Thursday, January 13, 2011

Lost Lake 2011

Now, you're not going to believe this. I sure don't! This morning I woke to the sound of the rain drumming on the roof, heavy rain, on Thursday, the day of our usual Senior Trailblazers hike. But I decided to go ahead and go, since it's more painful to think of my friends having fun without me than to think of hiking in the rain. I drove to the Senior Center and FOURTEEN hikers showed up!!
We carpooled to the trailhead and set out up the steep logging road toward the hiking trail to Lost Lake. It's a precipitous climb, and I remarked that it's a little like childbirth: you forget from year to year just how much pain you are having during the uphill part of this climb. This picture of Norm in front of a massive waterfall shows the wet terrain: we all were decked out in rain gear and pack covers. The actual temperature, however, was pretty warm: almost 50 degrees F, in stark contrast to our Tuesday snowshoe trip in the Mt. Baker area.
Here we are at the junction of the Lost Lake trail and the Fragrance Lake trail. Trying to decide whether to go right or left, the fourteen of us separated into two groups, one going to the right, the other heading toward the certainty of finding Lost Lake. A logging operation has caused the circular loop around the lake to be truncated: before we actually reached the lake, those heading to the right were turned back and headed north to join the rest of the group. The trail was wet and muddy.
By the time we reached the lake and stopped for lunch, we were all reunited. Here you can see the mist rising from Lost Lake as we pulled out our lunches. I cannot tell you how lovely it is to have hot tea from my thermos while I munch down a sandwich in the presence of some of my favorite people in the world! Here is Lost Lake today, 13 January 2011, with the mist and the trees making a splendid backdrop to our day's exertions.
We ended up making a longer hike than we have done in a while: more than ten miles and up more than 2,000 feet of elevation gain and loss. By the time we had reached the final mile, I was so ready for it to be over and looked forward to seeing myself collapsed at the trailhead. We did eventually get there, and now I am home and feeling quite well exercised and content. I am so fortunate to have such an opportunity, and every day I can do this kind of thing is another day I give thanks. A fair amount of rain and mist, no sunshine, we still had a great day.
:-)

18 comments:

  1. It amazes me that you go back every week and put yourself through routine. I would have never started. That's what a wimp I am. The pictures are lovely.

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  2. really you astound me...the pics are amazing...and hope you are enjoying a nice warm evening...

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  3. You are obviously hooked! More painful to stay home than to slog it out! I'm chuckling at your predicament, and impressed by your determination and stamina.

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  4. Wow. I can't believe that fourteen of you showed up!

    It looks like it was a good time, despite the damp. I can't imagine what a waste of mass I'd be if I hiked 10 miles. Not that that's even remotely possible...

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  5. Amazing photos. I can understand why it's called Lost Lake. You and your group are redefining what aging means.

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  6. One thing about living in the PNW on your side of the Cascades is you can't let rain deter you, it will rain.

    It sounds like we had similar weather today, it reached 57 but we only had a little rain. I love your misty photos DJan.

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  7. Hot tea and a sandwich. What kind of sandwich? Pnut butter & jelly? Tuna? Cheese? lol.

    Hope Mike (if he joined you) was dressed appropriately and did not lose his car key this time.

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  8. Breathtaking photos and YOU are a super woman. I bow to you!

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  9. Fifty degrees would make it pretty warm after you begin hiking. Knowing how to dress properly would take some experience I guess. I have a rain poncho but it is pretty heavy. The thing that stands out to me in your posts is your enthusiasm.

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  10. Lovely experience with the mist and lake. I love days like that.

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  11. One thing I notice a lot, besides all the great photos...is that the women dress better for the cold or rain...they seem to cover their ears more often than the men...a lot of whom wear baseball caps, Mikey is another story though!

    Love the waterfall photo, DJan!

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  12. What a beautiful spot that is. And good for you for taking these hikes no matter the weather. You're amazing!

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  13. These are beautiful pictures! You must be in excellent health with all the hiking you do!

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  14. All your hikes whether in the sun, rain or snow are breathtaking. Last Saturday just walking across a parking lot my knee gave way. I called the ortho doctor and he cannot see me until…May because I am on Medicare so I walk very very slowly and have much pain, that is why I have only walked about 300 yards around our house in the snow.

    I always look forward to your comments DJan, you are so sweet and kind. Well since I can’t walk – and today there is a full sun in the snow it is very beautiful – we’ll go to a movie to see the new True Grits (for my husband) and The King Speech (for me.) Have a great weekend.

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  15. Ten miles.. I could do two miles, three at the very most.. I admire your stamina.
    I think about your hikes when I am on the boring old elliptical upstairs. But there is no rain or icy patches up there either:)

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  16. Good for you guys! Almost makes me wish I were a senior-- then I could join your club! ;-)

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  17. What a beautiful lake and all the mist rising. Just lovely. I can imagine how good those sandwiches tasted. To keep myself going over a ten mile hike, I would have to take a whole pack full of food. Lunch would be two hours after we started etc.

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