First Week of Hikeathon 2022

My first week of WTA Hikeathon 2022 started out with a spectacular hike. I did this one last year and I enjoyed it so much that I just had to do it again! Crystal Mountain near Mt. Rainier is a ski area and you can take the gondola up to the top of the mountain and hike down (or hike up and take the gondola down or just hike the entire thing! I prefer to gondola up and hike down.)

Do you see the elk? There are actually 2 in this photo

If you forgot your hiking poles, they have some for loan

Even with the clouds, the views are stellar

Also at the top of the mountain, besides the restaurant, they had a lot of picnic tables (so bring your own lunch and enjoy the view!) and lounge chairs. Plus there were several interpretive QR codes that you could use your phone to access, explaining everything from the Native American traditions in the region to the damage from the most recent fires. Very interesting. 

Lots of construction going on at Crystal Mountain and the noise was one of the only downsides

It was a great day and a fun way to get 5 miles for hikeathon right off the bat. The overcast clouds provided relief from the heat and there was a breeze that helped deter the mosquitoes too. (Although I did get bit a couple of times when I would stop for a break) There were lots of families and hikers with dogs on this Monday morning.  I started at 10am and by the time I was done at 1pm the parking lot was packed. 

My next day was an easy 2 miles along the Green River trail in Kent. I have done this hike in the past and I like to see the Historic Neely-Soames house along the river

My third hike this week was close to home at the Longfellow Creek Legacy Trail. I do this one pretty much every year because it is so close to my home and is a nice flat, simple walk in the woods (and along some sidewalks)  I did 2 miles. 

A Little Free Library along the sidewalk portion of the trail

                                                   

To wrap up the week, I spent Saturday out in Buckley, WA. I hiked 2 miles on the Foothills Trail which is just a rail trail that goes right along HWY 410. But the highlight was that I stopped at Maris Farms for their Sunflowers!! 

Mount Rainier in the distance

Here you can see where there used to be a railroad!

Veterans Memorial along the Foothills Trail

I started off Hikeathon this year strong with 11 miles done so far and over $400 raised in donations. 

Thanks so much to Kim, Lisa S. and Liz for their donations this week. 

If you have not donated yet, you can cut and paste this link to go to my WTA fundraiser page  

https://give.wta.org/fundraiser/3990693

or you can send me a check (made out to WTA (Washington Trails Association) or just a dollar in the mail would be very welcome. Thanks so much to everyone who has supported this cause in the past and hopefully again this year!

to: Amanda Arkebauer PO Box 16131 Seattle, WA  98116