Huh, Hike-O-The-Week, my foot. Hike-O-The-Month would be more appropriate.
Regardless...
Yesterday's hike was up to Dorothy Lake, in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area, near Index and Barring. Evidently it's a zoo on the weekends but on our afternoon jaunt we ran into about 8 people and had an ideal lakeside lunch rock all to ourselves. The hike is relatively easy (4 mi round trip) with a few steep sections that will have you huffing and puffing. If the weather's warm, bring a swimsuit; it's a perfect lake for paddling about.
We're trying out a new technique for Bailey: have him carry all the stuff that I'd normally lug about in my backpack, in the hope that it'll slow him down a bit. He has a tendency to wander further afield than I'd prefer and I get tired of calling him back every two minutes. The only downside to this strategy is that one must be prepared for the dogpack contents to get soggy as he gleefully goes swimming in every stream, river, and mudhole along the way.
Cornus canadensis, of the dogwood family
Devil's Club
I love boardwalks and this trail has 'em in spades
I've forgotten what this lovely plant with the bright red stems is. A berry, perhaps? Salmonberry? Huckleberry?
Random side note: Did you know that Bear Grylls of the Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Wild show named his sons Huckleberry and Marmaduke? Don't run across those everyday...
Random side note: Did you know that Bear Grylls of the Discovery Channel's Man Vs. Wild show named his sons Huckleberry and Marmaduke? Don't run across those everyday...
At last, the lake!
Looking for ducks.
Mom at the lake outlet
ferns that are slowly unfurling
Indian paintbrush
'shrooms
