Just Another Drop in the Bucket.... List

#24 Do an overnight backpacking trip

O Lord, My God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the world Thy hands have made

I'm married to a former boy scout leader. When I first met Bruce he was the scout master for a troop of boys who were crazy about outdoor adventures. They did some sort of outdoor/camping/hiking venture each month. After we were married and Bruce retired from scouting, he and I began building our camping experiences together: car camping. You know, drive to the campsite, unload your gear, pitch your tent and cook over the camp stove. Take a day hike or laze around by the river. Eventually we upgraded to the little trailer we now have and camping took on a new level of adventure as we hit the road. All good. All fun.

Just about every year, Bruce takes off with a buddy or two and they backpack into some place you can only get to on foot and spend a few days exploring and experiencing nature in a way not possible by car. And I always send him off with a kiss and a wave and enjoy a couple of days of my own version of 'living on the edge" (i.e. sleeping in, not cooking, pampering myself, being lazy) I have no problem with his Wild at Heart escapes; indeed I heartily approve!

privacy in the privy?
 not much!

Still... we have often talked about doing an overnight backpacking trip of our own. And talk was all we did because there were a few issues that always cropped up in our discussions that made me waver on committing to the action.

Things like...

carrying a back pack with my bad neck, shoulders, and back...

walking a long distance...
climbing up & down with my bad feet & knees...

sleeping on the hard ground with my princess & the pea condition and let's not forget the biggie...
where does one p--p in the wilderness???
 (come on, you gotta think about stuff like that! and be prepared.) 

It occurred to me recently that if I did not do this thing I so really wanted to do NOW, I would likely NEVER do it because all those physical challenges were only going to get bigger, not smaller. So, with tenacity and positive thinking I said "This is the year!"

After some discussion of options we finally settled on the Chain Lakes Trail at Mt. Baker. We reasoned the trail wasn't so arduous that I would be defeated, the distance to the first lake was more than achievable, and the adventure I was longing for would be easily obtained by this outing. 

We chose 4th of July weekend for our trip and hoped for good weather. Well, good weather has been more than on our side here of late. In fact, we've had record breaking temperatures for most of June and into July. As the day of our trip neared and the temperatures continued to soar we began to second guess our choice. Should we postpone in favor of cooler weather? Well, since summer is only a few weeks long and there are plenty of other commitments already plugged into our calendars, we decided to stick to the original plan and make the best of it. 

So, Saturday afternoon we packed all our gear-- the majority of it going into Bruce's backpack, leaving me with a fairly light load. (Still, 20# on your back that you are not used to carrying, is something to adjust to) We set out for the mountain around 4 pm, relying on the cool of the evening to carry us into the woods. Even so it was in the 80's as we set forth on the Chain Lakes Trail. But we had a nice breeze rising over the mountains and not only did that serve to keep us feeling refreshed but it deterred the bugs and flies as well.

when through the woods and forest glades I wander and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees...

It's about a 2 mile trek from Artist Point, our starting point, to the first lake, Mazama, where we'd decided we'd camp. (You can do the whole Chain, which is about 7 miles, passing 5 lakes in all, and then there's an additional trek back up the highway if your car is in the parking lot at Artist Point. For our adventure we chose to just hike in to Mazama, spend the night and hike back out the way we came.) With only a couple of stops for pictures and water consumption, we made it to Lake Mazama in about 90 minutes. Not too bad considering. 

when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and hear the brook and feel the gently breeze...

The trail is fairly easy going. Well marked, smooth in most places, only a few areas of rocky terrain. Uphill for the first leg, then a gradual descent as you near Mazama. I was surprised at how well I did, considering my tennis shoes were not the best for hiking. The backpack was a good fit (thank you to our friend T-man. who lent us some great gear) so I was pleased with how well that went also. Bruce couldn't see it since he was trailing behind me but I had a mile-wide grin on my face most of the time, just feeling so much pleasure at actually doing what I'd long talked about doing. Such is the reward for knocking off a bucket list item! 

then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!

We met several hikers as we traversed and wondered if we'd find a campsite once we reached the lake. If we didn't find a spot we'd have to either push on another mile or more to the next lake with campsites, or improvise. Mazama has 4 designated campsites and we quickly discovered they were all occupied. We were bummed but not defeated. We circled the lake and decided to appropriate a nice lush level area on the opposite side of the lake, which just happened to be adjacent to a pleasant little waterfall and gurgling creek that fed into Mazama. 

Can you say perfect?

Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing, power and majesty praise to the King...

After our supper we hung the bear bag and explored a little. Then, with night falling and bugs rising, we dived into the tent for protection and rest. I wondered if we'd be able to spot the "Star of Bethlehem" that we'd been enjoying from our back deck at home but it was just a little lower than the tree line for us to see. However, around 1 am we were awakened by the brightness of the moon over the lake. We climbed out of our tent to watch in awe as it glistened on the rippling lake and then, breathlessly, we gazed at a million stars that were dotting the night sky.

Mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of your name...

Sleeping in Sunday morning wasn't really an option as 1) the princess was definitely feeling the pea and 2) the temperature was quickly rising making the tent uncomfortable. We retrieved the bear bag and rooted around for our breakfast. We climbed up above the waterfall and found a luscious grassy paradise in which to consume our granola. 

I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I'll love you, for ever I'll stand

Nothing compares to the promise I have in you.

We did a little hike later to the second lake, Iceberg, so named because in a usual year of snow, there are really icebergs sticking up out of the lake. This year has been usually dry and with an early summer, the lake, while icily cold, had no icebergs. 

Lord of all creation, of water, earth and sky, the heavens are your tabernacle, glory to the Lord on high

And speaking of icy cold, what about Lake Mazama? It was surprisingly tolerable in temperature, made more so by the fact that by noon it was quite hot out. With our campsite broken down and packed up, we decided a dip in the lake before departure was required. 

God of Wonders, beyond our galaxy ~ you are holy!

from the highest of heights to the depths of the sea...

The hike back out was much more challenging than coming in. I admit, I loaded up on Ibuprofen before we left the parking lot on Saturday and took some more when we reached camp. I took some more before we began the return trek. But, add in a night of somewhat restless sleep, a sun that was beating down hotter than ever, and that slow descent to the lake that seemed now ridiculously steep as we climbed back out, and you'll have a picture of the challenges I was facing.

But I refused to be defeated! I am Tenacious Woman! This is my Super Power!! 

Creation's revealing Your majesty

Not to mention that every time I stopped I was attacked by biting flies!! I had no choice but to just press on! 

from the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring, every creature unique in the song that it sings...

We stopped for a nice break once we reached the intersection on the trail for Chain Lakes and Ptarmigan Ridge. From there we could actually see the parking lot and that spurred us on for the final leg. With not much of a breeze, a 3-O-Clock sun beating down on us, and the backpack seeming twice as heavy as the day before (I don't know-- do dirty clothes weigh more?) the last mile felt monotonous. 

awestruck we fall to our knees as we humbly proclaim...

Yes... I was grateful to reach the end of the trail when we did. My shoulders were complaining, my feet were hurting and I had finished all my water about 20 minutes before we got to the car and was feeling quite parched. The first thing I did when we popped the trunk was grab 2 bottles of water from there. One went directly over my head and other went down my throat. 

You are amazing God!

Bruce was proud of me for doing what I set out to do, thrilled that we were finally able to experience this together. I was proud of my accomplishment as well. (And not ashamed to admit that there was more Ibuprofen consumed along with the water.)

the pulse of life within my wrist, a fallen snow, a rising mist, there is no higher praise than this

We stopped in Glacier for ice cream as a reward and celebration of our adventure. As we licked the fast melting treat off our fingers and hands, we looked at each other and grinned. How beautiful are the feet on the mountain!

oh my soul wells up, yes my soul wells up with Hallelujahs

* song excerpts from How Great Thou Art, Shout to the Lord, God of Wonders, Indescribable, and Hallelujahs,

Road Tripping; the Final Installment

Home.

How sweet the sound, and how good to be back in familiar territory. Yet it's bittersweet because it means a return to the regular busyness and responsibilities that can sometimes pull you down. Still, we milked that last day for all it was worth...

Puzzling over the huge rabbit population in the campground...

while there are only a few in the picture, trust me, there must have been over 100 scattered about the grounds!

Taking a lovely stroll along side the Omak River before breaking of camp...

a perfect place to walk along side of the river!

A leisurely picnic in a city park...

chicken and 'tater salad, limeaade and chips. what more could you as for?

A slow drive over one more mountain pass...

Cascade Hwy, Hart's Pass

Upon arrival we found a lawn in need of mowing, a near-neurotic and overjoyed cat, and an empty pantry that needed filling. And we wont even mention the piles and piles of laundry!

I often find that while I'm living in the moment and enjoying myself very much,  in the days and weeks that follow, the pleasure grows as the memories cache in my heart. I love pulling those memories out one by one to relive them and appreciate each nuance that I might not have fully taken in as it unfolded.

reflection is good for the soul.

It goes without saying that this 2 week road trip was full to overflowing with special moments. Time for family and friends. Getting to experience another section of God's majestic creation. Living simply and finding the joy in that. Playing. Resting. Exploring. Adventuring. Having quality time with my best friend and lover.

Life. Is. Good.

thank you Lord for the blessings you give us!

Road Tripping Part 6

Thursday pm- Sat am.: Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
Destination: Sam Owen Campground
Purpose: chillaxing on the lake!

Two nights camping off the grid. No place to go. Nothing pressing to do.

The toughest decision to make all day is whether to lay in the hammock and read a book or lay in the hammock and watch the deer grazing in the campground.

A refreshing dip in the lake come midday takes the place of a shower. Simple suppers eaten by candlelight. Early to bed, early to rise. With no pressing need to do anything it was the perfect wind down to our vacation. A chance for Bruce to really really relax.

Perfect Bliss.

Saturday Morning: Departure
Destination: Washington State via Newport WA, Hwy 2
Purpose: to explore back roads and po-dunk towns we've not yet seen.

Keeping in mind that it was a holiday weekend and most good campsites have been scooped up by well planning vacationers, we ambled merrily across mountain passes and scenic backroads without a worry or a care. We'd find some place to bed down even if it was a wide spot on the side of the road, or, heaven help us, Walmart.

We came through Nespelem, located in the Colville Indian Reservation, and the location of Chief Joseph Memorial. A sad little cemetery on the side of a hill with a large white stone marker surrounded by other graves is all there is to mark the passing of this Indian Chief.

 If you are up on your history you may know his story. At the very least you would recognize this line from something he said on the day he surrendered:  I will fight no more forever.  It's an important piece of history and worth the time to acquaint yourself with it if you are not already familiar.

We wandered respectfully through the graveyard, as the sun passed behind clouds and a strange hot wind gusted around us.

We made it to Omak and found a nice quiet corner that backed up to the Omak River and the sight of the Omak Stampede. A campground with water and electric meant flushies and hot showers. Hallelujah.

Breaking camp this morning is slow in coming as it means we will head for home and arrive this evening. I know neither of us is eager for this trip to end. It's been a full and filling time of R&R for us both. A time of building both memories and relationships and a vacation we will treasure in our hearts.

Road Tripping Part 5

Thursday Morning: Departure from Sundance Campground
Destination: SamOwen Campground, Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho
Purpose: a couple days of doing nothing!!

We departed from Glacier National Park area on August 28th, with a full day of driving ahead of us. With the Labor Day weekend approaching and not having reservations anywhere, we didn't really know where we'd spend the night. We had plans to detour through Kalispell Mt to visit a friend there and other than that, we were intent on enjoying the scenery. Lee and Laura headed out about an hour before us and promised to keep us appraised of camping availability as they would undoubtedly arrive before us.

Under sunny skies and rising temperatures we didn't go far before we pulled over to investigate a tour attraction we'd spotted when we came in earlier in the week. Billed as "The house of Mystery & Montana Vortex" we'd been mildly curious. I was thinking about the mystery house of Knott's Berry Farm as we got out of the truck and came closer to check things out. It wasn't long however before some red flags were waving...

The first flag was a sign welcoming us, the cost of admission and some new-age/eastern religion language. This in and of itself wasn't bad, necessarily, just enough for me to say "hmm" and be alert. As we read the literature on the walls outside the storefront however a gnawing uncomfortable feeling began to  grow in the pit of my stomach. I shared my feelings with Bruce who listened with concern. While he appreciates my discerning nature and was not about to discount my apprehensions, he was still mighty curious. When I read more of the descriptions something struck a nerve and brought to mind a rather scary encounter I'd had several years ago. Without going into all those details, suffice it to say it was all the reminder I needed that this was not some place I was willing to plunk my money down on. Just as I finished murmuring this decision to Bruce, the third thing happened that literally made THE HAIR ON THE BACK OF MY NECK STAND ON END.

From out of seemingly nowhere, a man appeared. "Come in please" was all  he said but it made me jump. Honestly, we didn't hear or see a door open from the storefront-- he was just THERE. It was eerie but his voice was even more unnerving. "the next tour is about to begin folks."
I can't describe his voice but it was like something you'd expect from the bad guy in a Steven King novel. It was CREEPY. I tugged at Bruce's shirt and Bruce told the man we needed to get something from the truck first and we quickly scooted across the parking lot to the truck. We had no intention of returning and we climbed inside laughing a little nervously.

Let me clarify. We. as believers in Christ, need not be afraid of the supernatural. We have the Holy Spirit living inside of us and His Perfect Love casts out fear. But because of the Holy Spirit we have a realization of what we should or shouldn't wander into. This place, while on the surface sounded fun and family friendly, seemed to be capitalizing on something more and that was what we felt repelled by. While I don't think we would have been harmed by going in and exploring things, there was just enough of something 'off' in the presentation that warned us, that as Christians, we didn't need to go there.

Our next stop was to Lakeside and the Glacier Bible Camp where our friend is the director. We toured the grounds as we visited and while it was a short stop it was still good to connect.

Bruce chatting with friend Dave Saugen on the lake at the camp.

Glacier Camp, Lakeside MT

at Glacier Camp Lakeside MT

After this we had to make tracks if we were going to make it to our campsite by dark. We had communication with Lee and Laura and they were making camp just inside of Idaho and reported there were still available campsites. We decided we could make it and pushed on. As we came through the town of Libby MT, it was that time of day where the sun hangs in the western sky and blinds you. On a 4 lane highway in the middle of downtown Libby, that is when it happened.

With nothing in front of us, no one behind us, and scarce traffic in the east bound lane, we had a wide open view, except for that blinding sun. Suddenly BAM! from the driver's side The truck shook. "What the heck?" shouted Bruce. Just as he spoke I saw on my side a horrible sight. A deer.... tumbling through the air.... dear readers, it was awful! I cringe still as I recall this.... I cried out to Bruce "We hit a deer!" and he pulled over as soon as he could safely maneuver the truck and trailer off the road. We sat in the parking lot of an empty business center and caught our breath. I felt ill and got out of the truck, certain I was going to lose my lunch.

It was next to impossible to turn around given the lay of the highway and besides, there is nothing you can do for a deer that's just been hit by a one ton truck. Bruce hugged me as I moaned and shed a few tears, then with prayers of thanks that it had not resulted in injury to us, we got back in our vehicle.

With a keen alertness for the rest of our drive that day, we spotted probably 5 or 6 more deer as we pressed on. Thankfully they were seen with enough time to slow down and avoid any more accidents. We arrived at Samowen Campground just before dusk.

Lake Pend Oreille

sunset

to be continued...

Road Tripping Part Four

Monday- Thursday: Sundance Campground (our base camp)
Destination: Glacier National Park
Purpose: Camping and Exploring

by the way...Sundance Campground, where we have settled for most of the week, was a good choice. Conveniently located just a few miles from West Glacier one direction and the town of Coram the other direction, it's proving to be excellent base camp. The price per night includes water, electric, Wifi, hot showers and the nicest owners/managers. The bathroom is sparkling clean and our campsites are thoughtfully laid out. We have some very nice 'neighbors' all around us.   While we are close to the highway, we don't really hear much of the traffic and it's actually the trains we hear most. 

Tuesday: We left soon after breakfast to spend the day inside the Park. Going to the Sun Road is not for the faint of heart! I am glad I wasn't driving but riding shotgun in order to take pictures, I found myself instinctively leaning to the left away from the view more than once. Yikes. Narrow road, hairpin curves one right after the other, and sheer drop offs... um, yah....

The highlight for me this day was reaching Logan's Pass-- the highest spot on the road AND the opportunity to stand on the Continental Divide! How beautiful... are the feet...

The parking lot at the Pass was crammed full and even though we drove around several times, there never was a spot that opened up so we had to just take turns hopping out of the truck and checking out the view while someone else drove around.

We went down the east side and came out by St. Mary's Lake and enjoyed ice cream in the berg of  St Mary's. We hopped on Hwy 2 and completed our day with dinner in Essex, a popular winter spot for cross country ski enthusiasts and anyone with a love of trains as the lodge and restaurant is right next to a very busy train station.

We returned to camp at dusk and enjoyed some quiet time around the campfire before retiring. Extra blankets have been needed the last couple of nights. It's been pleasantly warm during the day but this high altitude brings a nippy chill once the sun sets.

Wednesday we all slept in. I guess the days of hectic traveling caught up to us and we needed those extra Z's. With breakfast dishes done we laid our maps out on the picnic table and plotted a course for the day. With some online research we were able to find a hiking trail that met our criteria: short drive to the trail head, no more than 5 or 6 miles in length round trip, a moderate hike and preferably with shade. We discarded one hike because it came with the cautious advice to carry bear spray and bells. (later learning ALL the hikes in the park suggest bear spray!)

We settled on hiking to Avalanche Lake. 5 miles round trip and under the shade of massive cedar trees, with a alpine lake at the end of the trail, this hike packed the punch we were craving. Most of the hike was fairly easy. A few challenging uphill/downhill traversing but the path was wide and smooth. We were within earshot of the Avalanche River the whole time and able to view it often. The smell of the trees and water and earth was pleasing to our senses and despite some climb in altitude we all kept a fairly brisk pace.

As we came around one bend, we were rewarded with the sighting of a deer. Oh, not just a deer, a buck! And not just a buck but a 5 point buck, quite large and really indifferent to the presence of humans. A group of hikers coming down the trail and our group coming up were able to get in quite close range of this princely animal and he just kept grazing at the base of the trees, glancing our way once in awhile, totally unfazed by our close proximity.

We continued our way to the lake and by the time we arrived we were famished. Sandwiches never tasted so good. (I made my delicious peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. Truly to die for. Honest, you ought to try them!)

 We were visited by a few curious squirrels and chipmunks. They really are cute for rodents.

Then as we were finishing our lunch, Bruce calmly announced "Bear!"
Bear?? Where? Where?
Over there!

Sure enough, meandering his way down the edge of the lake, across from us, was a large black bear. Oh, my. I wanted to see a bear this trip so bad but only if it was a safe encounter. With a body of water between us, this felt quite safe and the zoom lens on my camera was as close as I needed to be. We watched and snapped photos till he moved into the brush and out of sight.

We lingered at the sandy shore of the lake, breathing in the fresh alpine air and delighting in waterfalls cascading down the mountain sides above us. When it was time to head down, we did so rather reluctantly. Downhill always sounds easier but in truth the impact can be hell on ones' knees. Still we made it back down in about half the time it took us to hike up.

The whole day was cloaked in  a perfect warm temperature with sweet breezes blowing in off the creek. Our fellow hikers both coming and going were just as happy to be there as we were and smiles and friendly greetings were exchanged each time we passed on the trail. It is truly an international tourist attraction and we heard many different accents and dialects spoken as we traversed.

We made it back to camp around 6, pleased with our day even as our bodies registered discomfort from the physically demanding excursion. Tomorrow we will break camp and begin the slow trip toward home. We will continue to travel together until we reach Washington and then likely go our separate ways for the remainder of the trip. We don't have specific plans for the next few days other than to take our time and enjoy the sights. With no reservations and a major holiday approaching, we may end up in a Walmart parking lot but I think we'll be more creative than that. Whatever our remaining travel days bring, "as long as we're together, it doesn't matter at all."