Uncle Jeremy & Papa Christopher Take Me Ice Cave Spelunking

What you see here showed up, this morning, in my Microsoft OneDrive Memories from this Day email.

What we see here might have happened in February, of a long-ago year, likely the early 1990s.

But, more likely it was in late March, or early April. The Ice Caves do not form til the ice begins to thaw as the world warms up heading toward summer.

The snow formation is known as the Ice Caves. One finds the Ice Caves between Granite Falls and Darrington, on what is known as the Mountain Loop Highway.

One does not venture into the Ice Caves when the temperature is above freezing. With the temperature above freezing large chunks of ice can come crashing down.

If I recollect correctly there has been an accident, or two, over the years. So, more care is taken to restrict access when melting renders the Ice Caves dangerous.

The Ice Caves form from snow sliding off Big Four Mountain. The snow compacts into solid ice, and then somehow four caves are formed.

My last time at the Ice Caves I led a group that my sister Michele was somehow in charge of.

About 10 kids, if I remember correctly.

That time at the Ice Caves was definitely late Spring, or maybe even early Summer. Because you stayed a distance away from the Ice Caves and instead of spelunking, you sat on big rocks and watched huge chunks of ice come loose, crashing down on the Ice Caves.

I remember it as loud, and some of the kids unsettled by the spectacle.

If you are ever touristing in Washington, the Mountain Loop Highway is a scenic excursion, that to me, reminds me of Yosemite. There are a lot of hiking trails. The Monte Christo ghost town. The walk down the trail to see Granite Falls is easy, and the falls are worth the walk.

Logging roads off the Mountain Loop Highway were a frequent cross country skiing location when I lived in the neighborhood.

I remember taking Jeremy and Christopher sledding on one of those roads.

Another time, in one of what became known as Nephews in Danger incidents, I, and Jeremy and Christopher's cousin, Joey, who is my second oldest nephew and the proud papa of Hank Frank, pedaled our mountain bikes up the road from the Mountain Loop Highway to the Monte Christo ghost town. Then after we coasted back to my bike carrying pickup.

Seeing that that road was not too busy, I asked Joey if he wanted to go on a long coast down the hill, that I would follow and pick him up when the coasting ended.

And so, Joey did so. I was a bit mortified when Joey's coasting speed went over 40 mph.

Thinking about the Mountain Loop Highway, and Nephews in Danger, I recollect another time at that location, with Joey. We joined a huge throng of hikers accessing a trail made from the railroad bed of tracks that led to Monte Christo, to carry in goods and people, and haul out gold.

Well, that trail, along the Stillaguamish River, a few miles before it goes over Granite Falls, was a bit treacherous in places, the trail seeming precarious above the fast moving rapids of the river. And the trail went through several tunnels, which was a bit spooky.

But, the most disturbing moment on that hike was when it got its most difficult, when suddenly a pair of kayakers shot by. Did they know Granite Falls was a short distance downriver? I assume such, and that their exit point from the river was before the falls.

I am sort of enjoying these Microsoft OneDrive Memory things causing me to remember things I have not thought of in a long long time...

My Daily Deception Pass Bridge Reminder Of Fort Worth's Embarrassing Bridge Boondoggle

Seems rarely a day goes by that I do not see at least one photo of the Deception Pass Bridge, on Facebook.

Every time I see a Deception Pass Bridge photo Fort Worth, Texas comes to mind.

Fort Worth is a location where I watched in amazement as the city took over seven years to build three freeway overpass type bridges.

Over dry land.

With the hope that one day a cement lined ditch filled with diverted Trinity River water, will flow below the bridges, creating an imaginary island which the town already calls Panther Island. 

Panther Island, where there is no island, and never will be a real island, confusing the town's few tourists, in much the same way the town confused its few tourists with signs pointing the way to Sundance Square, where there was no square.

But, after a few decades of confusing the town's few tourists a small square was built and named Sundance Square Plaza.

Deception Pass Bridge was built almost a century ago, In the early 1930s. Built over swift moving actual water. Built in slightly less than a year.

Deception Pass Bridge is actually two bridges, with an actual island, not an imaginary island, between the two spans over Deception Pass.

Actually, if my memory is serving me correctly, the bridge you see above is above Deception Pass. The bridge on the other side of the real island crosses above Canoe Pass.

I wonder if Canoe Pass is so named because during a wild tide change, the water is more navigable vis Canoe Pass, than is the case with Deception Pass.

I have seen a strong tide change a time or two whilst at Deception Pass State Park. Such is a wonder of nature to behold. The water in the pass looks like powerful river rapids, too strong for any boat to make headway heading into the current.

If I am in Washington next summer it would be a mighty fine thing to visit Deception Pass State Park and hike up Goose Rock...

Happy Birthday Sister Jackie

Today, Monday, February 12, is my little sister, Jackie's, Happy Birthday.

I do not remember why Jackie was in a baseball uniform in this photo of Jackie holding a baseball mitt.

Was there some sort of Pee Wee T-Ball League way back then?

I think likely not.

I do not remember Jackie playing baseball. I do remember Jackie playing basketball in high school.

Jackie's little sister, Michele, I do remember playing baseball, of the type called softball.

I recollect going to a Washington State High School Softball Tournament in Wenatchee, Washington, watching Michele be, if I remember correctly, and likely I don't, the catcher.

Again, if I am remembering correctly, Michele was picked to be Most Valuable Player at that tournament.

What I clearly remember of that weekend in Wenatchee is going to a U-Pick cherry orchard, with mom and dad, Jackie, and Jackie's oldest, Christopher, where we all picked cherries, including Christopher, who at that point in time might have been three years old.

I remember Christopher having a great time climbing a ladder, picking cherries and putting them in the burlap bag provided.

And now, all these years later, Jackie is a Grandma. And Christopher is a Pa.

I do not think there are any cherry trees in the Phoenix, Arizona zone that Jackie and Christopher can take Baby Cade to in a couple years to do some cherry picking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKIE!!!

Snow Is On The Menu For Today's Super Bowl Party

I thought we were done with this type thing, with clear sailing til Spring, with no more freezing, ice, or snow. 

I thought wrong.

Snow is on the weather menu at my North Texas location for this second Sunday of the second month of 2014, also known as Super Bowl Sunday.

Rain began dripping late yesterday, and continued to drip all night long, and continues to drip.

A strong wind is scheduled to be blowing today, making for a wind chill real feel of the temperature being below freezing.

If I go on a salubrious walk today it will be in the climate-controlled confines of Walmart.

My Super Bowl Party is scheduled to start at 4 this afternoon. BBQed baby back pork ribs, biscuits dipped in garlic butter, pizza, chicken wings and apple cider is today's football menu.

Arrive early to secure a good seat...

Microsoft Memory Of Mount Rainier From Kent

The photo you see here showed up this second Saturday of the second month of 2024, in my email, a Microsoft OneDrive Memory from this Day, that I do remember, but it certainly was not on this day.

This photo was taken way back in October of 2005. Flying out of D/FW I found myself seated next to a mom and her three kids who were refugees from New Orleans, stuck in D/FW after escaping the Katrina Hurricane, they were heading to Washington to stay with relatives in Bremerton.

The flight that time routed through Las Vegas, switching to another plane to continue on to Seattle. I'd been in the Las Vegas airport a time or two. The Katrina mom was a bit frazzled so I offered to help her navigate to the next plane. 

It was well after midnight we landed at Sea-Tac. A ghostly empty airport. The person who was supposed to pick me up, was not there. I called her to learn she'd left for the airport a few minutes prior. She was coming from Tacoma. So, I knew I had about a half hour wait. 

I soon came upon the mom and her three kids, also waiting. Their relative was not there, either. I told her I would have a car in about an hour and could come pick them up and deliver them to Bremerton, if need be. Gave her my cell number. I never heard from her again. I assume they made it to Bremerton.

The photo above was taken after my sister called me as she was driving to work to tell me The Mountain was out and looking good. I was at my sister's in Kent, that is a suburb of Seattle, between Seattle and Tacoma.

After getting the call about The Mountain being out, I grabbed my camcorder and headed down the hill a short distance to Lake Meridian, which is the lake you see in the photo, with Mount Rainier looming large.

The photo is a screenshot from the video I took of the walk down the hill to see The Mountain.

Of late I am starting to wonder if I am ever going to see a real mountain again...

Semi-Colorful February Lucy Park Walk

Since I was in the neighborhood to get some meds from a pharmacy, I went to Lucy Park for an overcast slightly chilly walk.

As you can see, there are some flowers in Lucy Park adding a little color to the mostly brown landscape.

Next month, with the arrival of Spring, color should be returning to the landscape. 

That cloudy sky looks as if it should be dripping some rain. But, no such thing is in the forecast for today.

Warm Thursday Walk Around Sikes Lake

I have been otherwise occupied the past couple days, housebound for the most part, even though the outer world temperature has been totally pleasant.

Including today.

With the temperature on this second Thursday of the second month of 2024 scheduled to get into the 70s.

So, it was to Sikes Lake I took a short drive this morning for a fast walk.

In the photo documentation you are on the bridge at the west end of the lake, looking east.

Few birds were flocking today. Usually, even after the mass murder of 383 geese, one still sees a lot of birds of various sorts, geese, duck, pelicans, herons and sea gulls.

Why are there sea gulls so far from the nearest sea, I think, when I see them, usually flocking together with the remaining geese...

Monday At Lake Wichita Park With Mount Wichita

It was to Lake Wichita Park I ventured on this first Monday of the second month of 2024.

Recent rain has raised the lake level a little, but the lake still needs a lot more water before the new dock, which was installed months ago, is able to finally float.

I think I have made mention previously of the fact that my location in Texas is extremely flat. No mountain range to be seen. In the above view you are looking west across the west end of Lake Wichita. That non-floating dock is visible on the right.

At the location where I was standing when taking the above photo, I could make a 180 degree turn to see the only thing that comes even remotely close to being a mountain, for many miles in any direction.

And there is is. Mount Wichita. Also known as Murphy's Hill. Looking at this "mountain" one might think a PLEASE USE CAUTION WHEN CLIMBING HILL warning would not really be needed.

Well. Mount Wichita might not look like it presents any real danger. But, it is way steeper than it looks.

One must tread carefully both going up, and especially going down. It is extremely easy to trip on the eroded ruts.

I rarely make my way to the Mount Wichita summit anymore, due to not wanting to experience twisting an ankle, or worse...

Remembering Hiking Mount Baker With Hank Frank's Papa Joey

On this first Sunday of the second month of 2024 the Microsoft OneDrive Memory email from this Day is a good one. Several photos of Hank Frank's proud papa, my Favorite Joey Nephew, leading me up the trail leading to the Mount Baker volcano.

The first photo is from part way up the trail, the trailhead of which is a location called Schrieber's Meadow. That being a location where one can pick wild mountain blueberries in the Fall.

In that first photo we are still below the timberline.

This hike with Joey took place at some point in time during the 1990s. I believe this to be the last time I hiked up Mount Baker.

And now we are above the timberline, where trees can not grow. Joey is looking down a steep moraine, scoured out by a glacier. The trail atop this moraine is called the Railroad Grade. Why it is so called, I do not know. 

Joey takes a sitting rest, now that we are about at the furthest one can easily and safely hike up the Mount Baker volcano. At this location you are close enough to smell the sulphur fumes spewing from the crater.

When I lived in the shadow of the Mount Baker volcano it was just something I took for granted. Til Texas I'd never lived where there weren't any mountains.

I could see Mount Baker and the Cascade foothills from my Mount Vernon living room window.

I wonder, sometimes, if I will ever again hike a Cascade mountain trail.

Maybe next Summer Joey and Hank Frank might take me hiking up Mount Baker...

Trying To Remember The Slotemaker Brewing Company Prohibition Porter Operation

Now this is a totally strange memory from today's Microsoft OneDrive Memories of this Day.

I know the photo is from one of many I scanned a couple decades ago for a family history website about my Dutch Slotemaker family.

I was told that in this photo we are seeing my Grandpa and Grandma Slotemaker. With my Grandpa's brothers and their wives. The boys are sitting, each appearing to be enjoying a bottle of beer. If I am remembering correctly, and sometimes I do, my Grandpa is the one second from the left, with my Grandma being the one standing second from the left.

I was told that it was long rumored that my Grandpa, along with some, if not all of his brothers, ran a beer bootlegging operation during Prohibition, distributing their product from its Lynden location, a short distance from the border with Canada, to Seattle, about 100 miles south.

How did one transport something, back then, from Lynden to Seattle? I have no idea. Maybe Highway 99, which decades later morphed into Interstate 5, was the road that connected Vancouver B.C. to Seattle and beyond.

I recollect being told the beer the boys brewed was the style of beer known as Porter.

From the Wikipedia article about Porter Beer...

Porter is a style of beer that was developed in London, England in the early 18th century. It is well-hopped and dark in appearance owing to the use of brown malt. The name is believed to have originated from its popularity with porters.

I do not remember if the Slotemaker Boys named their brew Prohibition Porter, or if I was taking poetic license when adding text to the photo. I also do not remember if their brewing operation operated under the Slotemaker Brewing Company name, or that I may have made that up, again taking more poetic license.

What I do know is I want to try some of this Porter Beer libation. I wonder if Walmart sells such?