The Reason for it All

Kendall Katwalk, 7/26/08, 14.6 miles, 3100 elevation

Every now and then, everything comes together for the perfect hike - weather, trail, companionship, views. We got that this past weekend when we hiked up from Snoqualmie Pass to Kendall Katwalk and Ridge and Gravel lakes beyond.

We started out climbing steadily through the forest admiring the lush green and forest wildflowers. After crossing a few streams, we came out to meadows clinging to the slopes between large rocks and boulders. Rosy Spirea, Paintbrush, Lupine and Penstemon dotted the meadows. We looked down upon I-90, a grey ribbon threading its way through the mountains and over the pass. Red Mountain stood out against the blue and green of the surrounding scenery.

But it was after rounding the ridge where the real views came into sight. Kendall Peak looked down upon us as we traversed through wildflowers and snow not yet ready to melt away. It took no time before wee were at the catwalk - a trail carved out of the cliff face and views looking into the heart of the Cascades. Beyond the catwalk, the stubborn snow came in greater frequency. I could have sat on a rock overlooking the snow patches and the views all day, it was so peaceful and beautiful.

The lakes, by the time we got to them, were still mostly covered in ice and we had little time to enjoy them before heading back out. This by far is my favorite hike of the season.

Hot, Dry, and Dusty

Koppen Mtn Loop Attempt, 7/20/08, 10 miles, 2000 elevation

Admittedly, we shouldn't have been over east of the mountains after July 4th. The heat is just too much for. However, the hike we signed up for was actually near Mt Rainier - a much cooler destination, temperature-wise. But our original destination had to change due to impassable road conditions. So we found ourselves on the eastside of the mountains, hiking in the middle of July. I'm a westside girl, anything above 78 degrees and I'd rather sit in the A/C contributing to global warming.

Here I found myself in the Teanaway. I had been told there would be great views. I had been told there would be wildflowers. I had been told there would be water along the way. The reality of the situation was there were water and flowers along the 1st mile but beyond that, heat and dust dominated our day. We had a few good views, but along with those views came treacherous trails along precipitous traverses.

Some time after lunch, as we scrambled up rocks and talus, we the leaders stopped to discuss our options. One of our member was not in the least pleased in the trail conditions -especially the heights and requested he be allowed to turn back. A few offered to turn back with him as the rest let it be known that they would like to continue on the loop.

In the end wee stayed together as a group and turned back. It was on the way back that the heat finally took it's toll on my system. I started to get a bit incoherent, my feet didn't want to work, and my electrolyte drink seemed so far away in my pack. Luckily Michael was able to get me revitalized before the final push to the cars.

Then as a final slap in the face, the burger joint we stopped at in CleElum for milkshakes didn't accept debit cards and with no cash what were we to do?

Gorge Games 2008

7/18/08

A stiff wind courses through the Columbia River Gorge making it a great place for windsurfing and kiteboarding. Combine that with Mt Hood and the Mt Hood National Forest covering the hills and you have the Eden of outdoor sports. And what comes with sports? Competitive sporting events, such as the 3-day Gorge Games that combine the different sports enjoyed in the area to one adrenaline filled event.

This year I had the pleasure of participating somewhat in the Gorge Games by judging their 24-hour photo race where photographers head out to document the best the games have to offer. I was there for a couple of hours before I had to judge and watched a kiteboarding race. The athletes tacked their way through the course and the wind - a mass of rope, boards and spray.

And while they raced, a group practiced their aerobatics on the side. It was a fun day that I hope to repeat next year.

All in NW Hiker's Day

White River Area, 7/13/08, 9 miles, 1000 elevation

Wildflowers and Snow. Waterfalls and Meadows. Forests and Frogs. A Lake and a River. A lost route. Two trails. Eight Friends. And one very large mountain. Yep. It's all in a NW Hiker's Day. At least in July of 2008. The snows that had hindered us on most trip planning had struck again as we attempted to hike into Grand Park on the north side of Mt Rainier.

I love Grand Park with its great unforested expanses of wildflower meadows that lead your feet and your attention to the hulking massive of Mt Rainier. It's a fantastical place that is a favorite of many hikers I know (including myself) and several naturalist friends. So when they offered it in the Mountaineer's Conditioning Hike Series, we signed up. However, this year nature had other plans - the trail reports coming from the National Park Service did not bode well. The report for the week prior to our trip stated the trail was still 100% under snow. But we decided to attempt it anyway.

Several hours later after spending half our time unsuccessfully route-finding in large snow fields insulated by the forest and tramping through the ankle-deep mud of the lower meadow, we sat on the banks of Lake Eleanor contemplating our next move. After all, we had only accomplished a small portion of our desired mileage and elevation. And it was still early enough in the afternoon to get some more trail under our feet. We settled on Skookumchuck Flats along the White River to the falls. Although that wouldn't add elevation to our day, we would be able to get in another 5 miles.

I had often thought about hiking along the White River past the falls but had yet to check the trail off the list. It's a nice trail frequented by mountain bikers out for a rolling pedal through the woods. But we met few on the trail this afternoon as we easily passed over the meadows through thick stands of Douglas Fir and twin-flowers. I left the trail much happier than when we left the Grand Park trail earlier - we were able to hike with a faster trek and I was able to feel the burn in my calves and hips as I stretched before heading off to dinner. But smiled a bit about hiking in the northwest and how sometimes you just have to stay flexible and have an alternate plan in mind.

Can't I Stay Here, Forever?

Esmerelda Basin, 7/6/08, 7 miles,

The valley stretched out before me, green tones for miles, ending with the still snowy mountain rising up from the forest green to balance together the earth and sky. Somewhere behind me, Michael was curled up in the shade of a few alpine-sparse trees taking a nap on this perfect day. Zillah trotted around the pass searching out new and different smells looking up every now and then to make sure I haven't left her.

Here would be our turn-around point - Fortune Cookie Pass - but I had no desire to return. The valley and mountains beyond called to me. The barely-visible trail leading up to the peak through the snow banks whispered my name and promises of an even more enticing view from above. Yet even those calls to my inner thoughts couldn't move me. At the pass I was happy, standing in the sun and wind. This view was the view I had been hoping for all summer and the snows had kept me from for so long. It was a view of open air where a person could see for miles without obstruction from a vantage point that is tundra-like in its sparseness of vegetation. And my soul had ached for it throughout the wintry June on the wet-side.

As Michael rumbled awake, stretching out the kinks and knots, I hoped he would want to sit for the afternoon on the fallen tree overlooking the valley. Zillah bounded up to him as he sat next to me and commented on the chill wind. I paid the wind no mind; I called Michael a wimp. But I knew it was time to leave. To head back down the talus field to the flower-filled meadows below, past the waterfalls and pine trees, to the car waiting below to take us home again.

But couldn't I just stay here?

Well Worth a Sprinkle, or Two

De Rouex Creek, 7/5/08, 8.2 miles,

4th of July weekend and wee had 3 days to play, but with snow still hanging out in all of primary choices on the westside of the mountains we decided that heading east would be the better of the bargain. There are a couple of trails in the Teanaway we wanted to explore and with a base camp somewhere along the river, we could easily head to each.

First on the list was DeRouex Creek. I had been up this trail previously with the Mountaineer's Naturalist Class and wanted to head further into the mountains than the naturalists had gotten. With spotty clouds overhead Michael, Zillah and I crossed the North Fork of the Teanaway and started out on the day's adventure. Almost immediately the wildflowers lined the trail - Lomatium, Jeffrey's Shooting Star, Red Columbine, Vanilla Leaf and Violets.

As we climbed higher, we came across Penstemon, Arnica, Liuna, and Asters in greaterr abundance. And then the trees opened up to meadow with more Shooting Stars and our first Avalanche Lilies, but the clouds that had been building throughout the morning started to let loose in spurts. We were prepared and threw on our rain coats before continuing on up to Gallagher Head Lake. Along the way we saw more Columbine, Arnica, Shooting Stars, Lupine and Avalanche Lilies.

There were only a few people at the lake when we reached its shores and clouds obscured the peaks enough that all we got were teasing glimpses of what stood beyond. However, there is an old jeep road leading up to the lake and some 4-wheelers had played too often and too close to the shore and deep ruts had been created and left for the rest of the world to look upon in disgust.

A Vision of Blue

Lolo Pass, ID

The assignment was to head out to Lolo Pass on the Montana/Idaho border to document our first annual half-marathon and 5K fun run. The race is the brain-child of our Manager at the Visitor Center who often runs the forest service roads around the pass. She at times would admire the view of the Bitteroots and think that here would be a beautiful place to run a race. So she made it happen and NWIA flew me out to cover the event.

The day of the race was beautiful and hot; the racers were excited to get moving. And soon the musket was fired and they were off. The winner of the 5K crossed the finish line just 20 minutes after he started. Then the wait was on for the rest of the racers to return. I decided to walk to Packer Meadow just a mile up the road and with the promise of Camas filling the meadow.

I was rewarded with a sea of blue as the flowers covered the vast meadow. I was there to photograph runners, which I did, but kept getting distracted by the flowers that surrounded me. The Camas kept calling me further into the meadow and I found it hard to resist. The only thing that chased me off the meadow was the sun beating down. I eventually had to take refuge in my air-conditioned car, but will forever have visions of blue in the mountains of Idaho.