Ptarmigan Ridge

I originally wanted to do a solo hike to Hidden Lake this weekend. Then on Friday night, I got a text from some buddies asking if I'd want to hike to Ptarmigan Ridge.

I'm really glad I went.

I also decided to bring the 24-70mm zoom w/ a circular polarizer, along with my regular hiking lens. It was fun to see how the photos turned out.

Mt Baker from Artist Point!


Mt Shuksan in some haze...


After passing the Chain Lakes turnoff, we were greeted with this luminous valley


Mt Shuksan was basking in some later afternoon light


We saw goats! This was the FIRST time I've seen goats on a hike...


Mt Baker


On the way back, we realized there was a small lake and some nice campsites


Stompin' around



It was was perfect day for this wonderful hike. I'm puzzled why I haven't done any summer hikes around Mt Baker until now.

Skyscraper Mountain

For the weekly hike, we went Skyscraper Mountain at Mt Rainier. It has been three-years since my previous visit... and as usual, Sunrise was chosen over Paradise.

On my previous Rainier hike, we went to Fremont Lookout, which actually provides views of Skyscraper Mountain (see the peak on the tree lined mountain on the right).

Anyways, the day started out pretty clear, but more clouds started to move in by the time we reached Skyscraper Pass.


We ate lunch at the pass and started up the mountain. Halfway up, it became a party of clouds.


350-feet to go!


We hung out at the peak for a while, waiting for the skies to clear, but they didn't.

^those jorts.

When we got back to Sunrise, not much had changed.



...which was still fine, as we had good views at the start, and the temperatures were in just cool enough. Also, we stopped at a Sonic Drive-in on the way back  :-D

The Cascades

I had not completed a local hike since Teneriffe Falls, so this past weekend was spent at my favorite hike, and one that's been on my list for a while.

First up, was the annual trip to Cascade Pass and Sahale Arm!

Drew and Jill approaching the pass

Later in the afternoon, the meadows began to glow

Heading back...

On Sunday, Sara, Gerson, and I went to Blanca Lake. It was hot, the trail was steep, we were tired, and there were people, kids and dogs all over the place... but the lake was worth it!

Hitting for the Cycle

In baseball, hitting for the cycle is the accomplishment of one batter hitting a single, a double, a triple, and a home run in the same game.

In July, I flew for the Boeing cycle.

737-800

^SEA-EWR

747-8i

^FRA-IAD

757-200

^IAD-SEA

767-300

^YVR-NRT

777-200

^EWR-FRA

787-8

^NRT-SEA

An Airbus A321-200 snuck in as well

^FRA-VCE

The 717 doesn't count since it's a re-branded MD-95...


So, one of the highlights of this trip, was Lufthansa's 747-8i. This was the first customer and airplane that I worked on, so saying I was excited to fly on it would be an understatement. That wingtip...

The upper deck was wonderful as usual.


Project #1


...and I met some a fan of my colleague's work!


The engines look fab on that lovely wing


Also fabulous? the views...


One the way back, the Central Cascades provided a stunning welcome home


And the trip was complete with the best Rainier sighting ever!

Venezia

So... nine days into the trip, we arrived in Venice.

This will be a grumpy post, cuz I was pretty tired by then. And cuz I'm tired right now.

We thought we had seen the worst in terms of tourists packing a city... and then we got to the Venice bus/train station.

It was a zoo. But at least some gondola captains were actually pirates.


Here is one of the few occasions where we found an empty street.


Colorful and bored.


This gallery would've been neat... but we never found it.


Streets opened into streets, and those opened into other streets.


After some time, we made it to the Rialto Bridge for views of the Grand Canal.

^and a ton of boat traffic!

To get there, we had to fight through scenes like this...


After following the masses, we made it to Piazza San Marco


Where moms wanted to see things, and youths didn't realize how lucky they were to be dragged overseas.


Also, it was hot. There was water. Kids (and adults) went insane.


Doge's Palace


From here, you could see one of the islands, and some pointy things. I'll add the correct caption at some point... maybe.


We went up the top of Campanile di San Marco


...and got views of Italy's finest urban planning and development .

^actually, it was pretty sweet.

After a few hours of mingling with the tourists, we decided to head back to the hotel and call it a trip.

^I like those colors. I want those shorts.

Firenze

So if Cinque Terre was the place one went to hang out with American fraternity and sorority types... Florence would be the place to chill with the family types. And even more American students that were studying abroad. You know the ones that wanted to become more cultured.

Or to day drink, a lot. And to shop for Italian leather.


Anyways, once again, we were a little unprepared for the number of tourists in a place. At Cinque Terre, we overheard someone complain, "Nobody in Florence was Italian!" 

At the time we laughed, and thought, "silly American." But now, we realized that they had the last laugh.



We arrived on Sunday, just in time to realize that the Uffizi Gallery wasn't open on Mondays... so we patiently waited in a line for a few hours to see the worlds largest collection of baby and adult Jesus paintings. 

Why there weren't any adolescent paintings of Jesus? who knows... maybe those were his rebellious years, where he hung out with the bad kids, so people wouldn't paint the scenes.

"But wait!" someone may say, "didn't he hang out with everyone?"

Gosh, Sunday school was hard.


Anyways, while waiting in line, there was an artist who was essentially the Italian version of Bob Ross. He was working on a piece, so I took this photo, and then he yelled at me. Thus, I pretended to not understand English, and he felt bad, and apologized.

Then I felt bad. ⇐ True Story.

^but the photo turned out pretty well! 

When we finally escaped the heat and mobs of tourists, we were greeted with a glorious glorious climate controlled environment, and more tourists.

If you were looking for new ways to light your portraits, I would definitely suggest a baby Jesus soft light.

^I hear the Kickstarter is nearly funded!

About an hour before closing time, I left the Uffizi and ventured over to the Pitti Palace. They had Napoleon's bathroom, which was neat (I think?). When they were closing up, one of the docents started to let folks onto a balcony for views of the sunset, and recommendations for what to do in town.

^if one could Yelp a docent, he'd get 5-stars.

Then I met up with Shane, and we went to Piazzale Michelangelo for more views of the city.


The next day we split up. I discovered the Eataly by the San Lorenzo Market. Lunch #2 was consumed at the Eataly.


I didn't do much for most of the day, and met up with Shane to climb Giotto's Tower. We left for Venezia the following day.