First visit to Church 2019

Today's hikers up to Church Mountain meadow

Sixteen Senior Trailblazers showed up for our first hike into the High Country this year. The weather was glorious, with fog at first, clearing off to perfect blue skies.

Fog as we moved uphill

This is one of the earliest times we have attempted this hike, because Al said he learned that the snow is clearing out quickly, and this south-facing hike usually has only small amounts of snow on the trail, until we meet the meadow.

First view of the meadow

We saw no snow at all on the way up, very unusual, and when we got to the meadow after about three miles hiking steeply uphill, this is what greeted us: huge areas clear of snow and plants beginning to come alive, now that the snow is almost gone.

A huge tree blown down

While we hiked in the forest on the way to the meadow, we saw several trees that were blown down during the winter. Several of them caused quite a bit of struggle to safely navigate, but we managed to get everyone across the obstacles, with the help of some of the stronger hikers.

Our lunch spot

We found a nice place without any snow for us to have our lunch. There was such a great view of Mt. Baker and the warm weather caused us to be on the hot side, rather than having to bundle up from the wind and cold, as we usually do when we stop for lunch. Just an amazing day.

The high spot for the day

I climbed up the hill a ways above the others, so I could answer the call of nature, but once I got there, I was joined by Melanie and Owen, and since there was no place to hide, the two of them acted as a curtain for me.

Melanie and Owen

Once I was done, they looked so cute standing there I had to take this picture. The sun was blazing down on us, so we had to take some drastic measures to keep ourselves from getting damaged by the sun.

Ken and Roger

Ken has to keep his skin as covered as possible, and Roger's glacier glasses made the two of them an irresistible photo op. We were just finishing our lunch break and getting ready to start back into the forest when I took this.

Glacier lilies

These pretty yellow flowers only appear for a short while after the snow is gone. They are always a favorite, partly because of their short life cycle, and also because the delicate lily is so beautiful. I found this one alone and looking like it's holding its petals out in bliss.

Blissful sunshine

And then it was time to return to the forest and make our way back down the steep descent. Although this is not a long hike, it is unremittingly uphill and then unremittingly downhill. No messing around here. We hiked somewhere between a little over six and maybe closer to seven miles today, but we also climbed and descended 2,400 feet of elevation in that distance.

Almost back down

The lower elevations are filled with lush greenery and flowers, and we all enjoyed the day very much, our first trip to the High Country this season. There will be plenty more to come, and we will definitely be returning to Church Mountain later in the season in order to climb to the top. A great day today!
:-)