Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Cow Heaven

Eight of us Senior Trailblazers drove to this trailhead yesterday in dense fog, which we hoped would let up sometime during the day. Looks dark and uninviting, doesn't it? The hike is well known as being a real ass-kicker, which is why I am up early the following morning to post this. I was just too tired once I got home and took a shower to do anything more than collapse. I found a link about this trail in the Washington Trails Association archives, and this short paragraph describes our adventure well:
Here's the beef on Cow Heaven. It's a steep and demanding climb through thick forest culminating in lonely alpine meadows. The cows are long gone from this former summer grazing area high above the Skagit Valley, but you can feast to your heart's content on splendid views of snowy North Cascades summits. A great conditioner and good choice for solitude, if you're feeling energetic, follow this steer-way to heaven all the way to the rocky Helen Buttes for even grander views.
Well, we did little feasting on "splendid views," since the fog and mist stuck around most of the day. We did, however, cross this stream numerous times, with some pretty stupendous views of falls now and then.
It was a very challenging hike, with a pretty constant climb from 400 feet elevation all the way up to 4400 feet! The trail had lots of switchbacks, which help, but it just didn't let up from the time we started on the trail until we got to the top. The trail was pretty, however, green and lush, and while we were ascending I was able to look around a fair amount. I got this arty shot of Ray in the background and a small friend in the foreground:
We were bothered by mosquitoes for much of the day, and we all agreed that DEET is neat, even if you don't particularly like the feeling and smell of it, neither do the bugs. I've got some itchy spots this morning, but they are nowhere near as numerous as they would have been without the bug spray.
As we got closer to the summit, we ran into, you guessed it: snow! Fortunately for us, our intrepid buddies Mike and Fred had gone ahead and pointed the way through the snow with markers in the trees and even some stick arrows. As the rest of us huffed and puffed our way to the top, the sun tried to break through the thick clouds, but our view was limited at best. Most of us didn't go any farther than the flat spot on the top, unwilling to budge until we had recovered a little. The consensus is that this is probably the hardest hike we have ever done, with words describing it like "strenuous," "hiker hell," and even "gorgeous!"
This tantalizing view through the trees shows some of what we MIGHT have been able to see once we got to the top, but it was just not to be. The trip back down was treacherous and required constant vigilance not to slip on slick tree roots and trail detritus that kept wanting to make you fall. In fact, every single one of us fell at least once, but nobody got more than scraped elbows and bruised egos. Al, in the front, said that the sounds coming from behind him were quite entertaining: "whoops!" "eek!" "yikes!" (thud)
But we did finally make it to the cars and headed immediately down the road to the Buffalo Run, a restaurant in Marblemount that provided a nice repast to end our day's exertions. Although they have a buffalo ranch and offered burgers made from several different animals (elk, buffalo, beef), they also had an entire page of vegetarian offerings. I got a loaded baked potato that was pretty good. As you can see from the place where I was sitting (front right), the red and white wine was already being enjoyed by several of us. That's Amy toasting our adventure.

It was indeed that, an adventure, but I think I might actually skip the next trip up to Cow Heaven. Either that or I'll need to get in better shape first! If it hadn't been for sharing the pain with good friends, I wouldn't have enjoyed myself nearly as much as I did. Until next Thursday, which is looking like yet another hike in the rain, I think I'll stick to shorter and less demanding walks.
:-)

27 comments:

  1. LOL...the intrepid hiker has met her match!
    When I read the title I thought maybe you had turned up in my neck of the woods...a part of the midwest dotted with family dairy farms and steer ranches.

    Have you ever seen the Skagit River Journal? I think that's the name of it...my dear friend of oh, god...30+ years is editor of it.

    Glad you mastered the climb, even if it did take the starch out of you!!

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  2. The view of the falls made up for the fog. The one pictured is pretty. And I like the photo you took with the spider web in it...that's cool. This hike did sound like hiker-hell...but you managed to find beauty in it. Even with all the bumps along the way.

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  3. I was happy to discover that deet works on gnats over the weekend. Beautiful waterfall. Sounds like it was an extreme puffer.

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  4. nice...sounds like this one was tough, but look at the pay off...great shots...that waterfall looks so cool...and the shot through the window is great as well!

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  5. Fun photos. I admire your energy and determination. I only hike on a treadmill in air conditioning at the Y.

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  6. Who knew it would be so hard to get into Cow Heaven?
    The view truly were beautiful. If you aren't in shape, I don't know who is.

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  7. I heard from "Al" before this hike and he said that had I gone there would have been great opportunity to banter about my "poor calf" ;-)
    in cow heaven, miss all of the fun and the group.

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  8. Oh, my. The views are awesome, and so are you for being able to undertake all these adventures.

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  9. My own hike to and from Akaka Falls on the Big Island was too hard for me. David stayed behind me in case I fainted or collapsed. I can very well imagine how difficult your hike must have been. Cheers!

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  10. I am happy you all made it and are still smiling.

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  11. What a beautiful shot of the falls!

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  12. I can't wait to meet you on Thursday's trailblazer's hike up Goat Mountain. You are my inspiration!

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  13. I can't wait to meet you on Thursday's trailblazer's hike up Goat Mountain. You are my inspiration!

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  14. I can't wait to meet you on Thursday's trailblazer's hike up Goat Mountain. You are my inspiration!

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  15. Beautiful! I just love that picture with the spider web! Those views and the falls are gorgeous!

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  16. That looked amazing. Your comment about getting into better shape appalled me though - with all the exercise you do I would think that you are pretty fit now. Thanks for sharing the joys.

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  17. As always, you amaze me, especially in the rain.

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  18. Uff! that's a hike. You lost me at the mosquitos. No way could I put up with them too!

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  19. I hate mosquitoes too, but your waterfall photo is just so heavenly! Gorgeous shot!

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  20. Your shot of the waterfall is gorgeous DJan. I love the spider's web too.

    If your group of intrepid hikers used terms like hiker hell this must have been one heck of a tough hike.

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  21. Doesn't sound like an enjoyable hike. I am just now getting used to the mosquitos here. A couple days ago I actually spent several hours outside in one stretch to weed in the flower beds and trim some plants. The blood suckers got in some bites but they didn't bother me as much.

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  22. Most of the hikes here in the Lake Tahoe area are much like this one minus the slippery conditions. Lake Tahoe is at 6500 feet and most of the hikes are UP. It always makes that glass of wine seem almost mandatory!

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  23. Despite the rain and the mosquitoes, it sounds like a day to feel super good about! I also loved the waterfall picture. It reminded me of the hike to Ramona Falls near Mt. Hood. Ever been? It's gorgeous.

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  24. Wow! I almost felt like scratching bites, rubbing sore spots, and trying to catch my breath just reading this. What a hike! You really do bring us along on some treacherous adventures. This hike sounded even more dangerous on the way back down! Beautiful pictures, tho. Wow! :)

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  25. That view is awesome..but I really liked the photos of the falls..excellent! :)

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  26. That waterfall is absolutely gorgeous!!!!

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  27. P.S. Might be a good entry for the FREE PHOTO CONTEST someday!! :0P

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