Libations: Tolmie Peak, Mt. St. Helens, Friends at a Distance, and More Cooking

I've been dragging my feet on posting more, because I've had some difficulty moving photos from my phone to somewhere that I can use for the blog post. Don't despair, for photos are working well now, and this post will prove it.

We continue to hike on Tuesdays. I like to call it Adventure Tuesday, but mostly it is a good, off-peak time to use the trails. I particularly enjoyed the Tolmie Peak Fire Lookout trail that leaves from Lake Mowich in Mt. Rainier National Park. Unfortunately, there were clouds of mosquitoes starting at Eunice Lake to the top. I came home with my legs covered in bites. I did use my bug hood, so at least my head and neck were protected.

Lake Mowich at the start of the trail

Eunice Lake with the Fire Looking on Tolmie Peak above

Through the looking glass into the watchtower.

The wildflowers were amazing.


At the top. If the clouds hadn't rolled in, you would see Mt. Rainer behind Russ.

We didn't get this view until we were driving out.

Mowich from above on the return.

More flowers. Flowers everywhere.

Our next hike was at Mount St. Helens. We drove to the Johnston Ridge Observatory (it was mostly closed because of COVID-19, and hiked along the Dana Point Trail and the Boundary Loop Trail. I haven't been to the north side of the mountain in years. We have typically climbed St. Helens, which is done from the south side (so the crater isn't in the way). It was an amazing day out and we did get nice views into the crater and down valley. I also enjoyed the drive up. The town of Toledo is so cute. It would be fun to come back and camp near here to explore further. We stopped for pie at Spiffy's on the way home. The perfect finish to a perfect day.

The crater, lava dome and the path of destruction.

Locations in 360 Degrees.

Few of the trees in this area remained on site; they took a direct hit here.

Mount Adams in the east with a cloudcap.

Overexposed.

Replanted forest. It's strange to see a forest with trees all the same.

Mural in Toledo, WA

The Toledo Library.

Check out the mile-high banana cream pie!

We are continuing to hike the Point Defiance outer loop trail on Fridays with our friends. This past week we stopped on the way back at the home of a retired friend (we worked together for about 15 years) and his wife. It is so nice just to sit around the yard and talk with friends. I miss people so much since social distancing became the new normal. They have an amazing rose garden and also a pea patch food garden.

Puget Sound from the Outer Loop Trail at Point Defiance.

Keep your distance.

The last of the summer squash.

Russ and I also will do a local walk when we have to stay closer to home. So we walked the Ruston Way promenade along the south shore of Commencement Bay.

The old Dickman Mill site.

Mount Rainier and the Port of Tacoma in the distance behind Russ.

Cooking is one of my favorite diversions from the worry about the corona virus. I've continued to make old favorites and try new recipes using produce from our local farmers market.