Mountains to Meadow

Lolo Pass, 6/27/09

The Camas is in bloom again. The Beargrass too. It was a setting we dared not hope for twice in a row. Last year's Camas bloom coincided with the Fun Run perfectly - the season was late with a late snow melt. This year heavy rains fell on the Bitterroot Mountains again stalling the Camas for this year's run. The racers would again be able to end their run with a lope through a field of blue. How lucky. And that is after they ran 14 miles along Forest Service roads through the best Beargrass bloom in years. Beargrass is cyclical and this seems to be the year for it. The creamy flower clusters coated the hillsides along the race course.

I heard several racers as they walked off the race comment that this course kicked butt, but they couldn't wait to see what nature had in store for next year.

ZIIIIIIIIIIP!!!!

Vancouver Island, 6/13-6/15/09

We took 3 days off from work to take a little backpacking trip. However, this early in the season and Michael's propensity towards alpine hikes we could really find a place to go. We could have done a nice river hike in the Olympics. I looked at Oregon. Montana was still too snowy. What we ended up deciding on was a road trip on Vancouver Island. Explore as much of the island in three days with enough time for me to take pictures.

Taking the 1st ferry out of Port Angeles, we arrived in Victoria early enough for a relaxing drive through town and out Highway 1. With the island so rugged on the West Coast, the main highway is on the East Side. But so much of what we wanted to see was along the West Coast, so we'd have to zigzag back & forth. During our weekend we would see Bamfield, Uclulet, and Tofino. We'd spend a day in Stathcona Park and an evening camping in a marina with Blue Herons, Bald Eagles, and Sea Lions.

Day 3 found us zipping through the treetops on a zip-line tour, playing tourist in Victoria, and planning our next trip. A lovely trip full of new and exciting places, imaginations and dreams.

A Guidebook Complaint?

Pete Lake, 6/7/09, 9 miles, 400 elevation

When I read a guidebook, I expect just a few things. Accuracy in mileage and elevation; a detailed description are basically what I want. Over the years I have been able to decipher the author and that they may be leaving out information. If an author glosses over a section of a trail then they either don't want to tell you something or they have never been there. I often wonder about this last. I know that with the older books by Ira Spring, he leaves out details because he didn't find them necessary - other things were important. But a few of the newer authors I'm wondering if they are leaving information out because they are writing the trail description from a map.

Take a recent hike to Pete Lake in Eastern Washington. The author of the guidebook tells you of all the animals you could see while hiking, but never really talks about the trail. The hiker will pass a swampy area (that can be seen on a map) and hike through trees (no duh, since we are in the mountains of Washington then you come out into a mountain bowl with a lake (well since we are in the mountains hiking to a lake I would think so.

What was left out were the 6 major stream crossings without bridges. Were there bridges and they washed away? Just mentioning bridges and stream crossings would tell us. The forest here does have a habit of taking out bridges on some stream crossings so they won't be washed away - if they do that wouldn't it be a good idea to mention that in the guidebook? To me a guidebook is there to give you as much necessary information to stay found and unhurt. leaving information out does the hiking community a dis-service.

Oh, and the hike to Pete Lake? A lovely stretch of the legs through the woods along a river. And you should go if you get the chance.

Hanging from a Rope

Vertical World, 6/6/09

I'm not afraid of heights. No, really I'm not. I'm afraid of falling to my death from a great height. There's a difference. So that being said, one would think that I'd have no desire to hang from a rope off the side of a cliff. However, I've been wanting to give rock climbing a try for quite some time. To my aid came Joannie a friend with some experience, confidence and a lot of support.

I met her early on a Saturday morning at Vertical World in Redmond to try my hand at a little bouldering and rock climbing. I have to admit, I'm hooked and can't wait to play again. Luckily Joannie is wiling whenever I am.

Sole-less

Black Canyon, 5/31/09, 8.5 miles, 1730 elevation

Ushani sat on the side of the trail duct tape in one hand, a shoelace in the other staring at her boot. The sole had begun flapping and we were only 2 miles into the hike. There really was no to reattach the sole with what we had on hand. Worse yet, the other sole had begun to flap also. What to do? wee had only begun the hike. One of us could turn around and head back with her, but she said no. It would be ok and she ripped the vibram sole from each boot exposing the soft cushion underneath. We would continue on.

As Michael and Ushani discussed the plans, a young rattlesnake crossed our paths. We tried to give the poor thing a wide berth although a few stepped too close and she rattled a warning. A quick step backward and she was fine. It wasn't long before we reached the top of the ridge to experience the beautiful views of Mt Rainier, the Stuarts and the valley below. Different wildflowers were in bloom than when we first came 2 weeks earlier. But the views were just as stunning.

Up to this point, Ushani's boots were holding up ok. The soft undersole was a lot softer than we expected and was starting to tear away from her boots exposing the plastic boot form. By now we were halfway through the hike so there was no where to go except onward. With each step downhill, a little more of the soft sole came away from her boots. She kept going, slowly but without complaint until finally we reached the cars - just in time for her toes were about to slide out the ends.

Even afterward, she said that her feet were fine. And I get to tell people I hiked someone right out of her boots.