Church Mountain

The last leg of the climb is pretty steep, but doable.

I made it thanks to my REI poles and Pilates!

A friend and I climbed to the top of Church Mountain the last week of July. The turn off to the trail head is just past the utility sheds up Mt. Baker road.  The hike climbs at a reasonable rate three miles up to the meadows and another two miles (steeper) to the top where the lookout used to reside.  We set up camp in the meadows.  I rested a while, then climbed the rest of the way.  It's an amazing view, 360 degrees of mountain tops, distant valleys, the San Juan Islands.  Breathtaking!

I feel this climb to be a big achievement for me as a sixty-two year old.  I know lots of folks are stronger and have more stamina than I, but making longer and more difficult treks is helping me to grow stronger and to feel more confident.

Right now I'm having a astrological transit that's activating my Aries sun.  I believe the ram energy is wanting to climb.  I want to be at the top and look out over everything.  I'm even dreaming about standing on pinnacles and observing the land below.  Very interesting energy.  I suppose there is another way...looking a photos perhaps.  But Aries is a physical sign, so working the energy is a good idea.

We camped in the meadows where a stream ran through, tumbling down a waterfall where it disappeared into the woods.  To the west, where we set the opening of the tent, we had a perfect view of Mt. Baker.  To the east, beautiful rocky ridge in a c-curve.  Amazing. 

We heard marmots, picas, ravens, Douglas squirrels, flies, and mosquitos.  We saw no bear nor mountain goats.  Where we hung our food in a tree, a marmot was spotted.  Other than that, it was a quiet night with the exception of a little wind.  Perfectly clear with stars that you could dream on.  And in the night, the tent lit up.  I woke, thinking someone was outside with a lamp.  It was the moon rising...phenomenal.  

If you can get to wilderness, do.  It will rejuvenate you in a way that restores the soul.

Peacefully yours,

Traveling Nan   

Me on Skyline Ridge

It was a foggy day. We'd planned this trip while David was away in the Arctic above Norway. I kept looking ahead at the weather thinking it would be a sunny day for our hike. It wasn't. At least not up above in the mountains.

We car camped on the way up to Skyline Ridge, off the road in a green clearing with lots of ferns and blackcaps and alders. It was very pretty and very quiet. It's so noisy here in Fairhaven, that when I get to the quiet, it's astounding, and I sleep deeply although I'm only lying on a small air mattress in the back of a truck/camper.

By the way, credit for this photo goes to David P. Drummond. He's not only an excellent guide, both camping and hiking, he's also a great photographer. And an amazing thing has happened since we've been seeing each other, I've been photographed. Now this is interesting, because there are lots of photos of me and home movies from when I was growing up. But I got to a point where I just didn't want my picture taken. I was angry, see. Angry over the way I was getting badgered as a child and teen. Emotional abuse. So when I had my picture taken, I just looked beat down, dull eyed, sad, mad, etc. But now, well you can see that hardship and healing can rejuvenate the soul.

Enough about how I look. How do I hike? Slowly. I take a Pilates class once a week and have good strong abs. I walk everyday, sometimes an hour, sometimes not. But I live in a place where I walk to the store and the bank, etc. So really, I walk everyday. I'm in pretty good shape, but my stamina is low. I don't know why. Sometimes I think it was because I was raised with smokers. You know, all that smoke in the car with the windows rolled up, all that smoke in the house. Too bad for my lungs, but hey, here I am building my stamina. What's to complain about.

On this hike we stopped for me to catch my breath and wipe away the sweat. I don't have all the gear; you need gear that isn't made of cotton. You need for the sweat to dry quickly, and cotton holds the wet against your skin. Very dangerous. I don't have a good pack, nor do I have a great coat. The one I'm wearing in the picture isn't bad (from the thrift store) but it is a little big and there is no lining. I just wear wool beneath if I need to be warmer.

We hiked along the ridge through the fog and I used my magic to bust the clouds, but it didn't work well, although once the clouds parted a bit. It was pretty, a glacier in the distance. I really know what Eckhart Tolle means when he talks about being in the now, because it is hiking and kayaking where I've experienced the brightness of detail, so keen the leaves and grass and water. All because I'm completely present. A state I'd like to be in more often.

Okay then, the next trip is to Lummi flats for a bicycle ride. This is after David returns from the Arctic, as he is back there now, doing his last 10 day cruise of this season.

Happy travels,

Traveling Nan