Stepping aside from the blue sky and the nice trails for a few hours I went to a store in Leavenworth called “A Matter of Taste”
I’m not gonna lie I would buy the entire store if I could. I ended up buying only six jars including the delicious Spicy Red Jalapeno Mustard
and Roasted Pineapple & Habanero…
The beautiful town of Leavenworth, Washington
Apparently the story is that the old mining town was dying so they decided to change it into a ‘Bavarian’ looking town and a tourist destination. It worked 🙂 The surrounding area is actually pretty nice too.
May 4th, 2019
Summit of Mount Rainier, Washington – 14,411ft
View from the summit. Very cold and windy but nothing beats the feeling of a successful climb.
May 4th, 2019 – Successful summit of Mount Rainier, WA at 7:05am after a five hour climb from camp Muir. Hiked back down 8000ft to trailhead arriving at 2pm. I climb with RMI Expeditions. It was their first successful climb of Rainier for the season so I’m quite happy about that. The weather was fantastic. I got to learn a lot about rest step technique, pressure breathing and other things. Practiced self-arrest too which is always good.
Finally sorted all the photos. I used a lighter old camera (Sony Nex 3N) for this short expedition instead of my usual Sony A7R II
It was a short five day expedition.
Day #1 – Meeting and checking climbing equipment
Day #2 – Practice near Paradise Trailhead
Day #3 – Hike to Camp Muir at 10,188 ft elevation
Day #4 – Active / Rest day with a little climb to Ingraham Flats
Day #5 – Summit day + Hike Down
April, 27th 2019
I was in Leadville, Colorado earlier today. No hike this time but I spent the night and part of the day in that area for altitude acclimation. I saw that old forgotten poem by Walt Whitman in a coffee house…
“Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.”
Mount Elbert being the highest summit of the Rocky Mountains it was an obvious destination for my current training.
14,440 ft / 4401 meters
Hiking along the Black Cloud trail.
(note: photo of the full moon above Mt Massive the next morning. Shot from Leadville, Colorado)
Great view of Rinker Peak (center) and La Plata on the right
Reaching the ridge. Mount Elbert is still 2.1 miles away (right) along a ridge full of false summits.
Finally reaching the summit after seven hours and forty five minutes
Great views from the summit. La Plata Peak is the giant massif in the center.
April 14th. 2019
Still training for the climb of Mount Rainier, WA early May. Current routine is to be at the local gym between 4:30am and 6:30am for a two hour workout. Alternating cardio and weights.
Climbed Grays Peak starting from I70 since the road is mostly impassable. 13 miles round trip. 4400ft elevation gain. Very windy during most of the day with zero visibility from the summit.
Will try to do two more 14ers before leaving for Washington at the end of the month…
Made a cake for the yearly cheese fondue party 🙂
Base: Genoise & Caramel Syrup
Filing: Swiss Butter Cream mixed with Nutella
Frosting: Dark Chocolate Ganache
Decoration: Nougatine
After hiking up Bear Peak, Boulder last Saturday and Morrison Peak last Sunday I thought I’d climb my first 14er of 2019
Guanella Pass being closed I had to start at Naylor Lake Trailhead so it took a little bit longer than usual; 7:30 hour total for a 10.5 miles RT
Cold & windy. About 0 degree Fahrenheit with a windchill at -17F at the summit. Deep snow in the plain. I was sinking 2ft into the snow even with snowshoes on.
New bread. This time with 25% wheat flour, 80% bread flour + sunflower, chia, sesame, and flax seeds + some organic bulgur wheat
