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Photos Blades on Hikes
- Thread starter dogstar
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Yosemite... heaven on earth.
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Although I do tend to favor Alpine Lakes as hike destinations, there are also alot of great old fire lookouts to hike up to in the area. Here's this year's trip to High Rock lookout, near Rainier
The lookout is at the tip of the ledge in the distance
The lookout is at the tip of the ledge in the distance
Sam Wilson
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Sam
jmh33
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haha, I had to look twice to see the knife!
RLB0414
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Knives&Lint
, awesome photos as usual. As much as I love the Everglades and swamps of the deep south, the mountains call to me every time I see photos
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Many thanks! Yea, the mountains definitely have me captivated, but the swamps are in my blood. I still check every log I step over even though there's nothing but garter snakes out here, and I can't help but be amused every time I see people at a trailhead dousing themselves with bug spray and warning me about the mosquitoes
(little do they know I come from a place literally called Mosquito Lagoon and have long since been immune to their bites). I tell ya', as much as I love it here, when I step off that plane back in Florida and get hit with that thick air, it feels like home.
RLB0414
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I do understand what you are saying. I grew up north of Pensacola. Basically left in 1985 due to work. Now call Michigan home. Spent a couple years in Fort Myers, Bradenton and Homestead working. I am really longing for the RV park in Bradenton and snowbird season. 50 at night, 80 during the day, swimming in the gulf on new years eve. Summers are muggy but you acclimate.Many thanks! Yea, the mountains definitely have me captivated, but the swamps are in my blood. I still check every log I step over even though there's nothing but garter snakes out here, and I can't help but be amused every time I see people at a trailhead dousing themselves with bug spray and warning me about the mosquitoes
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Here's one I do quite a bit, and what I like about it is that it has a little bit of everything. There is an Alpine Lake (Mason Lake) about halfway up, and then a fairly challenging peak (Mt. Defiance) if you want to go further (I always do 
). What really makes this place special to me though is a set of boot trails about a mile into the trail that are off the main trail and unknown to most so you get the entire place to yourself. About a mile into this old path you are faced with two choices, one trail that goes pretty much straight up through the forest and then across a boulder field, or another that follows the creek and waterfalls. I always take the steep one across the boulder field on the way up, and then follow the waterfall/creek trail later on the way down. At around 16 miles this one is pushing the limit for a day hike, but it's so much fun.
Up through the forest. The pics don't really capture how steep this part is, and it's often slick as well
Now for the real fun part, the boulder field
At the lake
Then you start your climb to the peak of Mt. Defiance, first through more forest, but eventually it opens up to an amazing open view, with Rainier in the distance and a blanket of berry bushes and wildflowers
At this point you can look back and see the ridge with the boulder field from earlier (right) and the lake as well (left)
You can also see the highway and let it sink in where you started from (and even more daunting how far you still have to go to get back)
The views from the top though are always worth it
Then back down to the lake, and then follow the creek waterfall trail the rest of the way down. This makes for the perfect ending because it is shaded, mossy, and lush; with the cool air coming off of the creek plus the ability to stop and cool off in the water periodically.
In the distance you can see nearby McClellan Butte, a peak that I conquered for the first time this year. I honestly almost chickened out when I got to the top of that one, but as you can see I had to force myself to do it or else it would be sitting there mocking me every time I did this hike
). What really makes this place special to me though is a set of boot trails about a mile into the trail that are off the main trail and unknown to most so you get the entire place to yourself. About a mile into this old path you are faced with two choices, one trail that goes pretty much straight up through the forest and then across a boulder field, or another that follows the creek and waterfalls. I always take the steep one across the boulder field on the way up, and then follow the waterfall/creek trail later on the way down. At around 16 miles this one is pushing the limit for a day hike, but it's so much fun.Up through the forest. The pics don't really capture how steep this part is, and it's often slick as well
Now for the real fun part, the boulder field
At the lake
Then you start your climb to the peak of Mt. Defiance, first through more forest, but eventually it opens up to an amazing open view, with Rainier in the distance and a blanket of berry bushes and wildflowers
At this point you can look back and see the ridge with the boulder field from earlier (right) and the lake as well (left)
You can also see the highway and let it sink in where you started from (and even more daunting how far you still have to go to get back)
The views from the top though are always worth it
Then back down to the lake, and then follow the creek waterfall trail the rest of the way down. This makes for the perfect ending because it is shaded, mossy, and lush; with the cool air coming off of the creek plus the ability to stop and cool off in the water periodically.
In the distance you can see nearby McClellan Butte, a peak that I conquered for the first time this year. I honestly almost chickened out when I got to the top of that one, but as you can see I had to force myself to do it or else it would be sitting there mocking me every time I did this hike
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Here's the aforementioned McClellan Butte (pictured from a distance in the last pic of my previous post). I've gotta admit as much as I love the mountains I don't particularly love heights, but I just had to force myself to the top of this one. After acclimating for a minute and actually being able to look around , the view was amazing
, the view was amazing
Sam
That stump has seen more than a few axes stuck in it.... Blades look awesome Sam!
jmh33
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Sam Wilson
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other memory
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Interior of the Badlands and the edge of the Badlands overlooking the Black Hills, South Dakota.
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Sam Wilson
Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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SAFE System II Elite
Sam
Sam
Dirty hands, practical knives, beautiful views…pretty ideal hike!
