Thursday, September 13, 2012

Skyline Divide

Terry, Al, Amy, Rita, Liz, Karen and Shuksan 
Well, another glorious day today. I'm sitting here in front of my iMac happily perusing the pictures I took of today's hike to Skyline Divide. When I got to the Senior Center this morning, I realized that we had twelve people show up to head up to the High Country, and then Al told me that the Ferndale Four would be joining us at the Ranger Station. Sixteen! Not to mention that the other group of Trailblazers from the Senior Center that doesn't go quite as far and hikes a bit slower were also scheduled to head to Skyline Divide, and they had fifteen. On a beautiful sunny Thursday, we would be having 31 hikers heading up to the Divide!
Before we entered the wilderness area, Al called an impromptu meeting, telling us that the 16 of us would need to break into two groups, since a maximum of twelve hikers per group are allowed in the wilderness area, with at least five minutes between us. Fortunately, eight hikers decided to follow Jonelle, and the rest of us stayed with Al. They took off and were out of sight pretty quickly (they were all good, fast hikers). And then we reached the ridge:
The views of Mt. Shuksan and Baker are enough to take one's breath away. We had at least three hikers who had never been here before, so Al asked them to hike ahead around the last switchback while the rest of us followed. The ooohs and aaahhhs were expected; I remembered when I was one of those who went first. Although the wildflowers are past their peak, there were still plenty of them, and the views just kept getting better. Mike was busy setting up his tripod to take some fabulous pictures, and I captured this one of him in the foreground, with Baker in all its magnificence.
As the day wore on, we kept in contact with the other group through Al's walkie-talkie (Steve had the other one). We knew where they stopped for lunch, so after our repast we hiked on along the ridge until we joined up with them. I used the time to take some pictures of my favorite people.
Linda, Diane and Baker
After we had hiked somewhere over three miles (but under four), we turned around to head back to the cars. We figured by this time we could just tell any ranger we might run into that we just happened to run into our friends on the hike and wouldn't receive a ticket for having a group larger than twelve. Although it remained very sunny and bright, Mt. Baker began to take on a different look as we descended, with either clouds forming, or possibly smoke from a forest fire to the east of us obscuring our view.
Although Mt. Baker began to disappear in the mist or clouds, Amy pulled out her fan to keep the bugs away, and I couldn't resist the picture. We were just getting ready to head back down anyway, and the best part of a wonderful day was behind us. As usual, I was able to get a picture of the group on the downward journey.
Another wonderful day spent in the wilderness with sixteen of my best friends. We went up and down around 2,500 feet of elevation, more than seven miles, and now that I am home, drinking my glass of wine, I am thinking that I am one of the most fortunate people in the world: two fantastic hikes in one week, and my recalcitrant old almost-70-year-old body still in one piece, still going strong!
:-)

17 comments:

  1. love the new header again - your smiling face(s) speaks volumes.

    the photo you took of mike taking a photo of the very impressive and imposing mountain actually brought tears to my eyes. it made me think of how small our lives are in this big, yet beautiful world.

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  2. You are amazing to do all this! And always with a smile! You always manage to describe the hike so that one can feel what it would be like to be there.

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  3. wow you had quite the group with you today...those views are just amazing...that mountain....wow....

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  4. Beautiful scenes! If I ever were to hike in the PNW, I would do so only in September. The sunshine/greenery appeals to me more than snow does.

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  5. You know, I would have to agree with you. You are one of the luckiest people on the planet. Mt. Baker is just plain spectacular! You are so fortunate to live in this beautiful place, to have this amazing group of people to hike with every week, and to have the health to do this. I am a bit envious. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Wow! I don't remember if you ever said you had that many people on a hike! And another beautiful day, too. You truly are one lucky woman. :):)

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  7. I wonder if you need to have lived other places before living here to true appreciate the beauty of the a pacific Northwest?

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  8. You rock. As do your trekking friends. And Mt Baker is an incredible sight. Thank you so much.

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  9. What amazing views you had for this hike. It sounds like almost everyone turned out for this one. I love the shots of Mt. Baker.

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  10. So very delightful, and relaxing (just watching it all).

    Thanks.

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  11. That does look like a wonderful hike, a day to remember when we are in the dark wet months of winter.

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  12. Amazing. And wonderful. How I wish.....

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  13. I smile everytime I open your blog, cause that is such a nice photo of you smiling - I love this new photo in your header - I know I complimented it once before, but DJan you wear your inner beauty on your face and in your warm smile. These indeed are wonderful photos and I love the newbies with the oooooh's n aaaaaah's - I think I would be delirious with JOY to actually be standing there. Thanks

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  14. What a spectacular new header, just breathtaking.
    You are indeed young in both spirit and body, you are so fortunate to have the stamina in making these incredible hikes.
    ~Jo

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  15. Wow, these photos are awesome, like postcards of the Swiss Alps or something! Keep hiking, DJan. I'm in your shadow and loving it.

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  16. Absolutely fantastic photos as usual, DJan. I love them ALL! I really, REALLY love the photos of you in your header. I feel like you're talking to me to see your beautiful face.

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  17. What wonderful views of Mt Baker! So the Rangers actually count people in groups..?? And a fine? What is the reasoning behind that policy? They want you to start five minutes apart..well some people are slow and some are fast..but they are all going up or down..is that the problem meeting on the trails? OH I am full of ? today. I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday and you have clear skies:)

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