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Rebecca Dufek's Gallery

Brain surgery 2011 & BEYOND

Feb 10, 2012

Photos: 56

First Hike of 2010

The snow levels are so high this year that I am able to start hike season very early at the altitudes below 4000 feet. The closest alpine trail with elevation gain is in Issaquah, WA a half hour from where we live. I walked the dogs in the late morning to early afternoon, stopped off at the store, and took care of a few tasks with just enough time left over to get to the mountain, up it, and down before dark. I started my ascent at 2:48 pm with only a few brief stops for a few seconds to tie my boots, take some sips off the hydropack, and snap a couple pictures. Even though my legs were tired from running and stair climbing the day prior, I pushed on determined to reach the top and make it back to the parking lot by dark. It took me 1 hour 15 minutes to summit. Then I took a few pictures at the top and asked a nice fellow hiker if he would snap some shots of me. After a small bite, I headed down snapping shots of the view. I made it out at 5:14 pm just as it was becoming dusk.

Jan 22, 2010

Photos: 22

Garden d'Lights 2010

Bellevue Botanical garden creates a wonderful Christmas light display with garden scences and animals made out of tiny Christmas tree lights.

Jan 20, 2010

Photos: 53

Jan 2010 Snowshoe at Cabin Creek SnoPark

In mid-January we found sufficient snow at the Cabin Creek trail just a few exits east of the Snoqualmie Pass Ski Hill in the central Cascades. We both forgot our boots! Therefore Sandy could not cross country ski on the groomed tracks and I had to use my waterproof trail running shoes to hike and snowshoe. We had a lovely time though and the forest was shrouded in mist making the woods peaceful and mysterious.

Jan 17, 2010

Photos: 35

12 miler on Preston-

My sister and I are training to walk the half marathon in Seattle on November 29th. We have an extremely short training time as I was just given medical approval to do so on November 8th. Thus, we had to get in our long training session together on November 18th to get ready and see if we can handle walking that far (13.1 miles). We had no problems walking the 12 miles and in fact I had a hard time believing we walked that far because we did well and it seemed to go by fast. We spent our time laughing and visiting with each other which makes the time go by quickly. Sorry these photos are not very good. My brain is not fully functioning yet after the surgery and it is taking me a long time to figure some things out such as not having the flash on the camera. It only took me about 4 hours to realize it!

Nov 16, 2009

Photos: 43

Dry Suit

Oct 24, 2009

Photos: 1

OHSU October 2009

Oct 24, 2009

Photos: 52

Beach

Oct 23, 2009

Photos: 72

Mt Si 2009 Finale Hike

Gold's gym trainer Paul Goldenberg and I hike the 8 mile trek of Mt. Si, closest peak in the Cascades to Seattle on an absolutely perfect fall day in October. The elevation gain is 3100 feet. For the 3009 hike season, this is hike #22 marking my grand finale hike before my October 2009 brain surgery in Portland. In spring 2005, growing brain tumors destroyed my vestibular system rendering me unable to hike again. At the time, I made it a goal and dream to one day be able to hike Mt Si again. I made it to the top in September 2008 and 3 solo hikes in summer 2009. However, I did not do the last 500 feet of hking and scrambling to the true summit as I felt uncomfortable going at it alone. Earlier in the summer, I longed to climb the haystack peak by the end of the season and before surgery. Thank you to Paul for making that a reality for me!

Oct 16, 2009

Photos: 65

Lake Serene hike with TSNW

Midweek hike with the TSNW group out near Steven's Pass in the Cascade Mountains of WA state. The trail is rated most difficult so I did not make it all the way up to the lake but did hike to Bridal Veil falls and beyond.

Jun 10, 2009

Photos: 28

TSNW Wallace Falls Hike

Every Wednesday a group of us (women cancer survivors) go out for a midweek hike to elevation at some destination in the Cascade foothills. The season starts in April and as the weeks go by, we build up to longer hikes with greater elevation gain. The elevation gain on this one was only 1200 but it is a gorgeous hike and a treasure if you can go midweek. On the weekend the parking lot to this state park is packed!

Jun 3, 2009

Photos: 28

Harvest Time 2008

In October Michelle (my sister) and I visited the corn maze at South 47 farm in Redmond, WA. There had been fierce wind storms the week prior which flattened a quarter of the maze. We lucked out with a wonderful sunny day so the maze was not all muddy. At the farm is also a pumpkin patch and all sorts of unique pumpkins and squash of different colors and shapes.

Dec 3, 2008

Photos: 32

Mt. Rainier September 2008

Oct 23, 2008

Photos: 166

31.5 SVT Quest4NF2 Trek

On September 7th, my husband Harley and I hiked on the Snoqualmie Valley Trail in WA starting in Duvall and ending at Rattlesnake Lake in North Bend to raise research funding for NF2. The entire trail is 31.5 miles long. Yes! We walked the entire thing in one day!

Sep 16, 2008

Photos: 208

Dive Equipment for Sale

men's 7mm large Sub Aquatics wetsuit with matching hood, women's 7mm Henderson wetsuit to fit height of 5'3" and 115-125 lbs, women's non-weight integrated Scuba Pro BCD, men's medium Seaquest Black Diamond weight intergrated BCD, women's large shorty wetsuit 3mm, unisex medium USIA drysuit undergarment, women's OS Systems laminate drysuit with double thick fleece undergament fits height of 5'2" to 5'5 and 145 to 165 lbs (will include a size medium dry hood, a fleece hat, and the bag)., 5 mm three finger gloves, 5 mm 5 finger gloves, women's size 9 Deep Sea neoprene booties, men's large velcro neoprene booties

Aug 26, 2008

Photos: 29

North Snoqualmie Valley Trail (SVT) through Stillwater

The North part of the SVT travels through the agricultural Snoqualmie Valley where it passes through wetlands with wildlife and working farms.

Aug 25, 2008

Photos: 39

TSNW members take a hike up Little Si

Fellow team survivor northwest (TSNW) member Jane Braziunas and I went hiking up Little Si very early on August 3rd, 2008. It is the first time I have been able to hike this trail and reach the summit since I lost the rest of my balance in 2005 due to a swelling brain tumor caused by the disorder NF2. In fall 2004 I was able to hike it without a balance problem but threw up all the way to the top as I became sick after my July 2004 radiosurgery treatment. I was able to get in a couple hikes in the beginning of spring/late winter with a climbing friend and once with the TSNW hiking group. I did struggle on my last adventure hiking the trail in 2005 as my balance was beginning to worsen. Shortly afterward, I fell over just standing in my kitchen and it was the beginning of many falls over several months and years due to my imbalance.

Aug 14, 2008

Photos: 42

2008 Big Climb

The big climb is a fundraising event sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphona Society the raise money for blood cancer research and patient/family support. I am a 15 year blood cancer survivor. My grandfather passed away in August 2006 from the blood cancer myeloma. My sister and I formed the team "High on Life" climbing the Columbia Tower in Seattle in his memory. The Columbia Tower is the tallest skyscraper on the west coast with 75 floors! The climb is 69 of the floors which is 1,311 steps.

Mar 31, 2008

Photos: 54

Cascade Snowshoe trip with Harley and the dogs

Mar 15, 2008

Photos: 97

Tiger Mountain Trail from the High School

Mar 14, 2008

Photos: 25

Snowshoe Trip with Michelle at Gold Creek snopark Cascades

Mar 14, 2008

Photos: 138

West Tiger Mountain trails

Valentine's Day 2008 afternoon

Feb 14, 2008

Photos: 37

Dinner at the Desert Fire

Valentine's Day eveniing

Feb 14, 2008

Photos: 17

Carnation Valley and Snoqualmie Valley Trail

The week of January 21st we had cold but very beautiful sunny weather. It is unusual to have both in the rainy Pacific NW during winter. The combination leaves enough clarity for the gorgeous backdrop of the Cascade Mountains and creates lovely and delicate ice formations as the dew drops freeze to the blades of grass. The photos with the mountain pictures are of the property owned by Nestle where their training facility is located. This summer the farm will become camp Korey, a fun getaway for children with chronic illnesses. The remainder of the pictures are of the old railroad grade known as the Snoqualmie Vally Trail. The trail extends 29 miles from Duvall to Preston which used to be the railroad supply route between the two towns.

Jan 23, 2008

Photos: 55

My 36th Birthday September 22, 2007

My birthday was two days before my surgery. Thus the whole family was able to come to celebrate. We had a little family party at the apartment of my brother Scott and his wife Denise. They live in downtown Portland. I like trying different ethnic foods so for my birthday dinner we tried out the Lebanese Restaurant in Portland.

Jan 8, 2008

Photos: 20

Volunteer Park Conservatory June 25th, 2007

In June I took the opportunity to visit one of my favorite places in Seattle and snapped some photos for you to enjoy. It is tradition for me to visit the conservatory after each of my MRIs. I am not a good botanist/plant grower so I thoroughly love coming to a serene place like this where I can relax, think, contemplate, and reflect. Further, as a deaf person visual wonders are stunning eye candy for me for which this always provides me a fix of ever changing blooms of various colors, shapes, and patterns. There are 5 greenhouse rooms (the tropical orchid room upon first entering where you are flooded with a delightfully sweet aroma, the season room - my favorite, the cactus room, the cycad room, and the bromelaid room).

Jan 8, 2008

Photos: 170

Bryce Canyon Trip October 2006

Jan 8, 2008

Photos: 12

Sedona Arizona Trip October 2006

Jan 8, 2008

Photos: 19

Zion Canyon Trip October 2006

Jan 8, 2008

Photos: 10

Caribbean Cruise June 2006

Jan 8, 2008

Photos: 84

Day After Christmas with Michelle and DJ

Michelle and DJ went to Portland on Christmas Eve through Christmas Day to spend with DJ's family and mom and dad. They came back late Christmas night so we had a belated Christmas dinner and gift exchange the day after. Dinner was a traditional Seattle Seafood fest on a cold, damp NW december day: appetizers - cocktail shrimp, wheat thins with smoked salmon dip, and fresh veggies; starters - spring salad and clam chowder; main- King crab, shrimp and wild rice stuffed mushrooms, and steamed green beans almondine

Jan 7, 2008

Photos: 16

New Year's Eve 2007

Last year we dressed up, went to the Bellevue Garden d'Lights, and had dinner and watched the fireworks from Salty's restaurant on Alki with our neighbors Jeanne and Chris Avis. It was their first New Year's Eve in Seattle. This year they hosted a New Year's Eve party at their home next door where we watched the Space Needle fireworks on their big screen tv and then had a private fireworks show of our own compliments of Chris and Harley.

Jan 2, 2008

Photos: 23

Christmas time at the Volunteer Park Conservatory in Seattle - 2007

On December 21st was my first MRI scan post surgery which is taken at First Hill Diagnostic in Seattle. It has been tradition for me for a number of years to visit Volunteer Park Conservatory on Captial Hill in Seattle (next to the Asian Art Museum). Each year the seasonal room is decorated to fit the theme of Christmas and changes annually. My MRI scheduled during this time provided the perfect excuse for an escape into the serene botanical world that the conservatory provides.

Jan 2, 2008

Photos: 19

Nutcracker March 2007 - Christmas in Seattle

Jan 2, 2008

Photos: 51

Community O'Christmas Trees in Seattle Christmas 2007

From the website - HISTORY: The Community Tree Program started in 2003 with three trees placed in business lobbies and has now grown to over 12 trees in lobbies throughout the Downtown Seattle area. MISSION: The purpose of the Community Tree Program is to promote O’Christmas Trees and its fundraising activities, create a memorable holiday display in the lobbies of downtown businesses, and to promote established up and coming designers. Part of Providence Health & Services, Providence Senior and Community Services serves individuals throughout Western Washington. We have been committed to providing health care, housing and supportive services to people in the Puget Sound area for more than 150 years. Our vision is quite simple and yet very powerful. We are committed to improving the quality of life of those with chronic and/or life limiting conditions living in our communities.

Jan 2, 2008

Photos: 58

Gingerbread Village- Seattle Christmas 2007

Seattle’s top architecture firms team up with Sheraton Seattle Hotel’s culinary staff to design, bake and build gingerbread holiday creations in this year’s theme: “Holidays Around the World”. Donations benefit Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund.

Jan 2, 2008

Photos: 50

Hawaii Trip January 2007

Mama's Fish House along the Hana Highway and the famous windsurfing beach on the north coast of Maui. We of course went many more places on Maui then this but I have not gotten a chance to sort through the photos and post them yet. We have lots from the volano we visited which is taller than Mt. Everest if you measre from the seafloor.

Dec 10, 2007

Photos: 93

July Oregon Coast Visit

Dec 6, 2007

Photos: 91

August 2007 Rattlesnake Mountain Hike

2007 Trail Fest at Rattlesnake Lake with Yumi and her dog Rufus

Jul 15, 2007

Photos: 103

April 2007 Trip to LaConnor with Chris and Jeanne

LaConner is a quanit small town near the tulip fields in Skagit County and north of Skagit Bay (about 2 hours north of Seattle). My neighbors Chris and Jeanne Avis moved here in May 2006 from San Diego so they had not seen the famous tulip fields yet. After taking in the glorious array of color in the fields, we stopped in the little town of LaConnor for some lunch at the organic restaurant "The Seed". Following lunch we walked around exploring this cute historic town.