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Here is the beginning of my collection of the life and times of benjamin Hirsch.  Here I am as I am doing the things I love.  They are generally arranged by the most recent first:

hiking from Mowich Lake to Sprague Park
(October 3rd, 1999, Mt. Rainier National Park: benjamin Hirsch, Steve Hyer, Steve Hyer Jr., Joe Hyer, Val Hyer)

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hiking Mt. Elinor for the third time:
(September 18, 1999: benjamin Hirsch, Kandy Hirsch, Abby Hirsch)

  • Here's me with the world behind me (actually Lake Cushman.
  • This was a fun trip even though we did it quite quickly.  One of the highlights of the trip is seen taking interest in me here.  This is the first time I've actually seen them up there and they were quite majestic.
  • Here's a shot of me and Abby* on the summit.
        *(my dad's dog, one of the coolest I know).
  • Mt. Washington, A neighboring peak that is easily seen from the summit of Mt. Elinor.
  • Kandy and Abby at the summit.

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Snoqualmie Pass: hiking the Twin Lakes Trail
(Washington State Forestry Road 9027, July 11th, 1999)

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Independence Day, 1999:
(Walla Walla, WA; July 4th, 1999)

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Climbing Mt. Elinor for the second time:
(Olympic Mountains-WA; May23, 1999, Kevin Metz, Kandy Hirsch, gary Hirsch, Me)

Here's some preliminary information on this trek.  Kevin and I had to learn how to snow-shoe, and how to arrest ourselves (stop for the lay-person) using ice-axes.  It's good to know how to stop yourself from falling off a mountain.  The summit is ~6000 feet.  The upper-trail head is about 2000 feet below the summit.  We started about 1.5 miles below the lower trail head, so...we were tired when we were done.  The whole excursion took about 9 hours. 

  • The Trek begins.  Here is a pic of my Dad, Gary Hirsch, snow-shoeing it up to the lower trail-head

  • The Trek continues: My good friend Kevin Metz and my father again, still snow-shoeing.  Man are my legs tired.

  • Trek Necessities: This is Kevin after he just did his business on that nearby tree.  Ya'd think he was a dog or something :)

  • The Trek adjusts: After walking for some time, it is necessary to tighten the snow shoes for a better fit.  Here is my Dad tightening his.

  • The Trek observes:  Here is a nature shot.   Off to the left, you can see the first chute we must traverse.

  • The Trek goes up:After taking off our snow shoes, it was time to climb the first chute. Here's my Dad going up the first chute.  It is steeper than it looks.

  • The Trek Rests: After climbing that first chute, we took a short break.  From left to right, here is a shot of myself, Kandy Hirsch (my Dad's wife), and Kevin Metz (good friend) atop a boulder at the top of the chute.  Here's another in that same spot of Kevin and Kandy.  Here's another of Kevin and Kandy on that very same rock.  Here's a shot of Myself, Kandy, my Dad and some other dude near that same rock (it was a good rock).  Here's a shot of my Dad near that Very Same Rock.  Here is the view from the top of that first chute off to the side.

  • The Trek emerges from the forest to the second chute: Off in the distance you can see my Dad.  This is just before the base of the second and larger chute.  For some reason, I took another pic here too.  Maybe I needed to catch my breath.  Here, you'll see Kevin measure the size of the chute (actually, he's just posing, but I like my caption better).  That wall of snow and ice beyond him is the second and larger chute.

  • The Trek at the Summit: Here is a pic of me at the summit, me and Kandy at the summit, me and Kevin at the summit, Kandy at the summit, and Kevin at the summit.  Before heading down, I took a picture of Kevin with the world behind him.  It gives you an idea of how high we were.  The summit elevation is just under 6000 feet.  Because that day was so clear, you could even make out the building in Seattle, WA (more than 80 miles away).  All in all, it was a wonderful day!

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Family Pictures:  
 (various)

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Our Trip to Maui (Hawaii):
(January 7th-14th, 1999, benjamin Hirsch, Kelly Emerson)

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hiking Mt. Elinor for the first time:
(Olympic Mountains-WA; Summer of 1998)

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Our Hike up Noble Knob:
(Mt. Rainier National Forest, WA; fall of 1998, benjamin Hirsch, Kelly Emerson, Kandy Hirsch, Marnie ?)

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General Pics:

  • Kevin and his buddy Tom at their best :)  They're just coming off a Roller-Coaster called the "Wild Cat" in Hershey Park, PA.  Just an FYI, this is them....when they're calm ...and at peace.

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This page was last updated on Tuesday, October 14, 2003 05:33 PM -0700.