Lower Yurt -Outer Loop-Oops-Upper Yurt-Uphill Again-Main Trail-1/2 Marathon Plus

Pam, Sherrie and I headed out for what may be the last snowshoe trip of the season. We decided on heading to the Yurt in the Mount Tahoma Trails System.

As we headed up the trail we know well - because it also goes to High Hut and Snow Bowl - we spotted the Lower Yurt Trail and quickly made the decision to take it since none of us knew what it would be like. It started out with a sidehill section that was a welcome challenge.

As we trekked up the trail we saw tons of animal prints including a good size cat. We kept together from that point. The list of critters includes rabbit, fox elk and deer. The trail was definitely the "path less travelled" as we had it to ourselves.

After a couple of miles we came upon a bridge that was a little challenge to get across. As I tapped at the snow to find a solid area it sank under me - luckily I just sank down to the actual wooden bridge below.

There was also a snow bridge which is not one of my favorite things.

We arrived at the Yurt after 6.3 miles and had our lunch. Our goal was to do the Lollipop course and head out the Upper Yurt trail on the way out.

One mile down from the Yurt is a very confusing corner. We saw it coming up and I looked at the map in the Yurt to try to pick the right way out. As it turns out I can't properly read a map and we headed down the wrong trail for a mile before backtracking. It was an honest mistake since the one I chose was the only one that went downhill.

The Upper Yurt trail goes uphill for what seems forever. As it turns out you ascend all the way to the turn off for Snow Bowl Cabin before you go down to the main trail and then to the snow parks below.

The final total was 13.96 miles which we will dub the Lower Yurt - Upper Yurt Half Marathon.

More soon....







Promised Focaccia Recipe

Here is my easy - always works - focaccia recipe and NO politics.

Focaccia

4 - 4 1/2 cups Organic Whole Wheat Flour or a mix of Organic Dark Rye and Wheat
1/2 Tbsp Sea salt
1 tbsp Yeast
3 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 1/4 cups water between 100 and 110 degrees
1 tsp honey or agave nectar

Options I like to add

1 tsp dry basil
1/2 tsp dry oregano
1/2 cup chopped sundried tomatoes.

For the top

2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive oil
1 clove garlic - minced
1/4 tsp each dried oregano and basil


Mix the flour and salt. Add the yeast and agave syrup to the warm water and allow it to get foamy for 5 minutes. Add the yeast mixture and olive oil to the dry ingredients and mix well. You want a sticky dough that is hard to handle. If you are adding the options add them now.
Turn dough into a bowl oiled with olive oil and make sure it is coated with oil on all sides. Cover and allow to rise is a warm place for 45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 450.

Add some Organic corn meal to a glass baking dish. Spread focaccia dough into pan and poke your finger in to make depressions in the dough. Allow the dough to rise for a half hour.

If you like your garlic a little overcooked brush the focaccia before baking. If not wait until after 15 minutes then brush and allow it to bake for the last 5 minutes. Total cooking time 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

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A Simple Matter of A Lack Of Leadership

We live in a country where 93% of the people want their food labeled to let them know if the contents are genetically modified. Recently, the most people ever signed a petition to the FDA for just that purpose. Clearly, we have the will as a people to want this, but our representatives and governmental agencies don't. Why?

Scientists are unanimous that at the current rate we use fossil fuels and other resources for energy we will run out. The same is true for the fresh water which we were always taught in school was a forever supply. Again, a high percentage of us would love to have more efficient cars and appliances and better access to alternative fuels. But our government drags its feet and NO progress towards these changes is made. Why?

These facts aren't true because our government is not responsive enough. That is what most people think, but the reality is that these facts are true because our government is too reactive. They are just too reactive to the big money corporations who are profiting just the way things are. They are responsive because WE allow them to buy elections and politicians.

We need to take the money out of politics and get back to a representative government that means something. We need agencies that are not available for hire by whatever concern or regime is in control. We need an energy and environmental policy that has a LONG TERM PLAN. That means they have to have some autonomy to act and an actual agenda that is based on our representative government.

How do we get there? We must insist that election reform happens. We can't let candidates raise millions of dollars for a seat that pays $600,000 over the entire term. Clearly, there is more money than we can see involved in all this. If we fight for only one thing to leave a better world for those yet to come this is a gift that will keep giving.

Imagine people in Congress who actually care about their constituents. If it takes a Constitutional Amendment to accomplish - so be it.

Or we could continue as we are and start showing Mad Max in grade school as an instructional video for Survival class.

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A Walk In The Park

Yesterday we hiked the Ranger Falls/Green Lake Trail in the Carbon River entrance to Mt Rainier. We were looking for some miles with the packs on and this hike fits the bill at 10.7 miles total. There is about 1400 total feet of elevation gain so it doesn't beat you up too bad.

In 2006 the Carbon River Road washed out in a flood and it was abandoned as a road for vehicles and left for hikers and bikers.

This hike on a sunny day is one of the prettiest you can see with very little work. These pictures are all from the road before the trailhead up to Ranger Falls and Green Lake.

After 3.35 miles you hit the trailhead to Ranger Falls and Green Lake. It is 1 mile to Ranger falls and just under 2 to Green Lake. Huge payoffs await you there.

The trail is highlighted by a cool log bridge and the remains of huge fallen trees. I managed a couple of pictures even though Rhonda raced me up to Ranger Falls.



We made our way to the Elkhorn Brewing Company in Buckley for a well deserved brew after. It was widely reported that a good time was had by all.

I should add that Rhonda whooped me up to Ranger Falls.

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That's Just The Tip Of The Iceberg Paully!

That is what I heard when Pam came home after reading the blog post from yesterday. She pointed out that I hadn't passed on the nutritional info of some other stuff you can make salad out of.

In particular she thought I should pass on the not so nutritional facts on the old fav Iceberg lettuce. We all grew up eating the stuff, and you still get served the stuff in a lot of restaurants.

So here is the breakdown of various salad greens.

		Calories	Protein	Fiber	Vit A	Vit C	Calcium	Iron
Iceberg Lettuce		20	1 gram	1.8	14%	3%	2%	2%
Spring Mix		20	2	2	90%	50%	8%	20%
Spinach		14	2	2	112%	28%	6%	10%
Kale		35	2	2	20%	110%	15%	6%

 Now you know enough to be dangerous - just like me. It's not hard to see that the good old iceberg has nothing for you really while the other options are much better.

Another thing to remember with salads is that if you over dress your salad you coat the greens and they do not digest as well so you don't get the same nutritional benefits. I feel like I'm nagging, but MEASURE YOUR DRESSING and don't use more than 2 tbsp. I use much less than that on a salad that has 4 cups of greens. The less you use the more you can taste the greens as well. Your taste buds will adjust to less dressing quickly.

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Something New To Get

After we got back from New Orleans I had to go grocery shopping since we were out of almost all of out fruit and vegetables. I hit Marlene's for the stuff I can't get at a better deal at Costco and then headed up the hill to Costco.

I was first VERY bummed that Costco no longer has ANY organic apples at the Tacoma store. Last week they had both Galas and Fujis. In the past they have also had Granny Smiths.

So there I am bummed out as I head into the cooler area for greens when I spot big bags of organic Baby Kale from Earthbound Farms. I bought one along with their Spring Mix and Baby Spinach.

When I got home I mixed the Kale with the Spring Mix and it makes really great salad greens. If you are new to kale you might want to ease in with a lighter mix. This stuff would also work for cooking or even the kale chips that are so popular.

Since they are "baby" kale - basically just younger clippings- they have no thick stems that need trimming so there's no waste. When you join the kale eaters you will find it a food that has some immediate good effects. It is hard to describe an overall feeling of well being, but that is what I get from kale.

The 1.5 Lb package says that it has 8 servings each of which have 380 mg of potassium, 2 grams of fiber and protein, 15% of your calcium needs per day, 110%of your Vitamin C, 20%$ of Vitamin A, and 6% of your iron.

The best part of all of the nutritional stuff is that it is all bio-available - meaning your body can readily absorb and use the nutrients. That is particularly important with calcium, protein and Vitamin C, but overall the plant based nutrients are the ideal form for absorption in the human digestive system.

We have eaten half of the bag in 2 days so the serving size of 2 cups works for us. You might want to watch how many servings it is for you and yours if exact numbers are important to you.

I get a little lost in all the dietetic mumbo jumbo out there. They are recommending meat and cautioning people to watch eating too many apples, and the latest one I find odd is that even a snack should have some balance of protein, etc.

I'm no dietitian, but it seems simple to me. If what you eat gives you good - EVEN - energy throughout your day and a great sense of well-being you should stick with it. If you are worried about your vitamin balance take a multi-vitamin as well. I wouldn't try this approach on your fast food loving, obviously overweight spouse, but when you have made your life changes and have a grip on your health it is the best plan I think.

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How You Doin' Darlin' ?

That is the standard New Orleans greeting. How You doin' darling? Nice! We are back home from New Orleans. I know I wouldn't want to live there, but it is one of my favorite places.

This was our 8th or 9th time for the French Quarter Festival and we will likely be back next year. This was the second time since my diet cleaned up and this last year I took even more stuff out than before. It didn't even take until we arrived in Nola to get an idea of what was in store. I had a 6 oz cup of Bloody Mary mix on the plane and the sodium in it had me all puffed up. Little sausage fingers and a very tight watch band.

You forget how little sodium you take in until you are in an environment where salt is king. OK - enough of the bad.

We saw many new groups and some of the old favorites which is par for the French Quarter Fest. Among the new were Emily Estrella and the Fauxbarrio Billionaires and Luke Winslow King. Emily Estrella and band play a swing jazz style and Luke Winslow King has a three piece - Guitar, Bass and washboard - Delta Blues Band. Nice stuff from both.

The weather was fantastic and the festival was big enough that I overheard some older locals complaining that it had gotten too big and they needed to do something about it. Here are the pictures for you to enjoy.

Sherrie caught her a washboard player.

Jackson Square Park

Our group that stayed at 1920 Dauphine

Pre-parade preparations

Pam, Sue and Sherrie in the courtyard at our rental house.

Stephanie the bartender mugging for the camera

A pirate wench from the parade

A Vashon t-shirt in Nola

A dogs life

This little girl was hanging with her grandparents at the Zydeco stage.

Rhonda easing into day two.

Some of the girls from dinner on Thursday

Doug was fully out of his shell by Sunday

Doug dancing with a waitress at the Krazy Corner

Lunch at Cooter Browns during our bike ride Sunday morning.

Pam-cam bike ride picture.

If you go rent from them 1209 Decatur in the French Quarter

Doug and Suzanne chilling at DBA

Nola Art car

Dinner on Thursday with the whole group, but Vince was sitting back and you can't see him.

We really had fun. Six of us went for a 4 hour bike ride on Sunday through the French Quarter, Warehouse District, Garden District to Audubon park and along the Levee trail for a good windy ride and then back to Cooter Browns for lunch before returning.

My favorite part of the festival is checking out music at clubs on Frenchman St after the festival is done for the day. That is why we stay over in that part of New Orleans. It is called the Marigny -marinee - and abuts the French Quarter and the Treme. The 2 block walk into the quarter is a nice break from the always busy place. The house we have had for the last 2 years is 3 doors away from a great little restaurant called La Peniche which is open 24 hours.

It was widely reported that a great time was had by all.

More soon....