Friday, September 28, 2012

Washington ~ Adventurous Alpine Lakes

We arrived back to North America after almost 9 months of travel on Aug. 20th. We were unemployed and moderately broke. The weather was sunny and beautiful and it was the height of hiking season. Our first excursion was out to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Central Washington.

The first night we camped by this little stream, near the trailhead.





The next morning we awoke fairly early and begun our trek up Jackson Ridge.




'Chicken of the Woods' fungus.



Joan Lake.

Moss!






We camped on top of Scorpion Mountain, in the middle of some beautiful alpine meadows filled with blueberries.










The next day we hiked out and began driving further east towards 'The Enchantments'.



The next morning we began our ascent towards Colchuk Lake.

The weather was perfect and the views were fantastic.

 Asgard Pass.


Colchuk Lake.



Gotta love America.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Japan ~ Soporific Sapporo & Fantastical Furano

Our last stop on our trip around the world was Japan. We met up with Chelsea's parents and her brother, Jordan, in the city of Sapporo, on the northern Japanese island, Hokkaido.

Here we are at the Sapporo Television Tower.










We took a trip to the Sapporo Brewery.

Beer advertisements over the years.



There was so much good food to be had, and every meal was a taste bonanza!





At a Sapporo Ramen restaurant.



The Sapporo Beer Gardens.


A couple more interesting Japanese meals...these were ordered via vending machine.


We drove a few hours outside of Sapporo to a town called Furano, where we stayed at a traditional Japanese Onsen (meaning hot springs). The Onsen experience involves being gender segregated, getting completely naked, cleansing your body with lots of soap and then soaking in the lovely hot water of the springs, while enjoying a beautiful mountain view.

We stayed in a traditional Japanese tatami room, right next to the hot springs.


Here we are prepared to begin 'Onsen-ing'.



The Onsen was up in the mountains next to a volcanic crater.

Let the Japanese posing begin...










The University of Sapporo Botanical Gardens.











The location of the Ski Jump during the Sapporo Olympics.




A red panda at the Sapporo Zoo.

Sapporo Historical Village.


Silk worms.




We wandered around the streets of Sapporo and came across a temple.





Green tea flavoured ice cream waffle!

Some tasty caramel made in Hokkaido.

A little influence from the Pacific Northwest.