Over the river and through the woods...

A few weekends ago  Gabe and I went on a short trip to Washington to visit his grandma and family.  We happened to arrive just in time to see the tulips in the Skagit Valley in full bloom.  We spent Saturday wandering through the fields and then went up Mount Erie to look down upon the valley.  It was a beautiful sight!  I didn't bring my camera with, so you can thank Gabe's father and sister, Dave and Tori for the photos.

Row after row of blooming tulips!

 

Dave and Leanne

Gabe and his parents

Cute little kid in the tulip fields

Kites being flown near the tulip fields

Gabe and I overlooking the Skagit Valley from Mount Erie

Gabe and his great aunt Esther

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

Day 4 of Backpacking

Today we climbed down the side of a mountain. For the first time in a long time I have to admit that I have a fear of heights in certain contexts. I stood at the top of the mountain looking down the slope that our leader told us was the path. The slope was a steep one that dropped some 600 feet or so and was covered only in bear grass. I decided in my head that it might be safer if I just stayed on the top of the mountain and did not come down...these people must be crazy for wanting to climb down this with a thirty-some pound pack on my back. Finally one of the members of my team realized my fear and grabbed my hand and began directing me down the side of the mountain. I chuckled as I thought how I had to look like a fearful child being led quickly through a haunted house. Upon reaching the bottom, I sighed with relief and jumped into a freezing cold lake.

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