Archive for December, 2009
Seven Peaks
For the last few years, I have been eyeing some of the shorter peaks and rock formations on Mt. Rainier. The majority of these peaks lie just beyond the Mowich Lake entrance to the Park. I decided this summer (August 2009) that I would take on seven peaks along a thirteen mile loop in single day. My youngest brother Shaun agreed to accompany me on this feat. The original plan was to head up Knapsack Pass and tag First and Second Mother, then Mt. Fay, Mt. Pleasant, and Hessong Rock. From Hessong, I would hike out to Echo and Observation. I now laugh to myself when reminded of how the trek actually unfolded.
The night before I sat down at the computer, guide book in hand, and mapped out my course. The process was reminiscent of a child gazing over a menu without regard for the size of their stomach. It all made sense, at the time.
We hit the trail around 7:30am, mindful of a 4pm deadline to return to the car in order to make it home on time. We wasted little time reaching Knapsack pass. The climb near the top of the pass was reminiscent of Aasgard Pass, the gut wrenching gateway to the Enchantments. Steep slopes and sketchy footholds were all too common. A good two hours later, we stood atop the pass. Our pace was not bad, but if I wanted to summit seven peaks we would need to step it up a notch. We turned left and walked straight up to the summit of First Mother. It was inspiring to be sitting at the summit of this little peak looking directly at the North Face of Mt. Rainier. At this point the sun was ascending just over the mountain.
With time slipping away, we cut our plans to just summiting Echo and Observation and left Fay, Pleasant, an Hessong for another day. From First Mother, they looked to only be a short half mile away. Upon later study of the map this proved to not be the case. Oh what a deceptive interpretation of distance the eyes can give. Blissfully deceived, we donned on our packs and headed for Echo. The route toward Echo lead us along a small pebble like trail down the other side of the pass. At the bottom of the pass we were greeted by welcomed the snowfields. By the time we crossed two distinct snowfields, I was growing unsure of our exact location on the map. From where I stood we had two options: a steep drop off or four other peaks that we could climb. Having no idea which peak was which I climbed about four-hundred feet up one of the peaks just to get some sense of direction.
We decided to climb a ridge a good click in front of us. We gained the ridge and followed a narrow trail to the top. Standing atop the summit I was able to gain some sense of direction and discovered the peak we were sitting on was Mt. Fay. I just had to laugh. With time fading, we decided to tag Mt. Pleasant and Hessong Rock and head toward Spray Park and catch the Spray Park trail back to the car. We eventually took the side trail to Spray Falls; they were very tall and beautiful. This was one of my favorite hikes of the year. We spent time in a beautiful area of Mt. Rainier with very different and dramatic scenery.
These adventures with Shaun have proved to be very enjoyable. I enjoy spending time talking about life and our individual adventures we normally don’t have time to talk about due to our busy schedules. I really enjoy getting to show him a part of my world that he likely would not have discovered on his own. Also, I have to say the encouragement to continue on hasn’t hurt either. Keeping up with a sixteen year old has definitely kept me honest and these hikes have become a wonderful way of making up the last eleven years we have been apart.
High Rock
In September of 2003, having just returned from ten weeks of Army training in Virginia, my husband and I decided spend a Saturday hiking near Mt. Rainier. I don’t recall exactly how I came to hear of this hike just south of Mt. Rainier. While not very strenuous, especially compared to some of the excursions I undertake these days, it does climb a surprising 1400 feet over a short mile and a half. Not too much to say about the journey, but the destination is amazing. From this jagged peak you are staring Mt. Rainier strait in the gut. As you stand atop this high ridge, a 400 foot drop off looming below, the sweeping valleys below rolls quickly up to the most awe inspiring presentation of the State’s largest active volcano. I would have to say it is the best seat in the house for taking in a full view of the mountain and its true measure. On a clear day, to the south four other spectacular volcanoes are in wondrous view: Mt. Baker, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams, and Mt. Hood. I was surrounded! I was in love. In order to experience more of this, I would have to keep climbing. In that moment, I began to develop what would become lifetime love of this precious gift God was laying out before me – a desire to glorify Him from the wilderness and backcountry.
High Rock is my inspiration point. It is this hike that started a passion that I now cling to so dearly. Often, I expose new hikers to this trail in hopes that their first hike will have the same grand, explosive foundational moment that has inspired me so greatly. While many share my affinity and are excited for future hikes others, defeated by the steep trail, swear off hiking entirely. It’s funny how that works.