The Life of Brian

Mt. Rainier is the single most dominating icon of Western Washington. It inspires awe, it is a part of the life of everyone that lives here, and someday, will be the destruction of many.
Brian is a complicated character, but one thing you can count on is an adventure in the wild outdoors if you give him the chance! Today was quite a day. I am always up for adventure, mostly. On the itinerary for today was planting two poles/signs in cement for the DNR and some exploring on mountain bikes around Ashford. Brian has a key to get past the gates on the forest roads in the area. He volunteers for them. We drove the rodes and checked out yerts and high huts, and planted a few poles. Then we decided to explore a new "trail". Sort of a grade, or forgotten path. It was hearty riding, steep, over plants and rocks, mounds and ditches. At one point we had to ditch the bikes for the way was too encumbered for them. We tossed our helmets and took off in cycling shoes to climb the highest point we could see. Steep. No trail. Bush wacking, tree wacking, rock, bugs, steep, sand covered-rocky-steep. He got to the highest point, I got close before my fear of slippery slopes and heights overcame me. Quite a view. Rainier, Adams and St. Helens. Then foraged on a new direction, no trail of course, wacking in the direction of our bikes. We missed a bit, but close enough. Cycling shoes. We found our bikes, rode on down the path, then Brian had a flat and we couldn't get the tire off the rim. !!! WTF. He rode it flat out, of course. No adventure is complete without Brian riding out on a flat. We found the car, planted another pole, ran across a bear, then rode the steepest grade of my life up to High Hut (Pictures above are from High Hut). Steep like, you have to lean way forward or you fall over backwards. Nothing but "bring it" or fall over. Bear. Oh yeah. We chased it in Brian's Subaru. (Wished to God I had my telephoto lens). We scared the tar out of that bear. Poor thing. Last but not least, a brief dip in a mountain stream to wash the sweat off. Now that is quite an adventure for a Wednesday morning. What did you do Wednesday?