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As we made our way through the Asturian countryside, our itinerary had a scheduled stop to hike Los Pico de Europa. Though we did not plan to hike the entire 24Km from Puente Poncebos to Cain and back, we did have the idea we'd attempt to hike at least 3 to 4Km to the high point at Los Collaos. Unfortunately, less than 1Km from the parking lot, a storm rolled in packing horizontal rains and wind gusts of up to 30mph. We thought it wise to turn back and save this National Park adventure for some future trip to Spain. During our short hike we did manage to take a few photographs of the spectacular views and we found a geocache.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain
2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain
2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain
2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain
2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain	2016 - Picos de Europa, Asturias, Spain

We stopped for a short but brutally steep hike in the mountains just on the outskirts southwest of Pocatello, ID. Our goal was to find the second oldest geocache in Idaho. We had to crawl to the top of a small sunflower covered mountain top in order to score the find.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2015 - Hiking the Mountains of Idaho, Pocatello, ID	2015 - Hiking the Mountains of Idaho, Pocatello, ID	2015 - Hiking the Mountains of Idaho, Pocatello, ID
2015 - Hiking the Mountains of Idaho, Pocatello, ID	2015 - Hiking the Mountains of Idaho, Pocatello, ID	2015 - Hiking the Mountains of Idaho, Pocatello, ID

While in the area camping, I joined a gang of several geocaching individuals that grouped up to hike to the summit of Eagle Mountain. Eagle Mountain is the highest point in Minnesota at 2301' above sea level. The hike is 3.5 miles each direction with an elevation change of about 550'. The majority of the hike was over a trail of stones and boulders across forested rolling hills and the primary elevation climb does even really start until the last three quarters of a mile to the top.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN	2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN	2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN
2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN	2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN	2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN
2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN	2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN	2014 - Eagle Mountain, Cook County, MN

Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Getting to the summit from Asheville, NC, via Blue Ridge Parkway, is easily one of the most gorgeous drives I've done to date. Anyone driving through this area should put Mount Mitchell State Park on their must-visit list.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC
2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC	2013 - Mount Mitchell State Park, Asheville, NC

The goal today was to climb Mount Margaret and find Washington's oldest active geocache, aptly named, Geocache (GCD). The hike of Mount Margaret was probably the most spectacular but also the most physically exhausting of any hikes to date. According to the track log of my GPS, each direction of the hike was 2.3 miles in length with an elevation change of over 2000', topping out at approximately 5200' above sea level.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Mount Margaret, Snoqualmie, WA

Located under a mountain within the Snoqualmie Pass, the Snoqualmie Tunnel is a 2.3 mile long tunnel along the John Wayne Pioneer Trail. I discovered this gem while perusing maps a few years back and just knew that this had to be a stop on our way out west.

Exploring the abandoned railroad tunnel was quite an adventure that we all thoroughly enjoyed.  At the midpoint within the tunnel, the light at each end is nearly imperceptable to non-existent.  The eary feeling of hearing other pedestrians and bikers make their way through the tunnel brought on chatter about horror movies and other bone chilling thoughts.  We also scored the geocache that is hidden within the tunnel called Bloody Fingers, Dirty Diapers... (GCJMDK).  Finding this geocache will be something most of us will never forget.  Right mom?

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA
2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA	2012 - Snoqualmie Tunnel, Snoqualmie, WA

While visiting Colorado, the drive up to the summit of Pikes Peak is an experience that you must not miss.  The drive up Pikes Peak Highway starts just off of US highway 24 (N38° 53.805 W104° 58.279) at an elevation of approximately 7,322 feet above sea level.  The drive is exactly 20.2 miles each direction, with a total ascent of 6,788 feet, topping out at 14,110 feet above sea level.  With 40% less oxygen at the summit than down at the base, it is a harsh environment and the average person, on foot, will never be closer to outerspace.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO
2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO	2011 - Pikes Peak, Colorado Springs, CO

During my 2010 New England tour, by far, the highlight of the trip was Mount Washington, which is located within the White Mountains of New Hampshire.  Mount Washington is the highest peak in the northeastern United States and is famous for its weather.  It held the record for the highest wind gust of 231MPH back in 1934.  During our visit to the Mount Washington Observatory, our original plans to hike down to the Lake of the Clouds hut were scrapped because of weather conditions.  The weather conditions at the time of our visit were the following:

High:  59°F
Low:  50°F
Average Wind Speed:  35.5 mph
Peak Wind Gust:  69 mph
Precipitation:  0.21"

Needless to say that hanging onto the observation deck railing with winds gusting at 50 to 60 mph was one heck of an adrenaline rush.  I cannot imagine 100 mph or even 200 mph.  One thing is for certain, Mount Washington is on my list of places to revisit at some point in my lifetime.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH
2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH
2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH
2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH
2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH	2010 - Mount Washington, White Mountains, NH