Monday, August 25, 2008

Cascade Pass

Steven and I had two days off together this weekend so we decided to go hiking..it was a rather last minute decision because he didn't find out until Friday afternoon that rafting was cancelled. Anyway....we stayed up until 11:00 on Friday night packing meals and our gear. The alarm clock went off at 4:00am on Saturday morning and our day began. We both took showers to wake us up and then headed to the bakery so Steven could grab some coffee on the way up the road. We drove up to Car Wash Falls and the Old Wagon Trail where our hike was to begin....light packs for this trip because the evening plan was to stay in the base camp site at Cottonwood Camp. The trail to Cottonwood is about 9 1/2 miles along the old road for most of the way. It was a nice walk...just a little cool when we started our hike at 6:00am. We arrived at Cottonwood around 10:15 and dropped off our packs and sleeping gear at the Tent to Tent site. It is a base camp site set up by Stehekin Adventure Co that guests can reserve (see www.stehekin.biz and scroll down under accommodations and click on Tent to Tent) and fortunately no one was staying there for the night. All we had to bring was food and clothes and my camera of course. We took a little break there and had a snack before continuing on the hike towards Cascade Pass. As we hiked alongside the river, the sun continued to shine to reveal a bright blue sky, small waterfalls showering down towards the river, and beautiful mountain peaks all around. It truly was the perfect day for hiking. We passed several campsites along the way and the entrance to Horseshoe Basin. It took us about 4 hours to hike the 51/2 miles uphill to Cascade Pass and we only stopped for a snack once and took a few breaks to drink water from waterfalls and small water run-offs. We made it to the top of the pass and the view was amazing...looking out to see several snow-stopped mountains. The time was about 2:30 and so we found a large rock to sit on and enjoy lunch. After resting there for about 30 minutes, it was time to start hiking again..downhill this time. The debate was whether to hike into horseshoe basin that evening or wait until the next morning...we decided to go ahead and tough it out and hike into the basin. It was so beautiful!!! I hope we get to go visit there again sometime. We walked around and viewed the waterfalls...then hiked/climbed up a rock slide area to see an old Copper Mine. The Mine is still open (not fenced off) with visible remnants of rooms built inside for the miners to live. The opening goes back several hundred feet and while walking along into the mine..it continues to get colder and darker. We just followed the railroad tracks in and looked at all the prospect holes along the way. It was really neat! I will try to get some pictures uploaded to post soon...no promises though. On the way back out of horseshoe basins....the ache in my legs was increasing. Fortunately we only had another 3 miles to go before returning to the base camp at Cottonwood. We arrived there around 9:00, just in time to cook a hot meal and get ready for bed. The next morning, we woke around 6:00 to have warm oatmeal for breakfast..then begin the 9 mile hike back to were the truck was parked. We both decided Saturday was the perfect day for hiking to the pass because Sunday was a little overcast....and the decision to hike into horseshoe basin on Saturday evening was a good one as well....not so sure the legs would have handled the extra 8 miles that Sunday. The walk home was nice with only a few blisters on my right foot. The best part of Sunday was returning to the truck and driving straight to the bakery to enjoy lunch consisting of a cinnamon roll, ice cream, and a carrot cupcake. Oh it was so good!! The afternoon was reserved for hot showers and a nice long nap as well. Steven and I were thankful to have the weekend off together...and a great weekend it was indeed...inspires us to plan another hiking trip!!

Gwen Stefani Wallpapers

Gwen Stefani Wallpapers

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Our Night Time Visitor

This is a funny story...so even though it happened about two weeks ago...I still want to share. Behind our house there is a small wooded area and a large overflow parking lot...behind the lot there is a large section of woods and rocky portions of a mountain. In the evenings on warm nights, we sleep with our front and back door open to assist with airflow through the house and to keep things cool. One door has an enclosed porch on the second floor with no steps to get downstairs and the other has stairs...it is the door we use daily....neither door has a screen...all these details are important for the story..you will see later :-)
Well.. I was sleeping on the bed downstairs because I hadn't been feeling well and didn't want to keep Steven awake. Around 1:30 I woke up as something fell over on the counter in the kitchen...or at least that is what I thought. It just sounded like something falling to me. I got up and went into the kitchen..but didn't see anything. I was feeling better so I headed upstairs to our bedroom to go back to sleep. Steven was still sleeping and I tried not to wake him. Just as I was about to fall asleep again...I heard the same sound again. I asked Steven to get up and check because I hadn't seen anything falling the first time...but something obviously did. He went downstairs and Lady was in the kitchen this time looking up at the counter. He said it was just a water bottle that fell over...maybe from the wind blowing through the door or something....then came back and tried to go back to sleep. The next thing you know, we hear the same sound over and over and over again..it sounds like the spices or cups are falling off the shelve on the counter. Steven gets up and says "I fear that it may be a mouse," so he goes downstairs to take a look...yep...the spices are all on the counter and floor and Lady is looking around the kitchen again. He says..."No big deal..I have about 5 traps...we can catch him and then get back to sleep." Sounded good to me...so he set the traps and came back upstairs. Just as it go quiet again...we heard this "wap" and Steven started to chuckle. It was the sound of the trap going off. He walked downstairs to investigate...no mouse in the trap but it was set off. He reset it and came back upstairs and mumbled something about the fact that he hoped it wasn't something bigger like a rat....not a fun thought for me. Next thing you know..we hear this "thud." It sounded like to trap actually hit something this time...Steven hurried downstairs and I followed along....nothing in the trap. Steven says.. "I think it is a rat and we are going to have to catch him or he is going to keep us up all night and these traps just aren't big enough." At this point it is like 2:30 in the morning. We do have people that live below us as well..later we found out that were hiking and camping that week...probably a good thing. Anyway...we turn on all the lights and Steven starts looking for it...the thing runs under the refrigerator...but not before Steven gets a glimpse of it. Yep...it is definitely a pack rat he states. Oh boy I think..this is going to be interesting. So he pulls the fridge away from the wall a little and the thing is trapped under and only has one way to run out. I am standing there with a bowl and a broom...we have the trashcan ready to tip on it on the floor and Lady by my side to chase it out the door if/when it runs out. Then Steven decides that isn't going to work because he thinks I am going to run across the room when I see how big this thing is...he was probably right on that. So he goes outside to get a stick and begins to sharpen it (he really wanted to shoot the thing but I thought it would mess something up in the house we don't own). I informed him that he should just tape the knife to the stick and use it that way....sure enough..we end up with a piece of drift wood with a small pocket knife taped on as a "dagger." Steven pokes it under the fridge and stabs the rat and says "errgg" at the same time to signify his accomplishment. At first he doesn't think the rat is dead so he asks me to tip the fridge so he can get it out. I went around the front and just as I started to tip it..I looked down and saw the tail...about 4 inches long and as big around as my little finger...I squealed and ran to the other side of the room saying.."it's gross and big" Steven decided the rat was dead and pulled him out and sent him flying into the woods. (Oh...I did see the thing as he carried it out the door and it was a really big rat) Needless to say...we don't sleep with that back door open anymore at night. He just ran up the steps and into the house while we were sleeping. Over the course of the next few days...I washed all the dishes and counter tops the rat could have possibly walked/run across and we shared our funny story with friends the whole week. Hope it wasn't too "long-winded" but I didn't want to leave out any details...details make a story better...right?? Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

I'M COMING HOME

Well...I finally bought the plane tickets after staring at this screen for the last 2 hours making sure I didn't overlook some tiny detail like I did on the last travel trip I planned (I had Mom and Ms. Yvonne riding on a bus on Sunday that doesn't run on Sunday)!!
I will post more details later but I will be arriving in North Carolina late on Thursday, Oct 30 to spend several days with family..then heading to Columbia...back to North Carolina at the end of the trip with a flight back to Washington on Sunday, Nov. 16!

I will be emailing about photo shoots for Christmas pictures that people may be interested in and fun times with friends while I am home!! 2 and 1/2 whole weeks!! Yeah!!

I promise to most more later...some funny stories to share!
















Free Las Vegas

Newletter



Find Out What's Hot In Vegas From


Long Time Local Insiders


www.accessvegas.com/newsletter



Discount

Las Vegas Rooms



Las Vegas Is On Sale! Rock Bottom Rates


For Rooms At ALL Hotels


www.i4vegas.com

Ads

From
Vegas




One of the year's biggest events, A Midsummer Night's Dream, took place poolside at the Palms Hotel and Casino this past weekend. This year's theme was "A Masquerade in the King's Court. Guests showed up dressed to impress in sexy Shakesperian outfits and masks. On behalf of the sponsor and lifestyle brand, the "Billionaire Mafia," complimentary cocktails were served up all night, including the "Billionaire Mafiatini." The signature drink consists of Ketel One Vodka, olive juice and a splash of Cizano Vermouth.





The Billionaire Mafia team celebrated the evening at their own VIP table and cabana which was located by the "royal bridge" which guests crossed to enter the party. The Billionare Mafia is a lifestyle brand that offers trendy, hip fashion accessories and apparel for men and women.


Photo credit: Billionaire Mafia

Posted by Access Vegas staff


Previous posts by Las Vegas News Blog staff: