Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mountains. Show all posts

The Brothers

Saturday, June 29, 2024

 
The Brothers
Photo by Jan Hansen

I spent an entire semester of a high school English class staring out the window at The Brothers. The classroom had tall windows with small panes. My desk was in the front row, right in front of the window.

If I positioned myself just right, I could frame The Brothers in one of the small panes - my own private art piece.

It was a slightly different - and closer - view than this one. The Brothers were the most prominent mountains from my part of Puget Sound.

The English class was boring but the mountains were beautiful and it still makes me happy to see them.

--Diane Hettrick


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Scenic SR 20 North Cascades Highway now open

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

SR 20 North Cascades Highway opened after its annual winter closure on Friday, April 19.
Photo courtesy WSDOT

Following a final avalanche control mission on Monday, April 15, 2024 WSDOT reopened SR 20/North Cascades Highway on Friday morning, April 19. 

This section of SR 20 from milepost 134 to 171 closes every winter due to safety and access concerns. The road closed for the winter on November 30, 2023; spring clearing began March 25.

The 33-mile long North Cascades Highway is sometimes referred to the as the “North Cross” as the northernmost east-west route over the Cascade mountains.

Even with the highway reopened for the season, travelers should be prepared for the potential for snow and ice while traveling through the mountain passes and should keep in mind that many of the United States Forest Service and National Park Service facilities have not yet opened for the season. 

WSDOT crews will clear the road and shoulder and any pullout areas needed for maintenance work, but otherwise, there are few facilities open and no cell service through the mountain passes.


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Scene on the Sound: Early morning mountain view

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Photo by Lee Lageschulte


A rosy sunrise on the Olympics, the Edmonds ferry, and water looking like textured cloth. Sometimes it's worth it to get up and out in the early morning.


 

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Scene on the Sound: Mountains, cargo ship, ferry, and clear shies

Monday, January 15, 2024

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

An Evergreen cargo ship, a Washington state ferry, and the Olympics looming in the background - an action packed shot. Not only that, the normal haze is gone.

The peak is called "The Brothers" because of the double peak.


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Photo: Poem

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Sunrise over the Olympics
Photo by Lee Lageschulte


Life

Looking back through my life I see a hallway,
A kind of byway with doors to rooms once opened up
Where I lived, worked, and enjoyed my skills.
Now as I pass by I remember
Those rooms I can no longer reenter
And long to relive the good times, the thrills.
But I am instead pulled along, can't stay,
Through the passageway of time day by day.

There are the rooms of loved ones who've passed on,
The room of taking my health for granted
The room of music I can no longer hear,
The room with my favorite pet
No longer purring in my ear.
A building remodeled, unrecognizable.
A home now bulldozed, a loss that was sizable.

But you can't revisit the rooms as before,
For time is not meant to repeat itself,
For what purpose, why?
Work with whatever you do have left,
Your health, your eyesight, and memories.
Show the fullness of a lifetime in prose.
Write a memoir, paint a picture, tell your stories.

Moving inevitably toward the open lighted doorway
At the end of the hall,
You still have goals, you have it all.
You've been forged in all kinds of weather
Whether sun, wind, rain or snow.
Now bring it all together. Call it afterglow?

The lighted doorway awaits your arrival.
A good life was your fate.
Now let others know
And step up to the plate.


Vicki Westberg December 7, 2023


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Nature has her own color palette

Friday, October 27, 2023

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte
The cities may be lighting up in orange, but M. Nature has her own colors. The first snowfall of the season made the Olympics suitable for framing.

WSDOT is talking about closing the northern passes in the Cascades but so far has kept the roads plowed. 

The City of Shoreline is conducting snowplow driver training, so don't be alarmed to see snowplows traveling the streets.

We are equipped with six trucks fully outfitted with plows and spreaders dedicated to snow removal and ice control. We have stocked approximately 8,000 gallons of liquid calcium chloride and 200 tons of rock salt and ready to aid the snow and ice removal efforts. 

While the City is responsible for plowing and salting most city streets and bike lanes, residents, business owners, and property owners have responsibilities too. These include clearing sidewalks of snow and ice. For more information on this and our primary and secondary plow routes, go to shorelinewa.gov/stormready 
--Diane Hettrick


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The last sunset of summer

Saturday, September 23, 2023

 
Photo by Mike Remarcke

Yes. Summer is officially over. Saturday is the first day of fall. 

Mike Remarcke decided to see how the other half lives and photograph the Olympics instead of his usual Cascades.



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Snohomish county Search and Rescue teams in dramatic rescue to save three out of state hikers in the Three Fingers mountain area in the North Cascades

Friday, June 23, 2023

Search and Rescue team members in rescue mission in the Three Fingers area of the North Cascades
Photo courtesy Snohomish County Sheriff's Office

On June 17, 2023 around 9:30pm, the Snohomish county sheriff's office on-call Search and Rescue (SAR) coordinator was paged for a mission in the area of Three Fingers on the Mountain Loop Area in the North Cascades.

It was reported that three distressed hikers were stuck in thick fog and rain, about two miles from the lookout. There was a significant amount of snow on the ground and the hikers were not equipped for overnight sheltering.
 
Cell service was sporadic but available enough for the SAR coordinator to call and talk to the reporting party. The three hikers were siblings in their 20’s who traveled here from out of state. They were wet and very cold. They described almost sliding down a heavily snowed area with a steep slope and stated they could not make it back due to the conditions. They had sleeping bags with them, but no shelter to protect them. 

Due to the damaged bridge and washout on FS-41, SAR ground teams had to use E-bikes and quads through the first 8 miles just to reach the trailhead. The ground teams then had to hike up 7 miles to reach the three who needed help. 

It took the first hasty team about 9 hours to reach the hikers.  

Subsequent teams were shuttled in on quads and then hiked in with more gear and dry clothes to warm up the hikers who were exhibiting signs of hypothermia. 

Steep slopes, thick fog, and washed out roads hampered the rescue mission
Photo courtesy Snohomish County Sheriff's Office

The Helicopter Rescue Team made multiple attempts to get to the area, but the weather conditions prevented them from flying in.

After more than a day of rescue efforts by multiple SAR teams, the three hikers were helped down the mountain by ground teams and then brought back over the bridge via quads.
 
In all, the operation took about 32 hours. The initial two hasty teams were on the trail for over 27 hours each.  Many other ground teams spent various hours on the trail as well. Over 500 SAR personnel hours were spent on this mission, a majority being expert volunteers from around the region.
  
A huge thank you to Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Seattle Mountain Rescue, Everett Mountain Rescue, Olympic Mountain Rescue, King County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Skagit County Volunteer Search and Rescue, Arlington Police Department and our own Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office deputies. 
In all, seven quads, three E-bikes, the OSU Command vehicle and SnoHawk10 helicopter were utilized.
 
Incredible work by all the Search and Rescue teams who ultimately saved the lives of these three siblings! 

This was a very difficult and stressful mission that SAR performed flawlessly.

Before you leave to go hiking: 
  • Always check trail reports and weather conditions. 
  • Have a plan and share it with someone who is not hiking with.
  • Always be well prepared: shelter, extra clothing, food and water for multiple days. 
  • Pack the 10 essentials.   
  • Be honest with yourself: are you fit enough, skilled enough, and properly equipped?  
  • Rescue missions can take days to reach you: are you prepared?

-Snohomish County Sheriff's Office


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Destinations: Agencies work to address landslide impacts on SR 504 to Johnston Ridge Observatory

Saturday, May 20, 2023

The upper portion of SR 504 leading to the Johnston Ridge Observatory in Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is still closed after a massive slide over the weekend and likely will be for quite some time. The instability of the hillside means we have no time frame yet for when reopening work may start. Debris from the hillside fell about 2,000 feet, covering the road and causing catastrophic damage to the Spirit Lake Outlet Bridge. Photo from WSDOT

VANCOUVER - On Sunday evening, May 14, 2023 around 9pm a landslide caused significant damage to the upper portion of State Route 504 at milepost 49, leading up to the Johnston Ridge Observatory north of Mount St. Helens. The event followed a recent warming trend and significant snowmelt.

The slide washed out an 85-foot bridge, damaged the roadway, and severed power to Johnston Ridge Observatory. No one was injured because of the incident and twelve members of the public who were stranded overnight at Johnston Ridge Observatory were safely flown out the following morning.

In coordination with federal agencies, the Washington State Department of Transportation closed the highway to all travelers. Travel along SR 504 remains open with multiple scenic viewpoints up to milepost 43 near the Science and Learning Center at Coldwater.

There is currently no access to Coldwater Lake, the Hummocks Trail, and the Johnston Ridge Observatory. For safety, WSDOT and federal agencies strongly encourage people not to venture beyond the highway closure location due to the severity of the unstable hillside.

The USDA Forest Service is in the process of exploring alternative options for visitors who would like to visit the north side of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument this summer and develop a plan to manage the influx of visitors in a safe manner.

Several other visitor centers located along SR 504 remain open to the public, including scenic viewpoints where visitors can see Mount St. Helens and learn about the history, eruption, and recovery of the volcano. As the snow melts and forest service roads open for the season, additional sites on the Monument and surrounding communities will begin to open for visitors to explore.

WSDOT and federal agencies are working together to assess the slide area and develop next steps. Due to continued landslide instability, data collection is being conducted from the air.


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A tranquil view

Thursday, April 13, 2023

 
Photo by Mike Remarcke
Snow-capped Cascade peaks peek from behind the towering evergreens but can't block the view of moon and sky.



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Mt. Baker, closer up

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

A beautiful shot of Mt. Baker from Anacortes. 



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Glowing Cascades

Sunday, February 26, 2023

 
Photo by Ken Berkun

Our recent odd weather, with cold, clear days, has produced some beautiful views. Ken says the picture doesn't capture the whole experience of the glowing mountains of the Cascades, but I suspect that's true of all photographs.

This was Thursday's sunset on the Cascades, from Lake Forest Park.

--Diane Hettrick



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Scene over the Sound: Mt. Constance before the storm

Friday, February 24, 2023

Photo by Lee Wolfe

Tuesday morning Mt. Constance briefly showed her face before the next storm descended.

Mt. Constance is a peak in the Olympic Mountains of Washington and the third highest in the range. It is the most visually prominent peak on our western skyline.



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A view of the North Cascades

Friday, February 17, 2023

Photo by Ken Berkun

So all I had to do was ask! Ken Berkun sent in this gorgeous view of the North Cascades, taken from a Shoreline apartment.

You can see the North Cascades from Bothell Way but it's not convenient to stop to admire the view. 

It seems like they always have more snow than the Olympics.

--Diane Hettrick


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The other mountain

Thursday, February 16, 2023

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte
I'm always surprised at how many good views we have of Mt. Baker in Whatcom county. I knew the name, growing up here, i.e. "Mt. Baker ski resort" but it always seemed like such a far away place.

With a neighborhood group, I toured the apartment buildings at south Echo Lake some years ago. I was shocked to see a clear view of Mt. Baker over the open waters of Echo Lake.

Since then I have received multiple photos of Mt. Baker over Puget Sound.

I keep hoping that a reader with a camera has access to the roof of one of those high rise apartment buildings in North City and will send in photos of all our mountains.

--Diane Hettrick



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Backyard Mountains

Friday, February 10, 2023

 
Photo by Kenneth Berkun

It was a gorgeous day today and several sunny photos showed up. Ken Berkun shared this view from his backyard of the Cascade Mountains.





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Free program from Humanities Washington about the eruption of Mount St. Helens

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Eric Wagner
Come join the Sno-King School Retirees to hear about our local epic event: the eruption of Mount St. Helens on Thursday, May 18, 1980.

The program, from Humanities Washington, is free and open to the general public.

Thursday, February 16, 2023.

Doors open at noon for refreshments and Program is at 1pm. Edmonds School District ESC, 20420 68th Ave W, Lynnwood WA 98036

Our presenter, Eric Wagner is a writer and biologist. He holds a PhD in biology from the University of Washington, where he studied penguins. He is the author of three books, including After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens.

Update: added date of event

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Sunset Monday

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Monday's sunset turns the sky over the Olympic Mountains a deep red, reflected in the waters of the Salish Sea.



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Morning sun on the Olympics

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

 Morning sun radiates light off the Olympic peaks.



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After the Blast: Mount St.Helens 40 Years Later with Eric Wagner - free, in-person presentation

Saturday, January 7, 2023

FREE PROGRAM from Humanities Washington
Hosted by Sno-King School Retirees
Thursday, February 16, 2023 Noon - 3pm
Subject: “After the Blast: Mount St.Helens 40 Year Later” with Eric Wagner

Lecturer Eric Wagner
Program open to the general public. No need to be a member to attend. 

Just attend and enjoy hearing about our local epic event: The eruption of Mount St. Helens on May 18, 1980 and its impacts on our Northwest ecology and life.

Doors open at noon for Refreshments and Announcements. Program at 1pm.
Edmonds School District ESC, 20420 68th Ave W, Lynnwood WA 98036

Sno-King School Retirees organization and Humanities Washington invite the community to an engaging conversation with Eric Wagner, a member of the 2021-2023 Humanities Washington Speakers Bureau. 

This free event takes place Thursday, February 16, 2023, 12-3 p.m. in the Board Room at the Edmonds School District ESC.

Mount St. Helens with logs floating in Spirit Lake
Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Service
On May 18, 1980, the world watched in awe as Mount St. Helens erupted, killing 57 people and causing hundreds of square miles of destruction. 

Everyone thought it would take ages for life to return to the mountain, but scientists who visited soon after were stunned to find plants sprouting up through the ask and animals skittering around downed trees.

Ecologists have since spent decades studying life’s resilience in the face of seemingly total devastation. Through their work, the eruption of Mount St. Helens has become known as the greatest natural experiment in Pacific Northwest history. In his talk, Eric Wagner takes you on a journey through the blast zone. He explores not just the surprising ways plants and animals survived the eruption, but also the complex roles that people have played, all while showing how fascinating Mount St. Helens still is 40 years after the blast.

Our presenter, Eric Wagner is a writer and biologist. He holds a PhD in biology from the University of Washington, where he studied penguins. He is the author of three books, including After the Blast: The Ecological Recovery of Mount St. Helens. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Orion and High Country News, among many other places.



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