Friday, July 16, 2010

Four out, four up

Yesterday, ten Senior Trailblazers set out for Church Mountain. Although it had only been three weeks since hiking this trail, our options are still very limited because of the snowpack around some of our favorite hikes. Plus the amount of snow that has melted in three weeks is amazing. I wasn't with them then (I was busy with the dentist), but they didn't make it this far, and you can see that the trail ahead is pretty clear of snow. We hiked up 4,000 feet and covered a little more than four miles, so that's the reason I named the post "four out and four up." (Click any picture to enlarge.)
When we reached the meadow, some of us stayed behind to recuperate, as we had hiked three miles and covered almost 3,000 feet. Here's a picture of Dan sitting by the creek with Mt. Baker behind him. The rest of the group forged on ahead, and we followed them after a quick snack. The area where Dan is sitting has not been clear of snow for long, because everywhere we saw glacier lilies that crop up for a few weeks when the snow has cleared.
This is the first hike this summer where I saw a profusion of wildflowers: phlox, violets, columbine, and what I think are marsh marigolds. False hellibore were everywhere, and I swear they had just burst out of the ground in the last few days. (They are the green broadleaf plants in the first picture on the side of the trail.) After our rest, we followed the other hikers up the last mile.
If you enlarge this picture, you can see the trail we had climbed on our way to the old lookout site. We did cross some snow, but nothing like last week. Oh, and by the way, I had no problem with heat exhaustion yesterday, as it was much cooler, and I was fortified by an electrolyte drink to be on the safe side. The last fifty feet or so of the hike are quite exposed and are really a scramble to the top. But once there, of course I had to ask Al to take my picture.
I am standing where the lookout station used to be. Thinking about how it was constructed all the way up here at 6,100 feet was a little daunting. No trace of it exists any more. After hiking back down to join our cohorts who decided not to make this summit, we then had a little more than four miles and 4,000 feet to descend to the trailhead. It was a long day, but very satisfying and just about perfect weather. A light breeze blew all day, but not enough to make us cold. And, as you can see, the view was just stupendous.

On a side note, about Phoenix, I am still grieving for his loss, but one of the people who lives down below the nest (she calls herself "boonibarb") posted this video on YouTube for us Phoenix lovers who need closure. An arborist braved the tree and got the body down in a backpack (needing both his hands to climb), and if you watch this one-minute-long video as he is lovingly removed from the pack, you can see he was already fully grown and ready to fledge. The body will be sent to a lab to see if the reason for his death can be ascertained.
:-]

16 comments:

  1. I am always surprised when I read about you hiking in snowy areas. I have a hard time picturing it when it is 100 degrees here in the middle of summer. I would gladly trade your cooler temps for ours any day.

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  2. That sounds like a hard hike. I don't think I have energy to do a hike like that. Thank you for sharing the link to the YouTube video of Phoenix being removed from the backpack. Like you, I am dealing with feelings of sadness and would like to know what caused the death of the eaglet we had grown to care for.

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  3. I so enjoy these hikes by participating vicariously. Alpine meadows with flowing water and delicate wildflowers are very special.

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  4. Gorgeous weather DJan and the views are fantastic. I wish we had a little more altitude in The Blues for such hikes.

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  5. The video is very sad, DJan, but it's nice seeing you smile after reaching the Top!

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  6. So glad you had a wonderful climb. I'm also glad to hear you had the good sense to take a little break. Good for you.

    My knees hurt just thinking about coming down.

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  7. Congrats on a wonderful hike and the view is spectacular.

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  8. Gorgeous country. Wow. Now that hubby is back at work, we probably won't be hiking much this summer. I really miss it, too.

    The little eaglet was certainly loved in his short life. There is something to be said for that.

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  9. What a gorgeous hike. How in the world did they manage hauling in the materials for the old lookout site? I love the photo of you, particularly against that stunning backdrop. Al did a fantastic job framing that shot:) I'm glad you didn't have any trouble this time around.

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  10. Beautiful views, I am so glad you had no problems this hike..way to go with the electrolyte drink, it may be just the ticket for you! I love the wildflowers..so very pretty. Summer is coming to the mountains:)

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  11. Looks like a wonderful hike. I'm so surprised to see snow while we're enduring a heat wave.

    Thanks for sharing that video. Hopefully they will discover what killed him and put what is learned to good use.

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  12. The view was stupendous and so were your photos...as usual. The video was sad, but thank you so much for sharing it. I'll be interested to know why he died.

    You ARE my hero! I can't believe how much you hike and how far you travel!!! If I lived anywere near an area as beautiful as you, maybe I'd give it a try!

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  13. You can really see the trail clearly forming an arc on the side of the mountain and so exposed too. Glad you went walking again and felt no ill effects.
    I watched the little film about Phoenix. It is just so sad to see what looks like a perfect specimen, not even making it out of the nest. Oh well, we'll just have to live with that I suppose.
    Blessings, Star

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  14. Hi DJ, Sorry I've been absent for so long. These views and pictures are just beautiful, as always. Everytime I read your blog and see your beautiful scenery I realize why we've come to love the Northwest so much. And I so admire how active you are!

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  15. Sorry about your little bird friend. I'd be curious to know what caused it to die. Wondering if it was environmental?
    Hope your feeling better.
    xx

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  16. The eaglet is heartbreak and a half. I am hoping the cause of it's leaving us wasn't some bizarre anomaly like the white mouth bat disease going around here. Its some sort of white fungus virus the bats contract, and its killing the by the thousands. State biologists here and in NY are working on it, while thousands more die. Its wrecking havoc on the the whole eco-system and unknown as of yet if it will mutate and spread to other species. I fear dor the pair of owl hawks that fly over the back yard every morning.

    I am so envious of your most recent hike. Green eyes, I have found, become me...! My hiking adventures are on hold until my latest adventure of trapping Dead-Beat-Dad are successful. EEEEK!
    He is a character and a half. Has taken to sitting in the garden and hissing at me if his lunch is late. Little does he know, his lunches are being withheld until he decides to wander into the Have-A-Heart trap with (Ihave made up my moldy mind) medium rare filet.....

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