With brilliant blue skies and cool temperatures, today Karen and I hiked a high loop through Sage Hills Trails of Wenatchee, WA where we live. My legs are sore. We hiked nine miles with over 2,000 feet of elevation gain (and loss).

"These mountain bikers are fit as shit," Karen marveled, watching young men pedal straight up wickedly steep trails (that we were walking on).

Because Karen (trail name: "Compass" ) has an unerring sense of direction and trail memory, she led us in a high curving loop. Trail signs are slowly being replaced after a wildfire. Wooden telephone poles are being replaced with steel poles.

We charged up steep hillsides to avoid dropping into gullies. I side-stepped where it was too steep. Stayed on the ridges. It was cold in the shade and lovely in the sun. Other hikers were far below. "This looks like dinosaurs roamed here," I said. Karen laughed.

It's hard to describe the grandeur. The rolling hills offer wonderful views of the Columbia River, the Wenatchee Valley and the North Cascades. Springtime brings vibrant color to the area with wild sage, yellow arrowleaf balsamroot, red Indian paintbrush and purple lupine flowers.

At lunchtime, I changed into dry clothes from the waist up. With high exertion, my clothes get soaked with sweat which then freezes. Glad I packed a light down jacket, windbreaker and warm gloves.

As I left at 3:30 p.m., mountain bikers were heading up to Sage Hills Trails. "Hey guys, it's not summer," I thought. "It gets dark at 5 p.m. today. Hope you brought a light."

Photos:

1. To the West: Enchantment Mountains of the North Cascades.

2. To the East. City of Wenatchee and the blue curve of the Columbia River.

3. One of the trails we took. See the trail snaking across the hill? It was cold in the shade!

4. Looking North: Pear orchards.

5. Sunrise in Wenatchee, Jan. 2018. You can see the foothills with the Cascade Mountains behind.

"Where did the trees go on the north mountains?" my mother asked, visiting from Florida.

"A massive wildfire, Mom," I replied. "Can't they replant the trees?" she asked.

"Not enough rain," I replied. "Wenatchee is sunny and dry. We'd have to build irrigation lines to water the baby trees."

[cdlandtrust.org]