Raven Trail

I'm wishing I had my camera along with me in Alaska ~ all these were taken with my cell phone,  hence the quality. 

Today we wanted to check out the new trail that heads to Raven's Roost Cabin. Directly across from Sandy Beach is the new trail head.

 Our car was just one of two cars in the lot when we headed out.

The colors remind us that it is November 1st. Some of the ponds had a very, very slight layer of ice on top.

We found the pathway to be wonderful ~ finely crushed rock and a wide width made walking in pairs super!

As the trail climbed, there were a few viewing areas, ringed with huge rocks. The pads had large benches to sit and enjoy the scenery. 

Yep, I'm happy to be here...I may look a bit "iffy" but woke with a sore tooth!

The first of the two benches:

This  crossroads is one-half mile from the parking lot. The new trail crosses the airport/dam service road here so if you wish to head to the dam, veer left...or right to the airport. Straight ahead the trail continues up.

Our view of Fredrick Sound and the Coastal Range got better and better as we progressed.

 

This trail was built by one young man from Hyder. Doing it alone seems daunting to me...a huge task. 

Impressive culverts let the muskeg creeks flow under the path. The muskeg was wet but the trail was not!

 A rock formation rest-stop at the bend, made for a "quick sit" on this chilly day.

 I took two shots of the tall trees as we walked through a wooded section. My eye is drawn to the twisted craggy limbs in the first picture,

and the sheer immensity of the trees in the second one...check out John at the very bottom!

Out into the open again as the trail becomes steeper, we view rusty colored muskeg.

I had to step off the path to get a close up of this fungi ? growing. Need to have a field guide to identify this 4 inch plant.

 

Here we are at the second rest stop with amazing views of the area. This bench was made in Walpole, Massachusetts. 

 

This reminded me of Thousand Islands, our childhood ice skating area.

Devil's Thumb was visible, along with Horn Cliff and the Souki Islands.

I think the placement of rocks has been artfully executed...someone has a good eye for design!

Now for the very last stretch of the new trail...it is quite a bit steeper.

 We knew the end was nearing as the finely crushed rock turned into coarser rock.

 The rest of the trail for the serious hiker begins at this point.  Our path changed directions!

 Down the hill we went...

We passed two groups of hikers with multiple dogs as we descended. Little kids, big kids, and baby strollers all enjoying the area. All of the dogs were off leash, typical of the Petersburg. And yep, they were big black labs for the most part! 

Back at the trail head (truck headed down the dump hill) we found our way to the full parking lot. What a special spot for residents to enjoy!

Garden Guest

Guess what I found in the garden today Brooke and Oliver?

Which end is the front?

 See how big it is!!

The Music Has Arrived!

John borrowed the truck from Kent and headed to East Wenatchee to rent a U-Haul trailer. He set his GPS for Skip's house in Bonney Lake and he was off.

 

He and Skip loaded up the piano and he headed back to Cashmere. It was dark when he arrived so it stayed on the trailer overnight.

 

The following morning Annie, Kent and Bing arrived to do some heavy lifting and tugging.

 

Maisy took a rest under the Burning Bush after chasing the tennis ball around.

 Caitlin's front porch is ready for October!

 The wall hanging I made seems to fit just fine! Annie designed the center moon and pumpkin for me... I think it helped the composition.

Give Them a Hammer...

and they'll be happy. That's my babysitting trick!

 Oliver arrived on his bike today and said, "Gramma, you get me that hammer?" I knew just what he was wanting to do...loves to crack the acorns that fall into Caitlin's yard from the oak in the sidewalk.

 Of course there's also educational Netflix too!

Yesterday two Japanese women walked by the house and praised the way the garden looked..."very nice, very nice!" (Nodding heads while repeating the words.) It dawned on me that I should take a few photos to remember this September in Cashmere!

 This year we planted alyssum around a single geranium in the front pots.

Easy Does It, in a back yard pot, is getting larger blooms now that the weather is cooling down.

 

Dick Clark is a long lasting blossom on the bush as well as cut. It begins with a yellow bud that changes as it ages.

 Picnic table area has grasses with petunias.

 This spider has been eating away for the last month or so. It is amazing to watch as its abdomen has grown. This is the underside which faces out.

 The side yard, inside the taller gate, has pots of roses to enjoy in private. The two large roses wintered in place last year and did wonderfully this summer.