An Unexpected Starlit Trip

Reflection Lakes, 3/22/09, 8 miles

It was supposed to be an easy afternoon snowshoeing. We were supposed to be back home by dinner. It was supposed to be an enjoyable scouting trip on a well known trail. But things don't always turn out how they're supposed to, especially in the outdoors.

Michael & I have been to Reflection Lakes several times during the winter and know the route well, so when our friends Heather & Dave asked if we would scout out the trail with them we happily agreed. A bad day snowshoeing is far better than a good day doing yard-work. Because of prior commitments, we didn't leave the windswept parking lot at Paradise until 2:30. But we weren't too concerned as we knew the afternoon was longer than the trail. Silly us.

We made it to the snow covered lake with plenty of time to spare by going up and over Mazama Ridge. Then after a stroll around the lake we decided to head back to the cars by way of the road. Even though there is a steep avalanche slope along the road, Michael & I have never had any trouble navigating past the slope. We also wanted to show Dave & Heather an alternative direction to take their group later.

Part way along the road, Heather realized she didn't have her camera any longer and must have dropped it back near the lake. Dave, our leader, gallantly went back to find it for her and said he would meet us not back where we could wait for him but at the cars thus splitting our group for the rest of the day. As we were all comfortable with each others skills, Michael & I didn't think we'd have problems doing just that. Once we saw the avalanche slope and it's steepness, we knew we'd never be able to traverse to the other side. We immediately turned around and started back he way we had come, hoping maybe we could catch up with Dave.

Once we got back to the lake though we knew we wouldn't catch up with him and stopped for a snack. However, Dave had taken off with the pack and Heather's extra food and water and equipment. Michael & I shared what we had, dug out our headlamps, sandwiched her between us and made our way back over Mazama Ridge. Then we had the decision of returning to Paradise by the trail or by the avalanche sloped road. Michael's legs were beginning to cramp - probably from the cold and dehydration - so we chose what we believed to be the gentler slope.

The day was fading fast and soon the wisdom of our choice was in question - avalanche after avalanche had obscured the path. I knew I needed to keep us going for turning around and heading the other way would take too long and put undue strain upon Michael. I kept trudging, following the intermittent ski tracks through the darkening twilight. The wind continued to blow obscuring those same tracks. I began to feel the pressure of getting us out safely through cold, avalanche slopes, and darkness.

Finally we followed the curve of the road over the creek at the head of Paradise Valley to find ruts in the snow. All of us breathed a communal sigh of relief. A light beacon shone through the wind swept snows guiding us home. Stars glistened in the velvety night sky as we crested the hill to the parking lot. Dave had gotten there hours before us asking for help when he realized we were far later than we should be. It was the rangers who gave our beacon.

Looking back, we were nervous but at least we were prepared - even the rangers remarked about that. But it was a good experience to have under my belt. And the stars were marvelous.

Can't count on the weather

Ebey's Landing, 3/14/09, 5 miles, 250 elevation

Finally the day came when Michael and I were to lead our mentored hike for the Mountaineers. But as the weekend approached the weather forecast got worse. We were expecting high winds and rain for the morning of our hike. Our group began to dwindle until there were just two on the list the night before our adventure. I learned several years ago that you never cancel a trip because you don't know what will happen. And it's a good thing we didn't.

Rain may have been falling in Seattle when we left, but the grey skies held off their threat of a deluge until after our hike. The wind however was stiff and cold as we started up the bluff. We all bundled up as we set off for our little journey.

Ebey's Landing is a hike full of history and we detoured to view a piece of that history - an old blockhouse used in the Indian Wars of the 1850's. The settlers would take refuge in these smallish structures. They would fire rifles through holes in the thick walls at their attackers. When the attack was over, the settlers would return to their homes - one of which is replicated nearby.

We continued our hike along the bluff and once past the ridge the wind died down so we were able to enjoy our walk much better. Without the wind freezing our exposed skin, we could stop every now and then to admire the view - and notice a cactus or two just below us on the bluff. Yes, you read that right, cactus. There are several cacti making their home in the sandy soils of the Ebey's Landing trail. It's quite a sight.

Once we hit the beach the wind had again picked up - no longer blocked by the ridge. So our walk trek back to the cars was quick - just so we could get ourselves out of the cold. It wasn't until our drive back to Seattle that the rains started falling. Like I said, you don't always know how a day will turn out.

The Snows Fall

Blewett Pass, 3/8/09, 4 miles, 500 elevation

After a cold but fun weekend in Winthrop, Michael & I with our friends Dave & Heather, decided to stop at Blewett Pass for a quick snowshoe up the hill to see what we can see. We parked along the highway at the snowpark because the parking lot hadn't been plowed for a while, but that wouldn't deter us hardy snowshoeing folks.

Dave & Heather were testing out their new MSR snowshoes by traversing hills and climbing steep slopes. They were quite happy with the performance of these lighter weight snowshoes - they don't slip nearly as much as the larger Tubbs and Atlas snowshoes do. That's the main reason I love them, that and they are so light-weight.

The snow started falling almost immediately, a light pellety snow. We made our way past the creek and started climbing, hoping to reach the lookout 2 miles beyond. As we started our climb the snowflakes became larger and started falling more heavily, covering everything from trees to our hats. We began to blend in with our surroundings.

We never made it to the lookout, stopping about a 1/2 mile from the top to head back to the cars. A good thing really, if we had stayed out any longer than that our cars may have been just mounds along the highway. As it was, our footprints in the parking were completely covered.

A Natural Setting

Early Winters Creek, 3/7/09, 1 mile

On a recent trip to Winthrop with our friends Dave & Heather to photograph the balloonfest, we arranged a trip with a local naturalist along the Early Winters Creek near Mazama.

He showed us several types of plant life that sometimes goes un-noticed in the summer and is usually covered during the winter. Marten tracks could be seen hopping through the snow. We also followed some coyote tracks to a fresh (within the day) kill site.

He also gave us a nice lecture on the arrogance of man in trying to "correct" nature - the creek had been straightened out long ago with the thought that is would ease flooding. What was neglected was that the turns, eddies, and dams are needed for a healthy stream and healthy stream-life. To correct the correction new dams and log jams were built. More work than really needed to be done. If only we could learn to live with the cycles of nature, maybe we wouldn't need to "correct" nature at all.

Running around with a well-educated naturalist can be truly eye-opening.

Scouting Trip

Ebey's Landing, 3/1/09, 4 miles, 250 elevation

On a blustery type of a day, Michael & I went to scout a trail we'd be leading a hike on later in the month - Ebey's Landing. I had often read about this little trail and the bounty of flowers in the spring. March is a little early for flowers, but we scheduled the trip anyway to accommodate our Mountaineers Hike Mentor. To become hike leaders for the Mountaineers, we had to lead a hike under the supervision of a certified hike leader.

We packed extra layers expecting a bone-chilling wind and made sure the dogs had their coats, but those were not needed. e were peeling off layers barely a mile into the hike. The sun even glowed brightly behind a thin veil of clouds. The wind never materialized - amazing as we hiked along a high bluff over-looking the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Admiralty Inlet.

The hike itself is a leisurely paced trail along the bluff and completes a loop along the beach. Even though flowers were not yet blooming, we saw quite a bit of wildlife including a sea lion swimming through the kelp just off the shore.

And now that we have scouted the trip, we feel comfortable enough to lead the hike later on.