Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Best Hike of My Life!!!

Excelsior Peak in the Mount Baker National Forest Area


This was really awesome looking - the reflection of these trees in a lake. 



TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;         
  
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,  
  
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.  
  
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I couldn't stop thinking about this poem all during the hike. It fits it just perfectly.  It's really hard to try to describe this hike... you just have to go and do it to appreciate it as much as I did! It's definitely one of my favorites because: you hike through the forest, base of the mountains, hills, open meadows, then back in the woods again. Lots and lots of creeks and streams. It's relatively flat most of the way, but are a few steep parts. The reward at the top is well worth the last mile of huffing and puffing! The view is basically a 360 degree view of these gorgeous mountains. And directly in front of you is Mount Baker. Saw a few Varied Thrushes, Northern Harriers, Grey Jays and lots and lots of butterflies and bees. The highlight was all of the wonderfully delicious wild mountain blueberries and huckleberries along the whole trail. Hope you enjoy the pictures! Thank you mom for such an amazing day.


Frog of the Day

I just thought this would make a cute picture. It's not as clear as I'd like to of had it, but its still cute, right?