Lunch On High

Burroughs Mountain 8/25/07 6 miles

Several years ago as Michael & I traveled along the wonderland trail we spied Burroughs Mountain not far from the Sunrise Visitor Center and vowed to return someday and hike up to the views we knew would be on the other side. After the office outing previously in the week, I thought this weekend might be a good time to head up.

The late flowers of summer were still hanging on to their last petals for the occasional bee that might fly by. They lined the trails and spotted the meadows with a bit of color. However, the first color of fall had begun to overshadow the yellows and purples of arnica and cascade aster. splashes of red enticed us around Frozen Lake to the junction with the Burroughs Mountain trail.

And then we passed into the Alpine Tundra zone of Burroughs Mountain - a fragile life zone that supports small plants, lichens, and the odd small mammal. The sign at the beginning of this life zone explained that this is similar to the Arctic Tundra life zone so to stay on the trail as a footstep will cause years of damage.

As we crested first Burroughs Mountain, we stopped to take in the sight and watch as more clouds built up around Emmons Glacier. The day had started out clear with the mountain gleaming in the sunlight, but as the morning progressed the clouds started building. As we reached the crest the top of the mountain was all but hidden. The clouds continued to drift past during our climb up to second Burroughs and our chosen lunch spot overlooking the Emmons Glacier and the White River.

One moment we could barely see the river below us as clouds obscured our view and frosted our fleece. Then the clouds seemed to part instantly to show us the hills across the valley if not the whole of Mt Rainier. After lunch and a visit from a local ground squirrel, we followed the trail on the other side of First Burroughs that led to Shadow Lake and back into the trees of the subalpine zone.

Out of the Office

Sunrise 8/23/07 3 miles

One of the benefits of working for an organization with close ties to nature is that we get to take a day here and there to explore some of the lands we work with. This summer it was Mt Rainier - on the Sunrise side.

Sunrise is less frequented than Paradise, but I think it's more beautiful. At Sunrise, you are right at the border of alpine and sub-alpine. Your views of the mountain are unhindered. And for me, the quite awe-inspiring expanse is everything I look for when high up in the mountains.

After a ranger walk and lunch, we all split up to explore different parts of the meadows surrounding the visitor center. A couple of people found shade under a tree with a view of the mountain to read a book or write a few thoughts. Others hiked down to Shadow Lake. While a few of us hiked up to Frozen Lake.

All in all, we enjoyed our day of nature and camaraderie and look forward to our next outing from the office to the lands we look after.

Soloing It

Summerland 8/18-8/19/07 8.5 miles

Did you ever want to do something so bad that you made plans every year to finally accomplish it only to back down later out of fear? Well, mine has been to do a solo backpack. There were years I made plans and just followed through. There were the few times I packed everything up, hiked to my campsite, set up camp, wondered around a bit, broke down camp and went home before the sun ever set. So at the beginning of this year, I said no more excuses - I would do a solo backpack, just an over-nighter. I had to prove to myself that I could do this - rely on my own outdoor ability to get by.

Michael & I decided I should head out on a trail we both knew, wasn't too difficult and was close to home (just in case I needed rescuing). The trail to Summerland fit all three of these criteria. Plus it had the added bonus of the most magnificent view out the tent window of Mt Rainier. And I would go on my birthday weekend. What better way to celebrate your birth than to accomplish somehting new?

Saturday started out beautifully. With a short warning from the rangers of a bear hanging out around camp, I made my way up Fryingpan Creek with the dayhikers and a few other over-nighters. The creek tumbled past as the water rushed noisily to the White River and beyond as if in a hurry to get to the ocean. As I climbed, snowfields high above glinted across the valley. Wild blueberries ripening on the bush enticed me further along to the crossing of Fryingpan Creek. I don't remember if the log bridge across the creek had been lost in last winter's storms, if it had been, a new bridge easily stretched across the cascading water.

On the other side the trees thinned out to reveal a meadow filled with cascade asters, fireweed, and those damned yellow composites. I figured I'd stop to get pictures the next day on my way out - right now I just wanted to get up the hill and drop my pack. So I continued on through the trees and past more wildflowers until I reached Summerland and the camp off to the right.

I quickly found a site, ate lunch, set up camp and hung my bear-bag (with all my scented items, on the advice of the ranger). I wanted to take a short nap before exploring the meadow more. I woke up with a cold stiff breeze flowing through the tent as I hadn't yet put on the rain-fly (it's wasn't going to rain - not on MY weekend). Sure enough, the clouds had set in and as I went to explore the meadow, I noticed most of the dayhikers had returned to the trailhead.

As I settled in for the evening, with the rain-fly on (just in case) the first raindrops started to fall. It rained all night. About 5:30 in the morning I noticed several very wet spots in my tent - in fact the whole floor was soaked. I laid there for a little while realizing the foot of my sleeping bag had also gotten wet and devised a plan. I got up, tore down camp, crammed some food items in my pocket to "breakfast" while walking and started down the hill, stopping only long enough to bang my poles together and yell "Hey bear! Run away bear!" just in case he wasn't any more brilliant than I and was also out in the rain.

As I walked through the trees early that very damp morning, I did have a sense of accomplishment. I finally slept through the night in the wilderness by myself. Now, is there no limit to what I can do? what will be next? A week in Bryce Canyon? But first I'll need to water-proof my old beat up tent.

Paradise!

Mt Rainier 8/10-8/12/07

Mt Rainier is well known in the northwest as a photographer's dream. Glass-like alpine lakes, cascading mountain streams, flowered filled meadows, dense moss covered trees, adventurers adventuring all with the massiff we call Rainier in the background. So, when the opportunity to take a few fellow photogs on a weekend trip to this image-making mecca came along, I jumped at the chance.

Historically, the wildflowers are at their showy best in the meadows of Paradise during the second week of August. I had been there before when there weren't enough colors in a crayon box to match the spectacle on the slopes. With that image in mind, the flowers this year were a bit disappointing. However, when I expressed my disappointment, my companions said "What? Are you kidding?" and set about framing picture after picture.

We spent the rest of the morning in the meadows playing with angles, colors and light. The rest of the weekend was spent shooting the lakes and waterfalls and a few camp robbers (chipmunks)that happened by and with a liberal amount of laughter and comraderie.

Picnic on the Sound

My boss invited Michael & I to go sailing with him this past weekend. Michael being a bit of a sailing aficionado, will never turn down a sailing invitation. So Sunday afternoon found us driving around to Bainbridge Island to meet up with my boss and his girlfriend. However, the air was still around us as we made our way across the Tacoma Narrows bridge. We turned on the weather band radio where we heard the barometer was dropping, so had hopes that we had a fun day under the sail before us.

Alas, we made it to the marina in Winslow Harbor with no signs of wind picking up. The water below us was glassy and still. Not wanting to let a beautiful day pass us by or the opportunity to be out on the water, we fired up the outboard motor and made our way out to the Sound.

Here we saw ripples across the surface of the water, but every time we head in the direction of possible wind, we found none. At some point, we turned off the outboard motor and decided to drift while we had a bite to eat. Away from water traffic, we could sit and relax as we watched the tugs chug past and ferries glide to their destinations.

A bad day on the water is still better than not being on the water at all.

A New Favorite

Grand Park 8/4/07 7.5 miles

There are just some hiking destinations that stay with me for a very long time: the Chain lakes loop on Mt Baker, Klapatche Park on Mt Rainier, Cape Alava on the Washington Coast, Bryce Canyon. The list isn't necessarily exclusive as it changes often. Sometimes a destination makes it on my list because the conditions were just absolutely perfect when I went. Sometimes they weren't but lack of fields full of flowers or crystal blue skies could not diminish the beauty and joy I experienced along the way. This is how Grand Park in Mt Rainier National Park can now be added to my list.

I had been wanting to explore the flower fields on the north side of Mt Rainier for several years but never found my way heading over there at the right time. After reading Karen Sykes' review in the Seattle PI on the trail heading up to Grand Park from Lake Eleanor, Michael and I decided we'd follow in her footsteps. However, Karen, your directions were a bit lacking - as we drove up the forest road, your directions said to turn right at 8 1/2 miles. However, at 8 1/2 miles if we had turned right wee would have driven right off a cliff. The turn actually takes place a little over 9 miles and even then it's more of the road goes straight with a junction heading off to the left. We were a bit confused until another hiker on his way out told us to keep on going - we'd see the trail ahead.

We found the trail as described and started toward Lake Eleanor along a gradual trail through open forest with berry and azalea undergrowth. Lake Eleanor is a smallish fishing hole set against the hillsides and frequented by both fishermen and mosquitoes. So after a quick stop to apply bug juice we were on our way. The description for this part of the trail was a gentle up and down before crossing a small meadow. Let's be honest, there is a gentle up and down but a drop off came upon us steep enough to make us question whether we were heading in the right direction. After backtracking to make sure we didn't miss a trail junction back by the lake, we decided to see where this down-hill took us. It took us to the small meadow. A bit deceptive, Karen.

After the meadow, we climbed through the mosquito-laden forest to an opening in the trees and a Lupine covered meadow. Passing through the trees a little further on to the great expanse of Grand Park. At once, my pulse slowed with wonder - the meadow stretched on. At each turn, the meadow continued. At the far end stood Mt Rainier partially shrouded by clouds. The flowers were plentiful with Contorted Louseworts, Small-Flowered Penstemon, Paintbrush and Cusick's Speedwell coloring the scene. I wanted to explore every corner of Grand Park but had only the afternoon.

I had expected more flowers, but the flowers there were beautiful all the same. I had hoped for unobstructed views of the mountain, but the glimpses became a bit of a tease. There were so many other things to look at. It was hard for me to leave this tranquility and comfort.