Welcome Pass 2013

Mt. Shuksan and wildflowers

Today, nine Senior Trailblazers hiked up one of our usual summer endeavors, Welcome Pass. I have done it three times now, twice when it was nice (one of those was today) and once when it was rainy and cloudy. We didn't have it on our regular schedule last year, although some of the Trailblazers went up on a weekend day last season when I was otherwise occupied. But in 2011, I wrote about our August 18 visit up to Welcome Pass. It was almost a month later, but there was much more snow than we saw today. I was amazed at how hot it was, but also how beautiful all the flowers were.

More UP to get to the views

After climbing 68 switchbacks (fortunately, mostly in the forest where it was shady), we gained the ridge and climbed another quarter mile or so to get to the most spectacular views of the surrounding mountains, Mts. Baker and Shuksan to the south, and the Canadian and Olympic mountains to the north. There was not a cloud in the sky.

Mike cooling off

This was the first snow we saw, which was very unusual. Mike was hot, even with his minimal dress, and he laid down on the snow to cool off. I think he also stuffed snow into his pants pockets so it could continue to cool him as we pressed on to get to our lunch destination. Finally, we found some minuscule little dabs of shade so we could have our lunch.

Rita, with lupines between us as we settled in for lunch

The shade was very sparse up on the ridge, above the treeline, but we managed to find a little bit before we strolled along the ridge a smidge farther. The views were beyond spectacular, really, but I do have to show you the view we had of Mt. Baker as we dined.

Rita, Mt. Baker, and Steve

Although the sunshine was intense, there was also a pretty nice breeze blowing most of the time. It didn't seem to matter much to the bugs: we had mosquitos, big black flies, and other pesky critters bothering us most of the time. Amy, however, used her fan as well as her head net. I have one of those stored somewhere inside my pack, but I never got it out, using bug spray for protection instead. I set up the self timer and got this picture of us:

Al, Steve, Doug, Richard (behind me), Rita, Peggy, MIke, Amy

This was Richard's first hike with the Senior Trailblazers. He did quite well, but I had to run to get into the picture and I was sorry he didn't move a little so he could be included in the group shot. After this was taken, we began our return trip, which was MUCH harder on most of us because that steep terrain on the 68 switchbacks meant feeling our knees complain, leaning hard on our trekking poles, and wishing it would get over with!

Almost back to the cars

All in all, it was a wonderful day, which I can easily say now that I am back in my own comfy home with an almost-finished glass of wine. I learned today that our first "extra" hike of the summer is next Monday, an all-day trip to Mt. Dickerman. I'm hoping that I will be recovered enough to go on that one. I've got three days to decide!
:-)