Snowlake on a sunny day

Our hike to Snowlake started on a very hot Sunday afternoon. The sky was clear and there was no sign of cloud at all. I remember how I hated walking in the sun. I'm crankier and I feel weaker when it's hot. Plus I wasn't feeling a hundred percent but it was the determination that motivated me to go.

If I had to rate the hike, I would say it's between easy to moderate depending on how your stamina is. It's not as steep as Ira Springs Trail but the trail is rocky almost all the way up. I tripped a few times which is not good at all! The hike towards the lake took us approximately 2.5 hours then we took about 15 minutes to relax by the water and enjoy the view and its surroundings.

We spent the next 1.5 hours hiking down towards the parking lot. It's always faster hiking back because the trail goes downhill. It also helped when the weather cooled down a bit so we don't have to stop for a quick water break.

I personally prefer hiking in a cooler weather. But I don't mind hiking in the sun and feeling all sticky for a clear view like this.

Misty morning on Ira Springs Trail

Our second week of hiking started on a misty Sunday morning. We decided to go to Mason Lake through Ira Springs Trail since we wanted something slightly challenging than the first hike we did. And boy, it was a pretty damn good workout! 

The first part was a smooth hike along the path covered by forest trees. We hiked for over one mile until we reached the end of a straight path - and then the real hike started. The trail elevates as the path zig-zags its way up. It was hell of a climb but definitely not a boring trail. We hiked passed a beautiful green garden, 'flinstones town' and the trail led us all the way down to Mason Lake. We walked halfway around the lake to look for a private spot where we could have our snacks. It felt peaceful out there. Unfortunately, the visibility was very low so we didn't get to enjoy the the lake as much. 

Ira Springs Trail took my breath away.  It is one of those hikes that you have to experience on a clear day. I was already blown away by the trail even though the weather was not at its best. Imagine being there when the sun is up - exceptionally beautiful! 

Cloudy day at Rattlesnake Ledge

Rattlesnake Ledge was our first official hike together in Washington. Although both of us are not gym junkies, we do try to do activities together on a regular basis. We went running together (I must admit it's my least favourite exercise), we tried cycling, we do at-home-workout and since summer is approaching, we are planning to hike around Washington. 

I've been to a few hikes in Malaysia but those are nothing compared to the hikes here. The trails are much more challenging and you get to see more here. We chose Rattlesnake Ledge because it's a fairly easy trail and also amongst the famous short hike not so far from where we live. 

We drove about 45 mins to North Bend where the trail is and hiked up the foggy/misty trail. It wasn't a good day so we really couldn't see much once we reached the top of Rattlesnake Ledge. We were literally in the clouds. 

I saw some really nice pictures of the peak when the skies are clear and they look amazing. If I had known better, I would've chosen to go on a sunny day. But despite the weather, it was still a pretty good first hike (for me) and good experience for both of us.

Deception Pass on Mothers' day

Two weekends ago on mothers' day, we decided to take a day trip to Deception Pass. We drove up from Seattle to Mukilteo ferry terminal and took a 20 minutes ferry to Whidbey Island where we had our quick lunch. I remember getting to Deception Pass was quite a journey but it was a perfect day trip. I am a nature person so it was worth the trip for me. 

Some short history via Wiki: Deception Pass is strait located in the northern part of Puget Sound, connecting Strait of Juan de Fuca and Skagit Bay. A pair of bridges known collectively as Deception Pass Bridge cross Deception Pass, and the bridges are on the National Register of Historic Places.