Lone Blue Heron

The lone blue heron which haunted the fields around Mt. Peak was found on the side of the road dead several months ago, its crystal clear eye open to the sky. Another lone blue heron was sighted in the fields last Tuesday the 24th.

Buzz-Buzz Barbie Boy?

Barbie Boy was back on Mt. Peak today. This is the guy with the "Barbie" backpack who blocks the trail when people are trying to get uphill doing their workouts.

Today, he didn't get far up the trail, when a bee came buzzing out of the shrubbery and stung him in the lower back -- ZAP. He stopped, fiddling with his shirt and lower back, trying to get the stinger out. This time, he pulled over to the side of the trail, more worried about getting zapped by the bee than blocking other hikers doing their workouts.

Buzz buzz ZAP . . .

Beware Flying Rocks

Near the top of Mt. Peak today, at the last switchback of the road, near the top, I saw a rock come flying from the upper section of the road, over the wooded and ferny section, over the lower section of the road, and just miss a downhill hiker's head by two feet or less.

He yelled "Hey!" but kept going. He and a woman with two or three youngish-teenish kids had just passed on the upper section of the road, with them going uphill, him going downhill. I couldn't see who threw the rock, but there was no one else but the woman and kids, and I didn't see anyone hiding in the wooded section.

It was surely one of the kids.

This rock was palm sized to a large man. It could have knocked the hiker out. If he'd fallen and hit his head on one of the big rocks on the road, it could have killed him.

There were no consequences for the rock-thrower. I thought the kid couldn't have thrown a rock that big and hit someone in the head before, or he/she would have known the seriousness of it -- that it could kill a person. So, I'm guessing the kid is going to keep throwing man-palm-sized rocks until he/she hits someone, and finds out the seriousness of it. Or, the kid is a sadist, and has hit people, and is going to keep doing it.

In years hiking Mt. Peak, this is the first dangerous act or attack I've seen. What do we have to do, wear helmets on the hill so we don't get killed while we exercise?

Think about it: Some kid threw a good-sized rock at a hiker's head today near the top of Mt. Peak. The kid got away with it, and will probably keep doing it.

Chipmunk Picnic

On a recent clear day, getting to the top of Mt. Peak, I saw a chipmunk sitting on a sunny rock. He or she froze for a second and eyed me sideways.

As I crossed the top and got a better view, I could see that he was holding a slice of banana in his little mitts. He held it out comically in front of him, at mouth level, as though it was a big plate, or a pizza pie.

I saw a few more slices on the ground around him. Once he realized I was just passing over the top, he went back to spinning and nibbling on his banana slice.

I chuckled, wondering if he'd raided someone's picnic, or if the pieces had been sliced just for him. I got the feeling he'd been a guest at the picnic, rather than a party-crasher. It was a kind action, whomever was behind it.

Mt. Peak's Own Weather

Hiking up Mt. Peak on a day during the most recent windstorm, as usual planning to be on alert for cracking and falling timber, I was surprised by the difference in the weather on the hill. Getting in amongst the trees, there was hardly a breeze -- no noticeable wind all the way to the top, including on the top.

Having recently hiked up into a hailstorm, the usual rain, and the odd nicer day, it was strange to have a windstorm on the flats, and Mt. Peak calm.

False Spring Drags On

The other day I hiked up into a hailstorm on Mt. Peak.

Soon after, the snow level came down the closest range of foothills.

Every time it warms up, we relapse into cold weather again.

Spring's got to be coming soon.

False Spring

Several days ago, during the false spring warm-up, I was surprised to see a garter snake lying across the trail when I was coming down Mt. Peak. I stopped and we stared at each other for a moment, then I went around him/her. Chipmunks and little squirrels were all around, including one above the halfway-elevation-point sitting on a branch holding a peanut in both little mitts. (Who gave him the peanut, now?)

A day or two later, the weather was almost freezing again.

We usually have a little false spring or temporary warm-up, signalled by frogs croaking in the evening. But the cold always comes back before spring really begins.

This time, it's been different. Many trees are budding and leafing, bulbs have come up and are in bloom, and many birds are here early, including a squawking scrub jay.

It seems this time, strangely, the false spring actually fooled the plants and animals (the frogs are always fooled).

Back Off, Barbie-Boy

Have you run into the Mt. Peak hiker with the "Barbie" backpack (well, you know what I mean). Apparently, he owns the trail, as he will sometimes stand in the way of someone struggling to the top, breaking the rhythm of their workout. And if you are going downhill and he is coming uphill, and you step out of his way so as not to break the rhythm of his workout, he passes you without thanks.

Being a somewhat older hiker, tall and muscular-fit, you'd think he'd be happy to be fitter than many much younger people, rather than carry a mysterious resentment up and down Mt. Peak.

He's one of our characters; I wish he'd be courteous on the paths.

Elk Yesterday; Blue Heron Today

There was a herd of 20-30 elk in the Mt. Peak fields yesterday. I saw many of them were staring at something, and noticed a resident of the property hanging over a fence, looking at them, maybe talking to and coaxing them.

After climbing Mt. Peak, I saw the elk were still there, relaxing in the sunshine.

Today the blue heron was back, standing statue-like in a little marsh area by Mt. Peak.

Some shrubs are budding, and there are seeds and bulbs sprouting. They think an early spring is coming, but it will be a rude awakening as usual.

The Chanting Monk of Mt. Peak

He's almost famous amongst Mt. Peak regulars. On the downhill portion of his hike, you'll hear him singing, his voice booming through the trees. It sounds something like Gregorian chant, with no discernible words in English (but is he singing in Latin, or gibberish?).

I'm sure the regular hillwalking gives the Chanting Monk of Mt. Peak extra lung capacity and diaphragm power to project his voice.

Most of us use an iPod or other device for music on our hikes. He uses his own voice. He's one of our characters, our individualists.

A Mt. Peak Affair

Today while getting ready for my hike just inside the treeline by the parking area at Mt. Peak, I saw a heart-shaped rock. It was large-palm-sized, and caught my eye because it had writing on it in black lettering. I picked it up and read it:

"Kari, you have my heart. James."

I wondered about the status of the affair, since the stone seemed to be discarded in amongst weeds and other rocks. Had Kari chucked it there, rejecting James? Or had James thrown it away, after being rejected by Kari? Or was the rock only accidentally lost?

James' message seemed more poignant for the lonely state and position of the stone.

The Russian Mafia in Enumclaw?

A woman who lives near Mt. Peak had her car stolen from her driveway at night as she was in the house asleep. The car was later found abandoned in Federal Way, the engine blown. A relative of hers thought it might be the work of the Russian Mafia, though it sounds as though it could just have been joyriders.

But, at least one Russian young man was suspected, several years ago, of casing homes in the 212th area above Flaming Geyser Park. His picture was taken and posted in the area.

If the Russian Mafia is active in a small way on The Plateau, it's seriously time for us to stick together and look out for ourselves and each other. Members of Eastern and Central European organized crime are known to be among the most brutal and ruthless in the world.

Let's toughen up to defend ourselves and each other.

Elk on 276th Near Mt. Peak

On the way to Mt. Peak today, cars were pulled over on 276th. I wondered what the reason was, when I saw a herd of about 30 elk in the fields to the east. Then, the real immediate reason: one elk was on 276th, trapped, trying to break through the barbed wire fence along the road. I'm sure it tore itself up a little continually trying to bash through different sections of the fence. At last, it found a driveway and trotted up to a farmhouse, went around the east side of it, reappeared on the north side, majestically jumped a fence on the west side, then circled around to join the herd back to the east. It was a lot of elk.

Christmas Music Still

Inane Christmas music still playing in the stores -- ugh ugh ugh.

A chipmunk ran across the trail halfway up Mt. Peak. Lots of dogs, including tiny ones.

House fire near Mt. Peak on Dec. 23rd. Saw no sign of it.

Herds of 15-30 elk seen recently in the fields.

Mt. Peak gives me a clear head and chest and endorphins that last all day.

Three-Legged Dog on Mt. Peak

Up Mt. Peak Christmas Day -- a 3-legged short-haired lab with a couple near the top. This is the second 3-legged dog I've seen recently on the hill. Think of the able-bodied people who complain they can't climb the hill, or even walk on the level. It's shameful. The elderly and toddlers go up the hill. It brings great health and a powerful sense of well-being. It's one of the best exercises in the area, or anywhere.

Christmas Eve day kind of sunny, dry. Frosty last night. Christmas Day mostly sunny, clear.

As I got to the bottom of Mt. Peak, there was one chipmunk racing around a tree, right next to the parking area.

Think of the 3-legged dogs for inspiration to get and be healthy, a good thought for Christmas.

Quiet on Mt. Peak

Up Mt. Peak today -- pretty quiet, but a fair amount of people there, probably because the sun came out earlier.

Again saw or heard no chipmunks or birds on the hill.

Just crows standing on the fenceposts in the fields along Warner.

Stone Stacking

Recently, on the top of Mt. Peak, someone restarted a tradition from a few years ago: stone-stacking. This is simply the building of small towers or stacks of smooth stones, as a simple art form and landmarker.

The stacks have a charm to them, maybe because of the simplicity of them evoking childhood, and just the fact someone is taking the time to make a little something without real self-reward. They seem to be made for no other reason than to create a little wayside fancy for other hikers' eyes:

Fairy stacks, made from fairy stones.

Scrub Jays, Seagulls, & Chipmunks?

I awoke today to the squawk of a scrub jay, and soon after, the cry of a seagull. Both sounds evoked California, seagull cries being the main chorus of San Francisco's soundtrack. It was odd hearing them, since I haven't heard either for a long time. It seemed to have something to do with the warmer weather and morning sun, after the cold and snow and low, grey clouds recently.

Up Mt. Peak today, it was quiet. Usually a chipmunk or two peeps and peeks, but I didn't notice any animals on the hill this time. Were the animals elusive, or was I just distracted and preoccupied?

Mt. Peak Vandalism

Any time a man made structure is placed on Mt. Peak, it usually doesn't take long for it to be defaced or destroyed.

The first obvious instance of this was when a boy scout troop planted signs at intervals along the trail to the top. Each of these was mounted on a 4x4 post, had a hinged cedar cover, and underneath a plaque explaining the flora to be seen along that area of the path.

Almost immediately after these signs were placed, the cedar covers were ripped from their hinges and disappeared. Some of the plaques underneath were destroyed or went missing. And several of the signs were pulled out completely by their posts and thrown downhill on the side of the trail.

Recently a monument was placed at the top of Mt. Peak, commemorating a former regular hiker. It's a large, solid, wooden pillar, set in cement. It has an angled top, where a plaque was attached with a quote and the man's name. This monument lasted about one day intact: The plaque was shattered and removed, and the pillar cracked and gouged, probably in attempts to split it completely.

Recently, the stone sign at the north entrance to the Mt. Peak trail was defaced with a warning in spray paint for those of a certain race to keep out. The Parks Dept. has been unable to completely remove the lettering and restore the sign.

The oddity about the vandalism of the signs along the main path to the top, and of that of the monument at the top, is that why would vandals go to all the trouble to climb Mt. Peak just to destroy these things? Climbing that hill takes a little work, and you would have to pick a time when you wouldn't be seen by other hikers in order to wreck these things. Why go to all that effort?

Building is hard; destroying is easy:

Why would vandals, who don't like hard, but do like easy, do something relatively difficult by climbing Mt. Peak in order to wreak all this damage? Rather than run-of-the-mill vandalism, maybe the motive behind some of the actions is resentment of human alterations to the hill. Maybe not all of the damage is from a human agency.

Snow

We had the first real snow of the season yesterday, with about an inch on the ground.

Today, with it pushing 40 degrees, it's already slushy.

I wonder how much there is on the top of Mt. Peak.