Rachel Lake, Rampart Ridge and Rampart Lakes

There is no questioning what season is upon us!  Fall is here with brilliant colors in the high country and we spent the day in bliss enjoying it.  We started out at Rachel Lake then made our way up and to Rampart Ridge and Rampart Lakes.  The days was in the mid-60's and the sun was shining on a bluebird sky day.  A few lingering blueberries gave hint to the warmth of a summer past, and the cool wind- a hint that autumn was in the air.  The plants told us that the temps are dropping quickly in the evening- what stunning color!   I could not dream of a more beautiful, perfect day.

Deck's Done!

Any of you "do-it-yourselfers" will understand and appreciate the project- list length.  Well- check this one off!  A very tough and long project was completed yesterday and its' Master Craftsman is one happy dude.  The fire is warm and inviting and this area will no doubt be a new favorite hang out.

Cougar Tales or shall I say... Tails...

On Sept. 16th, I was up early.  Vil had just left for a long day of work in Portland and I couldn't fall back to sleep.  The early dawn was breaking to a beautiful sunny day and I was motivated. So was Summit who was clearly trying to tell me that he was interested in a walk.  I decided to really treat him and take him up to Rattlesnake Lake and stroll on the Iron Horse Trail, which is a beautiful rails-to-trails area.  About 25 minutes in to our walk, his hackles went up and he started getting huffy.  I didn't see a thing and assured him it was nothing.  10 minutes later we turned around and headed back.  Summit was sniffing and not paying attention, when something caught the corner of my eye.  I looked up just in time to watch a cougar cross over the trail, pause on the other side, then quickly disappear in to the grass.  Summit didn't see it.  I carried on, a little more on alert and kept a watchful eye out.  Just before we arrived at the spot where the cat had crossed, Summit started going nuts.  He was barking and his fur was standing on end- neck to tail.  He was sniffing both sides of the trail and seemed to be following smell as opposed to sight.  There was no sign of the cougar.  I got home and emailed our cougar biologist/friend.  He wasn't surprised and said there had been several credible sightings around that area.  FLASH FORWARD to this morning.  We woke up to an email from a neighbor.  He happened to be looking out his window at about 7:45am and saw what he thought was a golden retriever-but something didn't look right, so he got the binoculars.  Sure enough- it was a cougar.  He grabbed his camera, just as it crossed the road and took this shot.

Again, I emailed the biologist who told me that it was likely the same one that I had seen.  They are very territorial and it would be highly unlikely for 2 sightings, within 10 days, in close proximity, to be different cats.  This morning's picture was taken about 200 yards from our home.  The elk are in rut and our neighbor had been trying to shoo them out of his yard earlier in the morning(they LOVE young plants).  And... cougars think elk are tasty- so there you have it.  

Needless to say... there are no deer or elk in the yard this evening.  Everything in this neighborhood is on high alert- save for the birds who get the best view of things (oh to fly).

*Amazing photo credits on this one go to our neighbor Rich P.!

Fall is falling...

Who knew Martha Stewart was hiding inside my cupboard?  Last night's slideshow for some neighbors brought out my creative side.  I later added some m&m's and toffee chips to make them even more delicious and fattening.  Recipe below if anyone wants to play.

Caramel Apples

INGREDIENTS

1 1-pound box dark brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2/3 cup dark corn syrup
1/3 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon robust-flavored (dark) molasses
1/4 teaspoon salt
12 sturdy lollipop sticks or chopsticks (or heck...alder twigs as seen above)
12 medium apples

Assorted decorations (such as chopped nuts, chopped raisins, mini M&M's and candy sprinkles)

Equipment needed - one accurate candy thermometer.

METHOD

1 Combine sugar, butter, condensed milk, corn syrup, maple syrup, vanilla, molasses and salt in a thick-bottomed 2 1/2 or 3 quart saucepan. Stir with a wooden spoon on medium-low heat until all the sugar dissolves. There should be no grittiness (sugar crystals) when you test by rubbing a little of the caramel between your fingers. Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to dissolve any sugar crystals that might form on the pan sides.

2 Attach a clip-on candy thermometer to the pan and cook caramel at a rolling boil until the thermometer reaches 236°F, stirring constantly and slowly with a wooden spatula. Continue to occasionally brush the sides down with a pastry brush. Carefully pour caramel into a metal bowl. Cool until the temperature lowers to 200°F, at which point you are ready to dip the apples.

3 While the caramel is cooking/cooling, prepare a large baking sheet, covering it either with buttered aluminum foil or silpat. Insert a chopstick or sturdy lollipop stick into each apple, about 2-inches, top down, into the apple core.

4 When the caramel has cooled enough for dipping, dip the apples in, one by one, by holding on to the stick, and vertically lowering the apple into the caramel, submerging all but the very top of the apple. Pull the apple up from the caramel and let the excess caramel drip off from the bottom back into the pan. Then place on the silpat or prepared foil. The caramel will pool a little at the bottom of each apple. Place into the refrigerator to chill for at least 15 minutes.

5 Once the caramel has chilled a bit, remove from the refrigerator and use your fingers to press the caramel that has dripped to the bottom of the apples, back on to the apples. Then take whatever coatings you want and press them into the apples for decoration. Return to the refrigerator to chill for at least one 

I stood beside the water

watched it bouncing down the sides

I wondered what deep secret 

In waterfall resides.

Have you come from moraine above?

Or simply sprouted from the ground?

It plainly wouldn’t tell me, 

Just shouted water sound.

I watched patiently that day 

Admired strength and power

In each creature nature brought me

On each insect on each flower.

Snowberries

The snowberries are blooming and are such beautiful, native plants.    This beautiful bunch is on display on a corner shrub near here.  They are considered an important food source for many birds, but poisonous to humans.  Commonly known as the Snowberry or Waxberry, it is a proud member of the Honeysuckle Family.  When the beautiful white berries are broken open, the fruit inside looks like fine, sparkling granular snow (hence the name).  

Seeing these today, is proof that Autumn is right around the bend!

Culinary Creations

We contributed to tonight's neighborhood get-together with fresh garlic, dill crab spread and chocolate dipped peanut butter cookies.  I took a couple pictures to post on the recipe sites and thought I'd share.  By the way...calories don't count on Sundays.

Pacific Crest Trail August 2009

On August 9th, the three of us disappeared into the forest near the Columbia River (Washington/Oregon border). 12 days later we arrived at Chinook Pass near Mt. Rainier looking a little worse for the wear but feeling accomplished and wearing our victory smiles.  We covered 175 miles of forest undergrowth, bushy hillsides, mountain tops and side hills, miles and miles of fragrant, flowered meadows and countless lakes and streams.  By the end, we were in tip top shape, pushing 18+ mile days and greeting muscles we didn't know we had.  We embraced many a bug with a swat, ate copious amounts of trail mix & dehydrated meals, met a few colorful people, had a couple grouchy appendages and welcomed every minute of the challenge- both mental and physical.

It's always nice to return home after such a big trip.  Words cannot describe the glee of sleeping in a comfy bed, enjoying the flavors of "real" food and letting your skin breathe after being covered in sunscreen and bugspray for days.  

I kept a journal through out the trip, writing my thoughts and recounting the day.  Here is an excerpt from the last entry:

"We've weathered a lot over the past 12 days- blisters, pouring rain, aggravated body parts, and lots of long, demanding days.  So why do this?  Each time I set foot on a long hike like this I know the potential and the struggles.  I also know the peace and reward that comes with such great beauty and wild adventure.  I think about the laughs, the stinky feet, the daily "packing" of the packs, the long nights of counting miles on the map and other daily routines.... and it always makes me feel happy and long for the next time.  Each night when I lay down in the tent surround by humming insects, howling winds or perfect calm, I thank God for my day and for the blessing of my health and life that has led me to find him in the sunsets on the rocky peaks or in dense forest greens.  My heart will always be in the mountains- it truly is my home.  So as we leave these long 12 days of amazing memories behind us, I find myself melancholy.  Do I want a shower, my warm bed and a delicious meal?  You bet!  But somewhere out here in the wild meadows of lupine, the bark hanging off the trees, the tiny insects that make my pack their home for the night & the millions of stars that light up the sky- I  will still be here."

I dream of a place like this

When whipping winds blow strong

And December moves along.

To have field of flowers with tiny leaves

Lumbering trees with songbirds and bees

With tarns arich with life and gifts

To give to those who need the lifts.

With ants that work tirelessly 

And hummingbirds that come to greet me

And crickets who sing their evening tunes

Each night stars introduce the moons.

Lakes deep and valleys wide

Sunshine is their daily guide.

For mountains in the purest state

Do lift my soul, up to the Great.

Click here for the video of the trip!