Fall Photo Shoot

I have really enjoyed the beauty of Fall this year. The colors are so vibrant and stunning. Yesterday I took some time to capture the trees amazing transformation.

Becoming a Green River Community College Gator

After 20 applications I finally found a job at Green River Community College (GRCC). I am working as a Program Coordinator for Disability Support Services (DSS). Yes, I have entered a world of acronyms.

I am starting my fourth week and it is hard to believe that I have almost been there a month. I really love the GRCC campus; it is surrounded by woods and very close to the Green River (hence the name). The campus reminds me of lot of Germany (even the rough toilet paper). I remember as a child in Wurzburg walking down a path to collect snails and there was a school hidden in the forest.

This is not the best picture but it is the only one I could find on the Internet. Anyway, you can see the building set back in the trees.

There are quite a few trails around the campus that I run on during lunch. There is a trail that has a lookout of Mt. Rainer. I haven't seen Mt. Rainer from this point due to cloud cover but I have faith that some day I will.

This from the Mt. Rainer lookout. Hwy-18 is below.

I work with 2 other women and they are great co-workers. And lucky us we work in a condemned building. It is freezing in the building too. One day I wore 2 shirts, a pull over fleece, and a zip-up fleece to stay warm. On the job listing it said that the applicant should be able to work in temperatures 15 degrees higher or lower than 75 and now I see why. :)

It is interesting how much the Community College setting reminds me of teaching high school. My first day there I was ease dropping on some students conversation and felt like I was back at Highland. Overall things are going pretty well and I am grateful for a job.

Since I don't have a car yet I am using the bus. It takes me about an one hour to get to GRCC. I enjoy this quiet time and use it to read. I have not had any weird bus incidents but I am sure they are coming. Oh, I did over hear one guy tell his friend that he liked a job because "1........ and B......".

We made it to the top!

Owen and me after running to the top of Hidden Peak. We thought about riding the chairlift down but decided we didn't have the energy to hike down to it. So, we sat on the Tram floor and relaxed.

Snowbird 2011

The cool mountain air, the smell of the cement walls in the stairwell, Twizzlers, scone breakfast, hiking to the top of Hidden Peak, playing uncoordinated tennis, and soaking in a highly chlorinated hot tub are just some of the things I love about....

This year I decided to hike to Hidden Peak more than once. Monday, Owen and I set off just to take some pictures but we ended up hiking via the Gad Valley to Hidden Peak. I think the Gad Valley is little shorter but it is a lot steeper. We were tired by the time we got to the top. Tuesday, I set off alone up the Peruvian Gulch. I think my record has been to hike it in 1 hr 50 minutes. This time I hiked it in 1 hr. 40 mins. On Thursday Owen, Derek, and Alexis ran to the top. I have never ran to the top and was jealous of their experience so Owen and I ran on Friday in the afternoon after hiking 2 miles to Secret Lake. Running it was quite difficult and is more like a run/hike experience. I did run the switchbacks from the chairlift to the top. It took me 1 hr 27 minutes.

Me at the top of Hidden Peak.



The valley is in the background. Since there was a lot of snow this year there were huge patches still on the Peruvian Trail.

On Friday when Owen, Derek, and Alexis ran, Nana came up and helped me bring the twins on the Tram. We had a nice visit with her.

I rode the Peruvian Chairlift 3 times. In the distance you can see the Alpine Slide.

Alexis and Evan cruising down the Alpine Slide.

"AAAHHHHH, Greta hold on to me"

Holly and Greta come out of the corner at 150 mph.

Alexis and Greta ride the chairlift for another race on the Alpine Slide.

As Owen and I were walking around on Monday we could see Derek, Alexis, and the twins on the balcony. Look straight ahead; they are the white dots near the roof of the Iron Blossom.

Friday we hike up to Secret Lake which is just past Alta. Owen, Derek, and Evan led the way.

I thought this was a cute Father and Son picture. Derek and Evan stop to take a rest.

Me at Secret Lake.

On our way down Greta said, "Take a picture of me." Here is one picture from her requested photo shoot.

There were so many beautiful wild flowers this year.

I love taking pictures of flowers and the beautiful earth God created for us.

Sting must of been in Alta when he wrote "Fields of Gold."

Ragnar...190miles...13.9miles were mine

Last Christmas I asked Derek and Alexis if I could run the Ragnar Relay with them. There are a number of Ragnar relays throughout the U.S.; we ran the Northwest Passage Ragnar that begins on the U.S./Canadian border in Blaine, Washington. The race ended on Whidbey Island north of Seattle. The relay was held on July 22 and 23. There were 12 members on our team and each team member ran 3 legs. My legs were 8.5, 3.5, and 2.9 miles. Our team name was 12 South because we were 12 people heading south.

The yellow line is the route we ran. I believe there were 300 teams who ran.

Ragnar starting line L to R: Mike Moffit, Mike Zahaiko, Alexis, Derek, Me, and Owen

We ran in Van 1 so we ran the first 6 legs. Derek started the race, then Alexis, me, Mike Zahaiko, Owen, and Mike Moffit ran the 6th leg. Mike then handed over the baton to Van 2 and they ran while we showered and rested.

Alexis hands the baton to me at the end her first Leg. 8.5 miles here I come.

As often as we could those in the Van would drive a 1/2 mile ahead and cheer the runner on as they past by. That is they would cheer unless they were slacking.

Every time you pass someone you get to count them as roadkill. My first leg the roadkill but I did end up passing 2 people on Leg 2 and 3 people on Leg 3.

My goal was to have at least 1 roadkill and I got 5. If you noticed on the front passenger window it says "Slacker Van II" Well, I was passing the van on Leg 1 and expecting them to cheer but to my surprise they were busy looking at maps in the Van. So, I called them slackers. Then when Owen ran one his legs we were not paying attention and he yelled "Slackers" as he ran by.

It was a good thing we wrote Derek and Alexis' names on a big window they needed it for all their roadkill.

I started Leg 1 at 11:00am on Friday. My 2nd leg was at 8:00 pm. And then I finished Leg 3 about 6:30am. I ran Leg 1 pretty slow. In fact I think it would be more accurate to say I jogged. For Leg 2 and Leg 3 I ran and was happy with my times. I ran each mile under 9 minutes but overall I ran a 9:11 mile. Here I am finishing Leg 3.

"Hey, O, pull my finger. "

Owen was all smiles as he ran his 3 legs.

We ran through the country, through cities and towns, past homes, and near the interstate. Derek is running Leg 2 here.

Alexis rounds the corner past Skagit bay. It was really cool that all the teams cheered for each other. There was such a positive and community feeling during the race.

We were given medals at the finish line. This medal not only rewards us for our accomplishment but it is also a bottle opener for that $1 beer at the finish line.

12 South
Back Row L to R: Keano Granger, Rachel Garcia, Jeff Allen, Amy Allen, Laura Green, and Kate Allen
Front Row L to R: Mike Zahaiko, Derek Leonard, Alexis Leonard, Holly Leonard, Mike Moffit, and Owen Leonard

West Glacier

West Glacier was a lot warmer than East. I was able to wear shorts and there was no wind. I also spent two nights camping near the West Glacier entrance. Since parts of the road were closed due to snow the rangers allowed us to walk 3 miles up. I never did see Logan Pass, the top of the road, but that is okay because I loved walking on the road rather than driving it.

I got pretty good taking pictures of myself.

This is a reflection of the mountains in Lake McDonald which is near the West Glacier entrance.

There were so many beautiful waterfalls. I walked quite a ways on the road to get just the right picture. Not sure I ever got it but this is close.

The river was really high and raging as it made its way down the canyon.

In 2006 there was a fire in Glacier. Walking through these trees was like walking through a graveyard.

My attempt to take "cool" pictures of a waterfall.

While I was walking on a trail I came across this deer. I couldn't believe how close I was able to walk near her. She didn't not run but just lifted her head to see who it was and then kept eating.

This is called the "Weeping Wall". Hopefully you can figure out why on your own.

Another waterfall.

On the way up I saw a bear foraging on a tree. Glacier is full of bears and there are lots of warnings about bear safety. Luckily this bear was far enough off and there were lots of people taking pictures

More beautiful views.

My campsite.

From my campsite I would get on my bike and ride into the village to shop and eat. There were a few paved bike trails that I enjoyed too. I was really sad to leave Glacier and would highly recommend that you take the opportunity to explore it someday.