Lake Sylvia State Park Hike

What a great hike today at Lake Sylvia!  It was really, really cold (23 degrees by the car thermostat), but the beautiful scenery made it all worth it.  6 folks & 3 dogs braved the cold to hike around 4 miles on two different loops.  The first loop was an interpretive trail on the Sylvia Creek Forestry Trail.  We learned that there used to be a saw mill there which is pretty much now been taken back by Mother Nature.  The second loop took us to a beautiful covered bridge.  We saw lots of ducks & geese.  It was the perfect last hike of 2013!  

Getting the dogs ready to go.

Scott looking cold. 

Teresa with her two cuties, Cirus & Riley. 

a small dam

We saw lots of icicles. 

Michele saw a squirrel!

Now Winston saw it!

Winston checking out the old saw blade. 

All that's left of the old wooden railroad bridge. 

Scott was the tree hugger this time. 

I just liked these cool branches. 

Winston didn't want to cross the dam so Scott had to carry him. 

Cirus was fascinated by the ice. 

First try at timed photo.  I couldn't get down fast enough.  Scott had to do the other one.

Group: Scott, Susan, Kassia, James, Michele & Teresa 

Cedar Butte Hike

It was a very cold & breezy hike today up to Cedar Butte near North Bend.  Luckily we didn't get rained on, but we did have to trudge through a couple of puddles and some slippery snow on the trail.  Still, it was very manageable and no one fell.  We were surprised to see so many mushrooms still sprouting.  The view from the top was pretty, but a little socked in with clouds.  Bet it is magnificent on a sunny day.  We may head back here this winter to do a snowshoe on the trail at the first part of the hike, which was relatively flat & wide.  It was another great Yoh! adventure. 

Cirus all excited to get going.

Always nice to have bathrooms at the trail head.

It was well signed.  We started out on the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. 

My model, Kassia. 

King  Queen of the rock!

Creek crossing

From this point it was all uphill.

Awesome mushroom & snow

The creepy forest

Peekaboo of Rattlesnake Lake

View from the top. I think this is looking North.

Checking out the view.

Group photo: Michele, James, Kassia, Teresa w/Cirus and Susan

Kassia in the snow.