Thursday, August 9, 2012

Railroad Grade 2012

Al signing us in at the trailhead
Ten of my favorite people, who belong to the Senior Trailblazers, met at the Senior Center this morning to plan our hike to Railroad Grade this morning, with the sun shining immoderately and even with some fairly warm temperatures. Last year when we did this hike, we didn't have nearly as nice a day. Check it out here.
There is still snow in the High Country, but today we didn't have to worry about it; the hike is moderate through Schreiber's Meadow as we trek towards the place where we need to make a decision to go right to Railroad Grade or left to Park Butte. Once we turned toward Railroad Grade, we began to climb until we reached the really amazing trail that ascends towards Mt. Baker. This is a climbing route, and here is the description from Ken Wilcox's book, Hiking Whatcom County:
At a junction in the broad meadow (2.2 miles), continue straight for Baker Pass and Park Butte, or head up the stone staircase to the right to view the snout of the Easton Glacier by way of the Railroad Grade, a lateral moraine leading smoothly up to the glacier. This is the climbers' route, and the home of hordes of hoary marmots.
Every one of us decided to take the precipitous trail, which has a few scary spots but is basically pretty easy to follow, moving ever upwards towards the climbers' camp (which we didn't reach). The clouds came and went, but the breeze kept us cool.
Here we are on the Grade, following our leader, Al, who decided to try to get a bit farther towards the camp than he has ever done before. We followed, some of us anxious to stop for lunch, but our two new hikers (Ross on his second hike with us) and Liz (on her very first one) decided to follow Al. Although as you can see from this picture it looks like a short stroll over to the glacier and Mt. Baker's summit, it's actually quite far and a technical route.
This is Ross, showing how close to him Mt. Baker looks. But it's really quite a ways. Five hikers followed Al as he decided to add another fifteen minutes to the hike, while the rest of us retreated and stopped to have some lunch. It was after noon, but they went another quarter mile before turning around to join us. You can see them coming towards us here.
Those are the Black Buttes behind them, with lots of beautiful wildflowers in front. Once they reached  us, they joined the rest of us who had already satisfied our appetites and were spending some time just looking around at the incredibly beautiful place we had reached. The light breeze and the cool temperatures, the view and the company made us simply grateful to be there. And then we started to head back down.
You could tell that this was not a really hard hike for us hardened Trailblazers, because the conversation continued all the way to the cars. By the time we got there, we had covered around seven and a half miles there and back, and covered around 2,300 feet up and down. It was another really satisfying day, and I am so grateful to be feeling not even a little bit tired as I sit here writing this post. When I think of the fact that I am four years older than when I started hiking with this group, I realize that I am stronger than I was back then, when this hike wore me out. I'm ready to make another "extra" hike next Monday! Stay tuned!
:-)

20 comments:

  1. You amaze me. What else can I say?

    ReplyDelete
  2. does not look at high as your usual routes but still some cool views...i want to know more on the scary spots...smiles...

    ReplyDelete
  3. you are amazing in so many ways. :)

    that photo of ross looks like you cut him out like a paper doll and stuck him onto a mountain photo. :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Walking a narrow ridge can sometimes be a little disconcerting. Any wind and you feel very insecure.
    However I've been on more than one good ridge walk. There was one that we took kids up about 10 times. Seldom made it to the top because of the wind.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I so love my vicarious walks with you. That looked truly amazing - thank you so much.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I remember reading about your hike to this area last year but I still clicked on the link to see the weather. What an amazing difference. Without the fog your views are incredible.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I never cease to be amazed by the adventurous routes you take, and by the fact that you always survive these hikes. I don't think I would be able to manage.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just love seeing your photos and reading your posts DJan, as I am envious of your mountaneous views. I feel most fortunate to be surrounded by fishing boats, farms and life on the Bay of Fundy, however, that photo of you all up on the top of the narrow ridge makes me shiver a little. I think I will compare a windy day with walking through salmon cage complex and on a windy day one might have the same feeling as on a narrow ridge, with the exception that with lost footing one rolls downhill and the other gets a very cold dunk. How beautiful your surroundings are and I treasure each post. Thankyou so much :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful scenery! Everything looks wonderfully green, too.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love to look at your photos, Jan. You certainly live in the beautiful Northwest.
    One day, Hubby and I will travel to that region. In the meantime, I visit it via your blog. Thank you for that!
    Hugs,
    Jackie

    ReplyDelete
  11. This one looks tempting.

    In my exercise class this morning, I noticed increased stamina and improved balance. I've been going regularly for over a month now. These things happen. Like all that hiking, and all that elevation gain, and still enough energy to talk. Isn't it great?

    ReplyDelete
  12. So you kept records? My you are organised, but how nice that you did because now you can be proud that you have done the hikes so many times and you are still enjoying them and feeling the benefit. It looks almost summery on top of the mountains from your pictures today.

    ReplyDelete
  13. exercise like you're getting with the hikes...it's sure to make you a lot stronger!!!

    Some more extraordinary country DJan!!!

    Your love of life and doing what you do for the pleasure of living....you are inspirational.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yup, the views and your photos are absolutely beautiful, DJan. This is the kind of scenery I enjoy as I hate snow. Lol. Glad you enjoyed yourself and the conversation with your friends.

    ReplyDelete
  15. This is the hike that always scares the beejebbers out of me..that trail..I would be on my knees crawling because they would be shaking so bad. You and you friends are very brave..an no one fell off a mountain..the views are fantastic..thanks for going! :)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Seriously, you have to sign in to hike a trail? Do you have to sign out when you leave? Wow, I thought you would just go out and wing it. Obviously, I have never hiked a trail.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Your strength and energy is so impressive. As is your zest for new adventure. Beautiful scenery, as always. Looking forward to your next adventure.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Dear DJan, you write about these hikes with such gladness--onto the trails, up the mountains, over the ridges, snow on the mountain tops, wildflowers on the carpet of grass. You and your wonderful group of friends--all fellow hikers--follow your heart's content and move every upward.

    It seems to me that today, as I first read your Sunday posting on your "Eye" blog and then read this one, that you are on a great journey in life. And the adventure of it is a daily wonder.

    Now you are hiking beyond the apartment in which you live and now you are hiking toward Mount Baker, but always you are moving toward your heart's desire. How inspiring. Peace.

    ReplyDelete
  19. While you were climbing mountains, I was climbing ladders - spent the past 4 days cleaning and painting my daughter's newly acquired condo.

    Day 1 was joyous, day 2 sore and complaining, day 3 getting stronger with the end in sight, day 4 I can do anything!

    Thanks for your inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Everytime I see your hikes it makes me want to get out there to the northwest again. Granted we didn't take those hikes, but I see what we missed now.

    ReplyDelete

I really appreciate your comments! If you see a word verification box here, just ignore it. I don't use the darn thing and Blogger is trying to get us to use it, I guess. Ignore it and your comment will still appear.