Harvest Ale

When Summer starts to turn to Fall and the air gets crisp all I can think about is one: baking and two: harvest ales. I like the change from lighter summer beers, tank tops and flip flops to sweatshirts, beanies and darker, make-you-nice-and-warm beers. So far I've had Deschute's Twilight Ale and Red Hook's Late Harvest, both good but I liked the Twilight a little more.

The other night I was at the Attick in Madison Park in Seattle and I was forced (I didn't resist, really) to try Hales Ales Obrien's Harvest Ale. It was one of the most perfect Harvest/Fall Ales I've ever had. Maybe it was because I was really thirsty, or because it was in a 20oz. imperial pint or because it was free or because the weather outside was Fall like and it added to the experience? This is a beer I'm looking forward to having again in the darkening Fall days.



Boundary Bay, here in Bellingham, just debuted their Harvest Ale yesterday, so I'll probably need to make my way down there and have my first one of the season.

Park Butte

Unfortunately, hiking has not made it onto my summer schedule as much as I'd liked it to, so when I planned to go hiking this past weekend I knew it'd be a good time. The hike planned was Ptarmigan Ridge near the Mt. Baker Ski Area. I've wanted to do this hike for some time, so I was excited to actually check it off the list.

We got to Maple Falls, got bagels and gas, and realized it was the day of the Mt. Baker Hill Climb and the Baker Highway was closed east of Glacier...boo. I suggested hopping on Hwy 9 South and head toward Baker Lake. I've wanted to do more hiking down there, but it is always such a whole day adventure with all the driving.

After coin-flipping on what roads we should take we ended up at the trailhead for Park Butte and Railroad Grade. We did both, kinda. When we reached the fork for either Park Butte or Railroad Grade, Mt. Baker was starring at us and we just wanted to get closer and closer, which led us up the Railroad Grade trail a half a mile or so. It would have been amazing to keep going, but our real destination was the lookout, sowe turned around and made our way up, stopping at one lake to dip our feet into.

There are many words that could describe the hikes in the Mt. Baker National Forest, but these picture-like views are too amazing, I couldn't find the words. I even said at one point, "The song 'take my breath away' should start playing....now."

There's an app for that

I don't have an iphone. I want one though, mostly because of all the applications for it. I was only slightly suprised when I saw there is an app. for 9/11. It is called "9/11 Numbers." It displays number and facts that go with them about that day.

9/11 Anniversary

Isn't it crazy that 8 years has past since 9/11. When events like this happen, you'll always remember exactly what you were doing that morning when the news was relayed to you. I was standing in the shower getting ready for just another day at High School. I was in my sophomore year. My sister came in and asked me "if I had heard yet." I hadn't. When she told me what had happened it was unreal. I wasn't sure if I believed her or not, but when I got to the TV and saw that 2nd plane crash into the 2nd tower, it hit me hard, like a train.

This event will stay in the minds of everyone who was alive for it forever. It isn't something one forgets. It's just like Pearl Harbor. You don't forget something like that.

To all of the men and women who were deployed overseas as a result of 9/11 and fought for our country, I thank you.