Creek Falls; it my opinion more impressive than Otter Falls.

On the path to Snoqualmie, Deer, and Bear Lake

The trail on the way to the lakes becomes rockier and more of an incline in elevation.

Once the fog let up you could really see how lush and green the forest was from far away.

I thought this log covered by moss looked like a hairy tarantula. 

My First Mission

One of the attractions I saw while visiting Walla Walla was the Whitman Mission. It's a National Historic Site in Washington. It's the site of a mission founded in 1836 among the Cayuse Indians by Marcus and Narcissa Whitman. The mission also became an important station on the Oregon Trail.

A fictional story about Indians seeking teachers stimulated missionary interest in work among American  Indians in the Oregon country. After 11 years of working with the Indians, the mission effort ended in violence. The Cayuse realized their way of life was in danger. Then a measle epidemic spread rapidly among the Indians in 1847.  On November 29, 1847, a group of Cayuse attacked the mission and killed Marcus Whitman and others. The killings ended Protestant missions in the Oregon country and led to war against the Cayuse.

Upon one's visit to the present day mission, the first thing you should do is go to the Visitor Center. They have a small display and you have the option to watch a 25 minute film about the history of the mission. You then can walk the trail and hill to see various landmarks. There's the Great Grave, Whitman Memorial, Emigrant House site, Grist Mill site, First House site, and Mission House site.

View from the top of the hill by the Whitman Memorial. From this view you can see the Restored millpond.

The Whitman Memorial that is at the top of the hill.

Plant life around the mission.

Oregon Trail Wagon: Did you know that oxen where cheaper than horses or mules. They could pull heavy loads, they didn't bog down in the mud, and they didn't stampede.

On the trail where's their is a view of the Whitman Memorial on top of the hill overlooking the Mission.

Balloon Stampede Festival

There's an annual festival in Walla, Walla called Balloon Stampede. It's 3 days (Friday-Sunday) and each morning they launch balloons at 6:30am. This year they launched 40 balloons. I have been up in a hot air balloon but have never attended a festival. Walla Walla is about 4.5 hours from Seattle. Here are some of the pictures from the festival on Saturday.

Inside the hot air balloon being blown up

The first balloon getting ready to be launched

First balloon being launched into the sunrise

Balloons Galore

Balloons being launched at the Walla Walla State Fairgrounds

Colorful balloons

How many balloons do you spy with your little eyes?

Blast off!!!!!

Seattle Weather "Bubble" State-of-Mind

I moved to Seattle a year ago for a clinical rotation and instantly fell in love with the city; from the weather, landform diversity, attractions, lifestyle, and it didn't hurt that it's the city for caffeineoholics...I fit right in. But if I am being truly honest, the weather was a HUGE factor for me remaining here. The summers and winters are mild...my Seattle winter was completely snowless: in my opinion snow belongs on the mountains, away from the city and the sidewalks that I walk on. And enjoying 60-80 degree summer sits well with me, bring on the endless days of rain.

Therefore, the majority of the 365 days of the year I live in my Seattle weather "bubble," and I just recently had a jolt back to the reality of what "others" endure during the year.....

I recently traveled to eastern Washington to a town called Walla Walla (so nice, they named it twice) for the Balloon Stampede Festival (hot air balloons). For those that do not know, once you go over the mountains from Seattle, the rest of the state of Washington endures a different climate....desert. Even though I knew it was going to be in the high 90 degrees, my mind was protecting me and repressed what 90 degrees felt like.

At 6:30am (the time of the hot air balloon launch) it was already 75 degrees in Walla Walla, which was 15 degrees warmer than the predicted high for Seattle's weather for the day. That day it got up to 103 degrees. There was a time during the day that my feet were burning because the heat was penetrating the soles of my flats and my feet were baking.  Other times I was having hallucinations like a Looney Tunes character of swimming pools and lakes, but there was only hot concrete and dry grass. And yes I still opted to have hot coffee over iced (gross), because coffee is meant to be served hot, and any other way makes it an impostor drink. Therefore, Eastern Washington and I were not becoming best friends, no matter how many awesome hot air balloons they launched.

Driving back to Seattle, it was uplifting to watch the temperature gauge from outside go lower and lower. That Sunday in Seattle it was a rainy and wonderful breezy 60 degrees. I am aware that there is so much of the state of Washington that I need and want to explore, and I shall, when their temperatures are between 55-75 degrees...until then, I shall remain in my Seattle "bubble"and drink my hot coffee and not break out in a sweat.

San Diego vs. Seattle

After living in the Pacific Northwest for almost a year, I finally made it down to California for the first time. My first California experience was in San Diego.

The first morning I awoke in San Diego: it was rainy skies, cool, and foggy. It definitely felt like I never left Seattle; where is this California sun that everyone speaks of??? After I layered up to begin my exploration of this Seattle-like city down south, I began to see even more similarities between San Diego and Seattle:

• San Diego is divided into neighborhoods as well, although they have fewer than the main ones in Seattle.
• San Diego is a very walk-friendly city.
• It's expensive to live in both cities (i.e. gas, food cost, rent).
• They are both close to another country (Seattle-->Canada   San Diego-->Mexico).
• 60-degree weather will cause a large diversity of clothing apparel being worn. A person could be wearing gloves and a coat; whereas, the person next to them could be wearing shorts and sandals.
• The waterfront (Harbor Drive--> San Diego and Alaskan Way-->Seattle) is a common place for locals and tourist to congregate.
• Both are close to many non-tropical islands.

However, since I was in San Diego for five days, I began to see and learn differences. The major difference being that San Diego does not receive that much rain annually; therefore, the probability that the sun will peak out is much higher than Seattle. And unlike Seattle, its a necessity for this pale midwestern to wear sunscreen.

"Forgettable" Moving Tidbits

I am coming upon my first year anniversary of living in the wonderful city of Seattle; therefore, my lease at my first apartment in Seattle was ending, which meant I needed to move.  I was able to find an apartment approximately .5 miles away and it was $600 cheaper. It still amazes me sometimes how everything in Seattle is so much more expensive than the Midwest; my 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment in downtown Omaha was $650 a month. However, I look out my window and see the beautiful Seattle skyline, the Puget Sound, the mountains and then realize how truly worth it and lucky I am to live here.

Although I consider myself a semi-smart individual (when I am fully caffeinated of course), moving is not my forte and I absolutely detest it; therefore, I make several mistakes every time I move.  I didn't repeat any of the mistakes I made last time, but was inventive enough to create new ones. One would think moving .5 miles away wouldn't be complicated, but of course you would be wrong. Therefore, I thought I would share my mishaps so hopefully you will not repeat them.

-Don’t pack your checkbook before you pay the movers.

-It’s criminal to pack your coffee the night before.

-Don’t pack all of your dishes and silverware before you eat dinner.

-You can never have enough packing tape.

-Take allergy medicine during the packing process; because if your dusting regiment is anything like mine (mine is nonexistent), dust will surround your place as you are moving things.

-Don’t pack all your shoes….you will need something to put on your feet the next day.

-Leave a roll of toilet paper in the bathroom….you never know.

-I recommend not packing ziplocs/baggies before the end; therefore, you can keep things together.

-Don’t pack your cell phone charger until the day of, and remember where you put it.

-Don’t pack your tools; you may need them to take apart furniture.

-Male movers will judge the amount of clothes you have; just accept it.

-If the moving truck is going to be in the alley while moving you should check if you need to reserve the alley; apparently I was suppose to and felt awful for the movers who had to move the truck; I was definitely cringing.