Where's Lurker?

“Hey Guys!

Just got into Seattle yesterday and doing the tourist thing. Saw the art museum, pike(sp?) market and went to the top of the space needle (I was surprised by how short it is - 1/3 the size of the CN tower). Gonna get some hiking in during the next 14 days.

Anyway, it kind of feels like Ann Arbor on massive quantities of steroids. Oh, and it's about 60 with a light rain - perfect.

BTW, Joy, I didn't mean to dis you on the Keweenaw trip. Last Sunday I got back from the wonderful UP of Michigan. I backpacked/jeeped around the tip. It is a beautiful area without any real trails. It was great for rock scrambling, but you would have to be really good with orienteering and rough terrain to get the most out of the area. The bugs were pretty bad.

Hey, anyone ever take the ferries north from Washington into Alaska? I saw that in a brochure, you could take them all the way to the Aleutians. That would be one fun TT trip.

Rambling on!
Mike”

“Hey Mike! Sounds like you're having a good time. Can't wait to hear reports on the hikes, you being a flat lander and all.

You don't have to be a good orienteer here in the Keweenaw Peninsula. All roads lead either to the lake or a bar. ;o)

If you get a chance, let me know where in the Keweenaw you went. I'm curious. :o)

Keep us posted!”

“Reformed, thinking of going to Alaska, lol, if I new you wanted to travel that far, I would have researched it for you :{}”

“wowsa! Good for you, Lurky! Sounds like your trip is as fun as you had hoped. Looks like my ventures West will have to wait another year...I'm off to DR again in 2 weeks!! aaiiyyyeeeeeeeee! =:0”

“Have fun RL and let us know when you're home. We gotta talk about that ship watching trip!”

“Since last I posted, I have been pinned in by a herd of elk and buzzed by a bald eagle.

I was hiking a section of the Hoh River Trail in Olympic NP. On the way back, we found about 20 elk standing on the trail.

So, we did what any reasonable hiker does in that situation. We just stood there and waited. So, a half hour later, they let us through. We saw another herd of about 30 on the drive out.

Then, while exploring tide pools on the Strait of Juan De Fuca, I saw a bald eagle land nearby. I tried to get a little closer and it buzzed me. Really cool.

That whole Olympic Peninsula is like a big ole' amusement park for outdoors lovers.

Tomorrow looks like some dayhiking near Mt. Rainier and later in the week, a little trip to Mt. St. Helen's. It should be a blast.”

“Reformed-- years ago I drove down to Valdez from Anchorage in a rental car and took the ferry back. It was a few months after the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Trip really was beautiful! (no signs of Sea Otter a la Crude). The drive itself into Valdez is amazing. Unless you are into site seeing (if the visability allows--it can be foggy) it can get pretty long just stuck on the ferry. We were lucky-- although the weather was misty, we were able to see plenty of sea life...glaciers, little tree covered islands dotted the scape like green jewels. I agree it would be a pretty cool TT trip, but there would be long hours of just standing or walking around on the boat. Lots of cool places to get off and stay for a day or two, though. Sitka is really nice, as well as just about anywhere in Southeast AK. Never Have been to the Aleutians...”

“Well, I'm back home after 15 days in Washington (and little bit of Oregon).

This was a move-my-brother-into-his-new-digs trip. So, we did some hiking, sightseeing, apartment hunting and test driving.

Some observations:

No air conditioners anywhere! And electric heat! Seattle has made a deal with the devil. Not too hot. Not too cold. They are going to have to pay for this in the afterlife, Years in purgatory, I imagine.

The Olympic Peninsula is the most amazing place I went. I just wonder how long all these places will stay nice with a burgeoning metropolis so close by.

It's crazy the way Rainier just pops in and out of the sky. It's almost unreal. That's one bad-ass mountian.

Seattle seems like one big suburb. It actually got in the way of my liking the city more. Everything was a little too new and geared toward those with high income. Where are the low-rent neighborhoods that give a place real character?

And what is the African-American population of the city? Seems really low.

But I ran into some really great people along the way. Everyone was giving advice. And the drivers are unfailingly polite. They all drive together at 60 miles per hour in all lanes and don't honk. Strange!

Things I'd like to do next time:

Hike the beach from Rialto Beach to Lake Ozette in Olympic National Park.

Hike the rim of Mt. St. Helen's.

Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier.

Beach camp on the SW coast of Washington.

Take the ferry from Seattle to Victoria.

BTW, thanks Lipstick Hiker for your advice on places to go.”