JANUARY 2021

THE OVERLOOK 

AT THE COAST

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POSTED 23 JANUARY 2021

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We survived 2020 and we are so looking forward to a better 2021. Of course, right now we are in limbo as we hunker down in the rain. The holidays have wrapped up. Kirk has a busy day today, but mail is slowing down and now we start ticking off the days until hiking season. 

In the meantime, we can take a look at pictures from our last outdoor adventure in September when we stayed a few days at The Overlook Hotel in Lincoln City...

That's gonna hurt in the morning..."

POSTED SEPTEMBER 2020

Mailbox Peak, Washington 98045

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With USPS so much in the news, we decided to do something in support of all those great letter carriers out there. We chose something fun and not political. 

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"When I  post the picture of you delivering, what would you like to say about it?" I said as we started to descend from the top of Mailbox Peak.

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“Toughest delivery ever. 4000 feet in 2.5 miles. That’s gonna hurt in the morning," Kirk said. 

August  2020

HUNCHBACK MOUNTAIN

THE LAND OF COUGARS

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POSTED 21 AUGUST 2020

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Misha and I hiked Hunchback Mountain Trail two weeks ago. It was physically challenging and also a bit mentally disturbing. We suffered a lot with the relentlessly steep terrain and the feeling that perhaps we were being stalked by a silent someone on four padded paws. Then we saw

a much older couple, deep into the hike. I think they may have been in the late 70's and they were killin' it. Amazing! I hope I'm still hiking at that age...

HOW I ALMOST BECAME A PIKER

CLIMBING MT. ADAMS

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POSTED 10 AUGUST 2020

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Supposedly, somewhere on Piker's Peak, the false summit of Mt. Adams, there is a boulder inscribed by Arthur Jones. No, not the former defensive end who was drafted by the Ravens in 2010. Definitely NOT the Arthur Jones who is not only an American neo-Nazi, but also a frequent, unsuccessful, political candidate. 

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This Arthur Jones manned a forest service fire lookout on top of Mt. Adams for almost a year before the whole project was abandoned. Piker's Peak, the false summit, was apparently named for Arthur's comment that he inscribed on the rock in August 1923.

"You are a piker if you stop on this summit. Don't crab. The mountain was here first."

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Well, he was right about that!

Thanks to Google, I have learned that "Piker" meant cheapskate or coward in the parlance of the 1920's and I can assume with some confidence that our Art Jones meant the latter. Most of the way up Piker's Peak, I was definitely "crabbing" and contemplating joining the Piker ranks. But Kirk and my Townsend willpower (stubbornness) got me through it. 

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Marmot Tungsten UL 3P Tent

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Perfect tent for a claustrophobic chick & her dude & dog. Until we found this tent, we were in a tiny little thing that we called "The Burrito" that weighed just as much or maybe a little more. But I couldn't sleep in it without panic attacks which led to throwing myself from the tent at night, every hour or so. Kind of annoying to all.

When we found this amazing tent, I felt as if we had moved from a studio apartment to a mansion. It is now discontinued, but someway, somehow when I went to replace our poor, used & abused tent, after months of looking and prayers on my part, REI came through & we were able to get the same one again. (I should have bought two because it is no longer available, once again.)

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3 lbs 12.5 oz Min Trail Weight

*41.3 sq ft  *46" peak *2 doors