Backcountry Fishing

Today I was wanting to post a blog...an update or something like that, but I realized I haven't really pulled out my camera lately.  Sometimes I don't get the desire to take pictures for a while, instead I feel more like looking back at other pictures and reflecting on them.

So, I went looking through my photos and remembered I trip I took in early September with three lovely women from camp.  While the explore students were in the backcountry on the Montana/Idaho State line trail, we decided to spend the weekend out in the same area. 

The trip was to be a hike back to some lakes where we could relax.  Trina, being hardcore (she really is), carried her fishing pole and a two-person raft in along with all of her other gear.  One afternoon I went out with fishing on the lake.  I rowed around while she fished.  It was a beautiful and sunny day on a quiet lake up in the mountains.

My beautiful friend Trina

This is a really fun shot of the fish coming out of the water!

The colors and patterns on the fish were so vibrant and beautiful

Gutted fish waiting to be eaten...

Trina getting the grasshoppers out of the bag

The fish steaming as they cook in the pan

I nearly forgot, it was on this trip that I discovered I have a knack for catching grasshoppers to use for live bait.  I chuckle as I ponder these pictures, you would maybe suppose that with all the fishing pictures I have put up that I would love fish.  But, growing up I hated...I mean despised the days we would eat fish.  Now I have come to think it is all right, but the idea of eating fish and liking it is still relatively new!

A Visit to the land of Glaciers :Two

After spending the night in the front country campground at Kintla Lake.  I woke early to find Gabe had already slipped out of the tent.  I grabbed a snack and headed out to the lake with my camera.  The world was quite still and the sun was still behind the mountains.  Its pinkish light lit the mirrored lake, Gabe was in the canoe fishing some distance from shore.  He spotted me and came and picked me up.  Till the sun rose above the mountains Gabe fished and I drank up the beautiful stillness.  Following that we ate breakfast and headed out in the canoes with Josh across the lake.  We had six miles to paddle to find the backcountry campsite.  In the early afternoon the wind picked up and urged us on towards our goal.  Gabe and Josh fished the entire way.  We ran into another guy in a canoe heading towards the front country, he let us know that the night before they had to chase a black bear from the campground with pots and pans.  We continued and finally came upon the campsite area.  We set up camp and soon Becky, who hiked in that day, met us.  In the afternoon, Josh, Becky, and I, hiked further back to find "glaciers".  On the way we discovered an amazing waterfall, and stopped and pondered flowers in the midst of a burn area.  We made it all the way to upper Kintla and paused on the shore for a break.  As we sat, Becky noticed a black bear meandering on the shore across the lake.  We watched till he disappeared, then we headed back to camp for dinner.  Thanks to Josh for the photos of Gabe and I!

 

Gabe fishing in the early morning light

The day before at Avalanche Creek

Heading to the backcountry

This little girl kept stopping to smell the flowers

The day before overlooking Lost Lake

The kitchen and bear bag area in the backcountry site

The waterfall

Becky and I at Upper Kintla Lake

Our view of the glaciers

The trail

Our cozy home

A Visit to the land of Glaciers :One

Following a very busy summer, we were given a week's reprieve from our work.  During that week Gabe and I headed out with two other friends to Glacier National Park for a few days.  On the first day, we made several stops at fly shops, so that Josh and Gabe would be prepared for fishing.  Then we stopped at the Ranger Station to pick up back country permits.  From there, we took the shuttle up Going-to-the-Sun Road.  I was in utter amazement...there were sharp peaks...and huge expanses.  We got off at Logan's Pass and hiked to the overlook of Lost Lake.  The short hike is on a boardwalk through alpine meadows full of small blooming flower.  Snow and ice water dotted the path as we hiked, and hoary marmots scurried around and sunbathed.

From Logan's Pass, we headed back down to the truck with the canoe trailer on it.  Oh, by the way, did I mention this was going to be a back country canoe trip?  We took the looooonnngg drive up to Kintla lake...most of the drive being on dirt roads in bad need of grading.  At sunset we reached the front country campground.  When we arrived, the sun was casting pink and purple tones on the hills and the fish were jumping.  Before setting anything up (or even talking with the campground host), we unloaded the canoes and paddled out onto the lake.

Gabe at Avalanche Creek

Avalanche Creek

Huge beetle on the boardwalk

Riding on the shuttle, you can see the road we drove up cutting down the hill of the right

Logan's Pass

Small marmot trying to steal food

Gabe and I at the overlook of Lost Lake

Josh and Gabe talking

The sunset over Kintla Lake front country campground

Climbing the South Sister

A few weeks ago, Gabe, Kay (a friend from Temple Baptist), and I decided we wanted an adventure.  So, we headed south from Portland towards the Three Sisters.  The Three Sisters are three volcanic peaks that are part of the Cascade Range in Oregon.  These sisters are often called Faith, Hope, and Charity and are the third, fourth, and fifth highest peaks in Oregon.  We planned to climb the South sister, the third highest peak in Oregon.
We began our adventure off on Friday night and spent the night at a campground some six or so miles from the summit.  The next morning we had a good breakfast and headed off.  The hike was fun...there was about 4,900 feet of elevation gain over some 5 miles.  We stopped for lunch near Lewis Glacier (at about 8,750 feet), where we could view the false summit above us.  Throughout the day I was pretty positive, but with my fear of heights and my hip acting up, I decided to stay where I was while Gabe and Kay finished the climb.  The summit of South Sister is 10,358 feet, which Gabe and Kay were able to finish.

This is Kay.

Here is a view of the trail, the peak isn't visible but it is off toward the left.

Lunchtime near Lewis Glacier, about 8,750 feet.

Broken top is the mountain on the left and Mount Bachelor is the one of the right.

If you look, you can see Gabe bounding down the mountain.

Looking towards the false summit from our lunch stopping point.

Backpacking along Olympic National Forest Coastline

Following Graduation in April, Gabe and I headed to the Portland area. After a few days, we left with his sister Tori to go on a backpacking trip along the Olympic National Forest Coastline. The hike itself was not extremely rigorous, just twenty or so miles in five days. Most of the mileage was along the beach. We had to learn to read tide charts, in order to make the low tide crossings along the trail. Our backpack trip was relaxing aside from a few pesky animals that woke us in the middle of the night. One of the most memorable nights was the last one. We set up camp on a two hundred foot bluff in the rainforest overlooking the ocean. That night a huge storm blew in and all night long I was certain that our little blue tarp would blow away from all the wind and torrential downpour. There is something awing about standing in a rainforest with everything decaying...and yet there is tons of life teeming!