Elk Meadow Park Hike

STA_3852 - STK_3862Elk Meadow Park is a gorgeous location in the middle of the city of Evergreen.

IMG_3863A little seasonal creek runs through the park.

STA_3864 - STO_3878Sometimes elk come down into these meadows but usually they hide out up higher in the upper meadows.

IMG_3879 Little flowers in the grass.

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Little white flowers.

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IMG_3895A rocky mountain hanging above the meadows.

IMG_3896The scenery reminds me of the mountains in California.

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IMG_3899An interesting rock formation in the middle of the woods.

IMG_3900We didn’t take the Too Long Trail… this time.

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IMG_3903A little flower in the woods.

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IMG_3913A small stand of lodgepole pine.

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IMG_3919A quartz outcropping in a higher meadow.

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One last look at the gorgeous Elk Meadow Park.

First Mountain Drive with the New-to-Me 2004 Subaru Forester XT 5MT

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Today I went for a drive up Squaw Pass Road past the base of Mount Evans.  I did this in the 2004 Subaru Forester XT 5MT that I bought yesterday.  The car handles pretty well for being ten years old.  On the way back down, I stopped at some parklands above Evergreen.

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The new-to-me car.  It’s hard to tell but it is snowing very hard in this photo.

 

IMG_1946All the mud and grime was from today’s drive.  The car has WRX STI lowering springs and struts installed.  I think I will be switching them out for some raising struts and springs to go an inch or two above stock height.  Right now it’s about 2.5 inches below stock ride height.

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The tires are performance tires.  I will need to get some snow and mud tires soon for the impending winter.  The car handles great on dry roads but on slick roads it has a tendency to cut loose.

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