Lake 22 was one of the most beautiful hikes we did in 2024 . The pics don’t even begin to do it justice or show just how huge the rocks are…Amazing!
Stairs This log was huge!
This trail was not at all what I expected. With the elevation being under 2000 gained I was thinking easy but it was not. It was a great workout and the views were stunning! It was rocky which I wasn’t expecting and had some bouldering . Definitely one of my top favs!
Huge boulders Look at how little these hikers look on one of the many rocks Lake 22Huge bouldersOther less traveled side of Lake 22Best view!
The stats for this trail are ⬇️
📍 Lake 22 Trail
🧭 Granite Falls, Wa
🥾 5.9 miles RT ( we came in at 8.38)
🏔️ 1446 ft elevation gain ( we gained 1526ft)
⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple
Trail to walk around Lake 22View on the opposite side of Lake 22
Espresso Chalet has one of the best views of Mount Index . It was the perfect stop to grab coffee after hiking Wallace Falls & Heybrook Lookout. Both hikes are within a few miles of each other with the Espresso Chalet between them. Look for the Bigfoot and you will know you are there.
We ordered our drinks and then went to soak in some more Mountain views… amazing! Perfect place to stretch your legs and grab some drinks or snacks before heading home .
A fun fact : this was an official location from the movie Harry and the Hendersons … anyone remember that movie?
One of our favorite @starbucks is in the Bavarian town of Leavenworth . The decor is a modern ski lodge vibe which we absolutely loved!
Looking out the window you can easily access Aasgard without the grueling workout or magic portal 😉
If you’re wanting a fun weekend adventure , Leavenworth is a great place to explore. Hike, shop , eat , and enjoy feeling like you traveled to a different country. Grab your favorite book and grab coffee as you soak it all in at this unique Starbucks.
Our March Book Club pick was Once a Queen by Sarah Arthur. . Once a Queen is a fairytale fantasy that weaves real life family dynamics with magic portals , secret gatherings and magic woven tapestries. You meet 14 year Evie as she travels to England to meet a grandmother she has never met before who lives in a beautiful estate that has an intriguing staff. The staff is one we would all want if we were as privileged. . It starts off slow but then quickly starts to wrap you into the story as it unfolds. As the characters unfold , and the story is weaved ,and you get glimpses of the white stag, you can’t help but to start to step into the magic of the story . Definate Narnia vibes throughout that awakened my childlike faith in reading this. . Our bookclub enjoyed reading this and several of us are adding the other books to our list!
Resolutions checkin.. how are you doing for 2025? . This year, I planned and scheduled a quarterly refresh of our resolutions to go along with my cultivate quarterly refresh . Yay! For already having it on the calendar 🙌 This way it lets me look at our year 3 months at a time instead of the whole 12 months at once which was great! Our family was able to see some goals we achieved for the year and to also remember what we were all working toward. . Another fun way to stay motivated was making these vision boards with friends at the start of the year. I keep mine posted on the front door so I can see it everytime I leave . A good reminder of how I want this year to look and what I am working toward.
Vision Boards
Have you ever looked at your year as quarters or do you regularly review your goals /resolutions ? Share your tips below.. I would love to hear them.
A few weeks ago we were able to attend the Bantam Cup event @whitepass. It was such a fun day and we loved all the excitement on the slopes. We saw so many that were dressed up as chickens and all sorts of characters that it added to the fun of the day.
Winter Castle podium White pass Snow Castle Bantam Cup
One of our favorites was the life size Winter Castle from the Winter Carnival weekend . The Castle crew, artists and sculptors all did an amazing job on the art and sculptures creating a circus theme. It also made the perfect back drop to the awards podium plus it was fun for the littles to explore.
Snow Castle Tigger and Eeyore on the slopes
Have you ever seen a life size Snow castle? Check out our reel below of the castle ⬇️
“Frankie don’t like slimy fish, cause fishes are all so dumb And Frankie don’t like little humans, humans are so dumb Frankie don’t even like trolls, cause trolls are also dumb But Frankie’s mouth’s the only one that says the word of dumb” ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Thomas Dambo
Frankie Feetsplinters,one of the Thomas Dambo’s Northwest Trolls, lives at the National Nordic Museum in Ballard.He is one of the six trolls that the Danish artist has made from recycled materials and has installed around the Northwest . Frankie is the youngest and most irresponsible of all the Trolls in Way of the Bird King.You see him stepping on a wood bench which is part of the art. . He is also one of the few Trolls which has come out of the forest to an urban environment.Look for the birdhouses . They are a clue that you are in the right area . . Pro tip- plan to go on the first Thursday …Admission to the Nordic Museum is free ⭐️
We had the opportunity to stay at one of the Mt. Rainier Huts and jumped on it! We really had no idea on what to expect since it was our first time ever doing something like this but it was a great first time experience for our family and we can’t wait to go again!
The Hut was a welcome sight after the hike in with all our gear. Cabin on top of the mountain.. what’s not to love ! The Hut was clean and fully stocked and even had extra gear in case it was needed like poles or snowshoes. We were greeted with a banner of multi flags that reminded us of Everest basecamp , which we loved! It was a well appointed hut with a mudroom to leave your gear in like snowshoes, boots , poles and shoes . There was a kitchen , several tables to eat at or play games and a few couches by the fire. There was running water and electricity by solar . Upstairs hosted several sets of bunkbeds and some individual beds (twin) for sleeping.
The fully stocked kitchen Fireplace View from the outhousePlaying a game
The stats for this trail are ⬇️
📍 CopperCreek Hut viaRainier Vista Trail
🧭 Ashford, Wa
🥾 10.9 miles RT ( we came in at 8 )
🏔️ 1692 ft elevation gain ( we gained 800)
⭐️ Stats based on AllTrails and Apple
The road was open for us so this changes the stats. If the road is closed then it would come in closer to AllTrails.
Coffee after the hike up
Watching the sun set was amazing! So beautiful!
The next morning , we headed out to explore some more . Look at this view we found!
We hiked to the Tenth Mountain viewpoint and it came in at 3 miles rt . We were able to just use our microspikes but we did post hole some. Overall we hiked about 11 miles and a 1000 elevation including the hut rt .
You do have to make reservations to stay. You can do that here ⬇️
Here is some more info from Mount Tahoma Trails Association has on their website.
Copper Creek is located in the North District and is only open during the winter. The maximum capacity of the hut is 14 people. Copper Creek Hut is located within the Mt. Rainier Gateway Forest, a wildlife preserve, so please leave your dog at home. Dogs are not allowed in the North District.
How far is it to Copper Creek?
The trek to Copper Creek Hut is:
3.2 miles with 800’ of elevation gain from the upper sno-park.
4.3 miles with 1,070’ of elevation gain from the middle sno-park (least frequently used).
5.4 miles with 1,570’ of elevation gain from the lower sno-park.
Cleaning supplies – dish soap, hand soap, Clorox, etc.
Toilet paper, paper towels
Water Filter System: Rain water is collected in the summer. In the winter, water comes from snow melt. There is a water filter system to provide clean drinking water.
Other Items: Some other amenities you will find:
Books/MagazinesRestrooms: An outhouse are located outside of the hut.
Do you find it hard to be still in the presence of God? I sure do! My mind is often running through list or already planning the next few hours . . As I get older , stillness I think is more of an offering of my time. Sitting without distractions even if for only a few minutes and saying God I’m here and then waiting. I am finding that the more I practice being still the more at peace I feel ✨
