Frozen Falls

Last weekend we went on a wintery hike with some friends. It was a short hike to Franklin Falls which is a stunning frozen waterfall. It started snowing as we hiked and it set the mood even more for the unveiling of the falls. The giant icicles and cold mist were more than worth the 2 mile hike.

Glacier Lake

Ready for a hike again we headed into Flathead National Forest in Montata. We did a 3 mile hike to Glacier Lake. Middle of the week hiking is amazing, we hardly ran into anyone and had the beautiful lake view mostly to ourselves. It was an easy hike but the morning was beautiful.

Roslyn is very into running water so we made lots of long staring stops at all the little wood bridges. If she was crying she'd see the rushing water and stop, stare, and become totally entranced. Most hikes she'll sleep in the carrier but now she's getting more and more alert for at least one direction of the hike. Which also means she has opinions, like not wanting to be carried or strapped tightly to our chests. We started facing her out more when she's in the moods which helps but when the lady is done we pull over and play outside the carrier for a bit. 

Sawtooth Hike

The Iron Creek to Sawtooth lake in Idaho was incredible. Joshua has always had a thing for Idaho and this solidified it. We counted and I believe we spent the most nights on our trip somewhere in this beautiful quiet state.

This hike was a little over 8 miles and Roslyn was asleep for most of the first half. Getting her hiked back was a bit more of a pain but not too bad. The hike itself was stunning, it was a perfect blue sky day. We really lucked out again and the beginning meadow part of the hike was full of varied wildflowers and bright greens.

Then after some steep climbing and switchbacks we crossed a creek to make it to the lake. Mid creek crossing we ran into another couple (she was pregnant, it was fun to think that was me) and they pointed us to an almost invisible trail to the right and told us it was worth it to head that way then just go stand at the lakeshore. I protested a bit as we had just finished the incline to our destination but was very glad we persevered! They were right the view was amazing. We were looking down on the lake with the Sawtooth mountains in the background reflecting onto the smooth lake surface. We decided to hang out and eat our lunch there and watched the clouds float over the lake surface and see the ripples come and go.

We also had a few great campsites Joshua found us, all free. Finally took the time to cook dinner over the fire this night, swing in the hammock and lay around with Roslyn. She's not a cuddler but this evening we were able to steal a few. It was also the first evening she got bug bites and we felt terrible! She didn't seem to mind them luckily.

Colorado Frozen lakes & Glaciers

We hiked in the snow a lot in Colorado. We were very glad we flew our crampons/spikes with us. Lots of people were slipping and sliding up the icy hills and we were just chatting and passing them with awesome traction. They grimaced at us a bit.

After Thanksgiving we hike to a frozen lake, Loch Lake, it was at about 10,200 ft. One of the fourteener mountains was right next to it. The day was sunny and kind of warm so it was a really pleasant hike. The lake was stunning, frozen enough you could walk on it but not so frozen it was also covered in snow. We ate snacks on a rock in the middle of the lake and I couldn't resist stripping off my spikes to skate around a bit. That night back at our cabin we had leftover stuffing, played games and read our books. It was slow and cozy. We aren't the best at slow but we really embraced it this trip.

Then on our last day at the cabin we went to St. Mary's Glacier, again very very glad to have the spikes. It was a short hike to the lake, pleasant, sunny again. The lake wasn't quite frozen so there were icebergs floating in it. I looked up and saw the glacier, there were a few people walking up a tidbit on on and a few others skiing down some of it. Then a huge gust of wind picked up the loose powder and blew it all over them. I said I'm not going on that thing, I'm happy to look at it.

Next thing you know we walked up to just go to the base of it. Then we just wanted to go to where everyone else was standing. Then we were full on trudging our way to the top of the darn thing. When the wind would blow the loose snow I'd turn around, shiver a bit, and keep going. I don't know why I went except that once I started I felt committed, and curious. We'd never hiked on a glacier, just near them. The textures the wind created in the snow were stunning. Once we were out of view of the base of it you felt you were on another planet a bit. It was cold but the sun kept it bearable. We made it pretty far, about 12,000 ft. The wind was pretty persistent at that point and I was worried about it making it hard to breath so we turned around. In the end I'm glad we hiked on the frigid glacier, and once we were off the sun warmed us right back up.

After that we headed into the city to our cute little airbnb.

Waterfall Hike

Sunday we decided we needed to get outside for a bit. Since it was rainy and superbowl Sunday we figured we could risk a close and popular hike and not have too many people around. We got lucky and the trial was tame and the rain was only a mist. We have been to Wallace Falls before but never got a chance to hike all the way to the top. It's a beautiful, tall, forceful waterfall that cascades down for quite awhile into the woods.

The hike was mossy, quiet, and the respite that we needed. Back in Seattle we went to get a bowl of chili and a beer to watch the first half of the superbowl. It was a lovely relaxing day.