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On the Apple Capital Loop Trail – October 2, 2016
YEAR 3, MONTH 2
SEPT 21 – OCT 20 (2016)
COMMUNICATION & COGNITION
- he made up a hand sign for car steering wheels (he puts hands/fingertips together & rotates them back & forth)
- he’ll say “go” when he wants you to move, or when we are going somewhere
- he asks to get out of his crib by saying “es chew” (but we’re not sure what that word is)
- he repeated “boo-boo” (10/5)
- he repeats “Obiwan has taught you well,” one syllable at a time
- loves to say “noway!”
- he counts “two, two, two” as he points to things
- he can repeat all letters of the alphabet
- he repeated the numbers 4-10 (10/9)
- he matched 5 colors with his 2-piece puzzles (i.e. pink > pig, yellow > banana, etc)
- he said “pillow blanket” and “owl” (i.e. he names things in his crib)
- he says “show” for Star Wars movies
- he says “stay” (i.e. he wants to stay at the park)
- we prompt him to say “I need ___.”
- he calls his formula milk “Goppa” (who knows where that came from?!)
- he said “more pancake” & “fresh diaper”
- he repeated “stop” & “no bueno”
- he says/asks for Walla Walla Park (“Walla Walla Pok” or “Walla Walla Walla Walla Pok”)
Watching Star Wars in his “Obiwan robe” – October 3, 2016
NEW ABILITIES
- he lifts his leg way up when riding his Globber scooter
- able to climb up on my bed without help (the mattress is high off the floor)
- first time riding his bike a significant distance because he’s finally tall enough (to Washington Park, 9/25)
- he helped take his shirt off
- sliding down a big slide by himself (Lincoln Rock Park, 9/28)
- Todd’s 1st mountain bike ride (1 mile round trip, Horse Lake Reserve)
- he did some jumps with really high knees (10/19)
- doing back floats in the bathtub (10/12)
- we do “art class” with crayons & paper (until he starts to put the crayons in his mouth)
SILLY THINGS
- he imitates the Lego Duplo (phone) game characters when they lick their lips for the ice cream
- laughing hysterically watching a clown burp & barf on an iPad game app (10/8)
- he wanted to strip off his clothes while outside (and it wasn’t very warm out!) (9/24)
Somewhere near Blewitt Pass – September 24, 2016
DAY TIME ACTIVITIES WITH ERIC
“Stay-At-Home-Dada” (SAHD)
- Rocky Reach Dam (9/21)
- visit Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (Vantage, WA) (9/23)
- Lincoln Rock Park (9/26)
- Apple Valley Gymnastics (10/17)
- sitting in the Princess car while grocery shopping
- he LOVES to swing at Walla Walla Park
Eric & Todd – September 26, 2016
Todd on his Globber – October 12, 2016
October 18, 2016
FAMILY ACTIVITIES & DINING OUT
- near Blewitt Pass (9/24)
- 11.85 mile bike ride with trailer on the Apple Capital Loop Trail
- Lincoln Rock Park (9/28)
- riding his bike in the neighborhood & meeting new kids & playing (Castlerock, 9/29)
- dinner at La Fuente (9/30)
- Todd on his bike, Eric & Elisa on foot…Horse Lake Reserve (10/1)
- White Heron Cellars music event (10/1)
- Todd on his bike, Eric & Elisa on foot…Rock Island portion of Apple Capital Loop Trail (10/2)
- went to a baby shower (10/3)
- sitting on parked diggers at Washington elementary school (10/7)
- Rocky Reach Dam & lunch at Cafe Rio (10/8)
- 10 mile bike ride with trailer on the Loop Trail (10/9); and Walla Walla Park
- Todd on his bike, then we went to the Saddle Rock Brewery (10/11)
- 2.5 miles on the north section of the Loop Trail – Todd on his bike & in the stroller (10/15)
- morning at Walla Walla & dinner at La Fuente (10/16)
- evening at Walla Walla Park & dinner at El Porton (10/20)
Todd’s 1st mountain bike ride – Horse Lake Reserve – October 1, 2016
Biking at Horse Lake Reserve – October 1, 2016
White Heron Cellars – October 1, 2016
White Heron Cellars – October 1, 2016
White Heron Cellars – October 1, 2016
Driver’s seat – October 15, 2016
HEALTH
- 2 year check up with his new doctor (10/5)
- weight = 25 lb + 11.2 oz (18th percentile)
- height = 2 ft + 8″ (4th percentile)
- he got a very mild cold (runny nose, 10/8)
- screening by birth to 3 for his expressive communication (10/10)
- he has a “boo-boo bear” ice pack that he uses when he bonks himself– we put it on the hurt spot, then he gets to lightly bite the ears
When Todd gets upset! – October 19, 2016
Swinging at Walla Walla Park – October 20, 2016
DENTISTRY
- spotted his right upper 2nd year molar (9/28)
- spotted his left bottom 2nd year molar (10/2)
- that’s tooth #17 & tooth #18
- Dentist appointment (10/10)
La Fuente – September 30, 2016
FOOD NOTES
- loves corn on the cob
- he ate carrot pieces in coleslaw & wanted more (9/27)
- interested in eating pancakes for breakfast again (no blueberries but with a smear of sunflower butter & a drizzle of maple syrup)
September 22, 2016
October 4, 2016
DAY TIME NAPS
- status quo…see last month!
- he likes to throw all his stuff out of this crib
Before nap – September 22, 2016
NIGHT TIME SLEEP
- he woke up crying in the night ZERO times this month…YAY!
- status quo…sleeps ~9 hrs per night (roughly ~9 PM to 6 AM)
- most nights before bed, he takes a bath
- our night time routine: we read books together in the glider chair, then Todd decides when to get down. He runs out to see Eric, then Eric puts him in his crib
- he doesn’t like to keep his socks on
- when I lie down on the floor next to his crib at night, he likes to pile everything from his crib on me…then takes back his pillow blanket(s) and a “fuzzy” (the word I use with Todd for blanket)
- he wanted his “Hooper Humperdink?..Not Him!” book in his crib with him (10/10)…then a few days later, when he had it in bed with him during a nap, he ripped up several pages 😀
Todd & Pillow Bear – October 20, 2016
POTTY TALK
- he does most poops in the toilet (he tells us when) and some pees in the toilet (we take him)
- he had a streak when he told us he had to go poo-poo 5 days/times in a row (accurately!)
October 12, 2016
Saturday, July 27, 2013 – Mountain Biking
We actually planned to ride here last year, but the trails were temporarily closed on the day we picked (due to forest fires in the area.) We rode Alder Ridge trail instead. (Check out the trip report here. It includes images of the fires and a map showing where Minnow Ridge/Chikamin Tie is.)
This time we were good to go. Our friend joined us and even purchased the après ride beverages!
Minnow Ridge Trail #1524 and Chikamin Tie Trail #1561 are located near Lake Wenatchee, WA.
To get here, turn off Highway 2 onto Highway 207, then take the Chiwawa River Road. After passing the trailhead for Alder Ridge, turn onto road #6210.
In less than half mile, the trailhead for Chikamin Tie is on the right. (Road #6210 continues for several miles. Minnow Ridge trail basically parallels the road. Eventually, we crossed the road’s end to access the upper segment of the Chikamin Tie trail.)
The trailhead for Minnow Ridge Trail #1524 is also the trailhead for Chikamin Creek Trail #1534. We did not take that trail, but we talked to 2 motorcyclists who did. They said it has plenty of exposure (no, thanks!), as it contours a steep side hill– but it does offer a loop option for those interested.
This is not the trail we took, but this trail shares a trailhead with Minnow Ridge Trail.
Our trip was an “out and back.” Let’s begin!
SEGMENT 1
Minnow Ridge Trail #1524 starts at 2600 ft. After 3.5 miles and 900 ft net elevation gain of rolling ups and downs, you come to the intersection with Minnow Creek Trail #1539.
Eric consults the map at the first intersection.
SEGMENT 2
From the intersection, the last 2.3 miles of Minnow Ridge Trail continues up and down to meet up with Chikamin Creek. (The upper end of the Chikamin Creek Trail #1534 is located here.)
Stream crossing
Chikamin Creek
SEGMENT 3
This marks the start of Chikamin Tie Trail #1561. No more ups and down. The trail climbs steadily another 900 ft in 2 miles while it parallels the creek.
Stopping for a snack. If you look closely, you can see evidence of recent fire.
SEGMENT 4
After being in shady forest all morning, we popped into the open sun to cross Road #6210 on our final climb above Chikamin Ridge.
Eric pops onto Road #6210, into the bright sun.
Here’s where we talked to the 2 motorcyclists. One ended up being a WA State Representative from the 12th District, Cary Condotta (R – East Wenatchee). I took his picture as he started up the upper Chikamin Tie trail.
We saw these 2 guys, plus one more small group of motorcyclists on the trail.
Cary Condotta
From here, I started feeling really strong.
It wasn’t because of sleep, because I slept like crap the night before. Maybe it was my “power breakfast” of a green smoothie (with avocado), non-dairy milk latte, and a spoon of peanut butter.
What I started thinking about, though, was an Endurance Planet podcast I heard this week (the episode with Dr. Jason Karp, co-author of Running For Women). In the podcast, I learned that a woman’s athletic performance can be best during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle- in particular, when estrogen levels reach their peak.
I should be near that peak. Estrogen power!? Could it be? I was leaving the boys behind!
Before crossing a couple granite boulder fields, the trail surface became a bit rutted by motorcycle tires. It wasn’t really that bad, though (for me). It does require good core strength and bike handling to keep the front tire tracking straight.
The granite did require walking the bikes. That was the only real section of “hike-a-bike” during the whole trip.
First of 2 granite boulder fields to cross.
Our friend wanted to take some pictures here. We’re still on our way up, although Eric is posing for the “down.”
Onward and upward…
Part of Chikamin Ridge
Crossing the 2nd granite boulder field, below Chikamin Ridge.
Surrounding hills.
I’m pretty sure that’s Clark Mountain with the snow on it.
Above Chikamin Ridge, the upper Chikamin Tie Trail ended after 4.1 miles at a 3-way intersection (6200 ft).
I asked Eric to take my picture with this sign, and this is what I got. Super close-up!
SEGMENT 5
We were hoping for a spectacular view once we climbed above Chikamin Ridge, but we didn’t get it at the intersection. We’d basically arrived at our turnaround point, but now we were on a quest for views.
We continued onto Pond Camp Tie Trail #1409.2 toward a highpoint on the map at 6500 ft. (After that, the trail would drop down to Pond Meadow.)
Here are the views we got. Okay, but anticlimactic…
Left side of our “view” from the 6500 ft highpoint.
Middle section views from 6500 ft highpoint.
The best was yet to come. The ride back to the car!
While screaming down the trail on the descent, I unofficially named both segments of the Minnow Ridge Trail “Superfun Forest.” The forest floor is basically smooth, with not too many of those switchbacks with the pesky waffle-pattern cement blocks (for the motorcycles.)
This trip is definitely one to repeat. I’d also like to explore a little further, toward Mad Lake/Meadow. This will require getting an earlier start.
The beer at the car really hit the spot. Good times!
Cheers!
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TRIP STATS: (Using the Bike Tracks App for iPhone)
- Total Distance = 24.9 miles
- Total Vertical = 9349 ft (climb 4627 ft, descend 4722 ft)
- Elevation = 6462 ft highest, 2536 ft lowest
- Time = 8 hrs, 7 min (start 9:45 AM, finish 5:45 PM)
MAP USED:
FOOD CONSUMED ON TRAIL:
- Water + SaltSticks
- 1 square homemade Sunflower Butter Energy Bar (GF)
- 2 pieces dried mango
- 3 jumbo black olive
- 4 salted cashews
- 1 energy gel (with caffeine)
Freeheel Vegan 