Yesterday Karen and I hiked 11.7 miles with over 3,000 feet of elevation gain. We started at the highest trail head in Sage Hills Trails, Wenatchee, WA. Climbed from arid, shrub-steppe hills to the high, green summit of a Cascade Mountain foothill.

Luckily, evergreen trees at the summit survived the massive wildfire of 2012.

On Apricot Crisp trail, we ascended through a few flowering apricot trees. "Early settlers probably planted apricot trees because they need less water than apples," Karen said. "And apricot trees produce fruit sooner," I replied.

Wind was howling with 50 mph gusts. Blew me sideways. In places, the steep trail was a leg-burner. After raining the day before, the trail was firm. Previously, it had an inch of choking dust from too many mountain bikers and the Spring drought.

Last week, Karen made a peace sign out of small white rocks on a flat stone beside the trail. It was gone. Someone had kicked off every white pebble down the hill.

"It was probably a gun-totin' redneck who thought you were a liberal snowflake," I told Karen. She laughed.

It was snowing in the Enchantments, 30 aerial miles away. At 4,000 feet elevation, we were 4,000 feet lower than the Enchantments and in sunshine. By afternoon, the Enchantments were blanketed with fresh snow. It was gorgeous.

"Eeek!" Karen screamed, leaping three feet sideways. "I almost stepped on a small rattlesnake!"

Glad to get out of the wind. Spent the evening blissfully reading with my feet elevated.

Photos:

1. Yellow Balsamroots were sacred to the Wenatchii Indians. They boiled and ate the roots.

2. Snowing in the Enchantments (8,000 to 9,000 feet) as we ascended.

3. Shooting Star flowers dancing in the wind. They only flower for a week.

4. Still snowing in the Enchantments from the summit. Trees frame the view.

5. Big seedpod on a small, young Sagebrush.