Tom's Past Adventures

A nice mid-summer hike at an exception location that we've visited multiple times.  3rd Burroughs is one of several hikes out of Sunrise at Mt Rainier, and its up-close-and-personal views of the mountain keeps it on our very short list of biggest-bang-for-the-buck hikes.  The trail stays high (between 6000' and 8000') and travels through a unique tundra ecosystem, up and over 1st and 2nd Burroughs Mtns ... which are excellent in their own right.  But, continuing on to 3rd Burroughs has the added benefit of fewer people and commanding views, including of the heavily-crevassed Winthrop Glacier tumbling down from the summit.  Always incredibly humbling.  As an added bonus, there were flowers, and a herd of mountain goats! Karen and Mt Rainier (Willis Wall) Burroughs Mtn Trail and Mt Rainier (3rd Burroughs in center right) Winthrop Glacier Winthrop Glacier and Mt Rainier Summit Alpine Saxifrage Mountain goats grazing More Photos

After Brian and Kelsey both graduated (from high school and college, respectively), we took a full-family vacation down to Point Reyes, just north of San Fran ... where we met up with Karen's sister (Joan) and mother.  We rented a house in the area, so got to spend lots of time walking, biking, and just enjoying it all.  Typical summer-time bay-area weather with lots of fog and late afternoon clearing. Motionless little critter on trail (notice boot print in upper left) Local Elks Club Big views Mud flats abstract The crew Foothills Cliffside Flora Bat Ray(?) cruising along shore Sand and Pebble abstract   More Photos