Boundary Way/Cowap Peak hike

 We chose Boundary way/Cowap peak as our hike this week, because we were just at this parking lot/trailhead last Thursday for our hike to Damfino lakes to Excelsior peak. I wanted to finish out this trailhead and do a hike I haven't done in 10 years. The last time I did this was October of 2014. You can read about that trip HERE.

Today's hike began as I said in the same parking lot. Our dog Scoutina patiently waited for us to ready our things for the hike.

Mandatory beginning of the hike photo.

Signing in at the register.

Last Thursday we continued straight for Damfino lakes, today we turned left towards Boundary way.

Many Boletus mushrooms were along the trail.

We reached the trail junction for Canyon ridge, we continues straight for Boundary way/Cowap peak.

We went through a nice opening with some ponds that didn't have much water in them.

The rock area where I always look for Pika or Marmots.

Our first view of our destination.

The open meadow was full of Fireweed and some other lingering flowers. 

We saw some Marmots in this meadow area.

The junction for Boundary way to the right, and Cowap peak to the left.

Looking out at the view before we headed up.

Time for the last up.

Finally after our climb we made it to our destination.

I'm standing on the trail at the top (at least as far as we went) in the photo below.

and a little closer.

Here's a photo from the same spot I'm standing at in the above photo. This photo below is from 10 years ago on a much better weather day and one with a view.

After a nice lunch break we began our downward journey.

Back to the meadow

and the Marmots

and the Fireweed.

Looking one last time at a place of memories, 10 years ago and today💓

We did see a Pika in the rockfall area on our return!

It's in the center of this photo, it blends into the rocks pretty good.

Making our way past the junction. I really took this photo of the signpost and the sign on the tree, but now I'm admiring the tree roots at the turn onto the Canyon ridge trail. 

It was a day of few views, but the views of that past trip 10 years ago are in my heart to stay.

Trail rating: Moderate, but I would call it Moderate/Hard

Total miles hiked: 5.35

Total ascent: 1424 feet

Damfino Lakes to Excelsior Peak hike

 Today my husband and I with our adventure dog "Scoutina" hiked to the top of Excelsior Peak via Damfino lakes. The temps stayed at a nice temperature again for our dog, with all of the water found on the trail she did great. The last time I hiked to the Peak was with my husband in 2017, we hiked from the Mt. Baker highway. That route is much steeper and farther than the route we did today. The last time I did this route was with the Senior Trailblazers August 14, 2014. I didn't realize we were hiking it almost to the day that we did it10 years ago! You can read that post HERE. Today makes the 4th time I've been to the top. 

Warning: this is a large photo dump post. It's been awhile since I've been here and I wanted to capture every moment that I could.

Little things make me happy, like using the restroom at the trailhead and seeing that the toilet seat leaf was still there after all these years💓 If you read the post from 10 years ago, I posted a picture of the leaf then as well.

Also, 10 years ago the trailhead sign lumber/posts were new. Yes, another chance to go back and look at that post from 2014 for the comparison.

Our start photo from today, with the weathered timbers.

 An extra large heart rock not far up the trail.

Making our way up through the forest section .

The trail junction signs

Damfino lakes, and Scoutina's first swim of the day!

I always love the boardwalks💓

Another heart rock on the trail

Flowers in bloom along the creeks. You may need to zoom in to see the flowers better.

Into the open and our first chance for views.

I wondered if the big open meadow area was still open or if the brush and trees had grown up since my last visit there. I was glad to see it was still as I remembered. 

There were hoards of grasshoppers in the open areas of the trail. Scoutina loved them, she tried to catch and eat as many as she could.

More beautiful flowers.

Our first view of Excelsior peak in the distance.

Making our way up the stone steps towards Excelsior pass.

The peak is getting closer.

Excelsior pass is in this area of the signpost. The trailblazer group ate lunch here before they headed back down the trail.

We headed around the back side of Excelsior peak for our upward journey. We could see where the trail from Mt. Baker highway came up and joined this trail.

Some views of the snow covered hills below the clouds.

A view from the top looking toward Mt. MacFarlane in the distance in British Columbia

More views from the top

Scoutina the adventure dog on the top of Excelsior peak

As we made our way down the stone steps we took a detour to explore a small pond in the distance.

So many flies and bees in the flowers, thankfully they didn't bother us. A constant buzz could be heard for most of the day.

A nice reflection as we walked back along the lake.

I spied a heart rock as we made our way back to the main trail.

One more photo of the beautiful flowers of the day.

Nearing the parking lot, I looked back and got this photo that I couldn't get on our way up because the sun was too bright.

Amazing Bracken fungi dripping with some kind of moisture or pitch?

When we hiked up the trail there were no sign in papers in the trail register box, but when we came back by my husband checked and sure enough they'd been refilled, so we got to fill in our trip info.

A great day in the high country. 

Mu heart is full.

Trail rated: Moderate

Total miles: 7.5

Total ascent: 1665 feet