Lena Lake and kept hiking up and up, the highest point
being
about 5600 ft. There were three days of backcountry travel
using
maps and compasses and dealing with rainy and cold conditions.
By the time we reached Lake of the Angels
on the fifth day, about 50%
of the
group's gear was wet so we decided to stay and camp on the
blustering
sixth day. We relaxed and did some backcountry baking (I made
fry
cornbread by warming water, adding yeast, and my friend Cedar
and I
raised the dough in by placing it next to the warmth of our
bellies.
It is amazing how warm food and a tarp plus movement can keep
even a
cold and slightly wet person warm.The next day was gorgeous and sunny which was very exciting for us because it could have been a safety concern to keep hiking deeper into the mountains without the ability to dry our clothing out. The six of us were paired in leadership teams. Each of the three groups had the opportunity to lead the group two times.
I was blessed to work with a very talented and thoughtful man named Cedar. He would often stay up late in the tent we shared with our other leader Ryan reading up on what the natural history of the Olympics and ways to treat the land more gently. Our mission was to map a course down a ridge, across a scree field (which is a slope of rocks, through a pass, and along the side of the mountain. We harnessed up and using ropes and prussik notes,safely decended with our heavy packs down the side of a steep hill.
The beauty of the Mt Stone
area of the Olympics was
breathtaking. We all had somewhat red faces at the end of our
journey, so joyous were we that the steady rainfall of the past
three
days had come to a cease. It was a particulary good day for me,
because earlier in the summer I was on a very simliar trip and
traversed a different route through the area which was much more
difficult. We saw many marmots, and that night at camp the
largest
elk I've ever seen in my life looming up in the cliffs above us
as
Ryan and I were doing the bear hang (in case you don't know, if
bear
country it is good to hang food 12 feet up and 6 feet away from
any
trees which can be quite a challenge with 50 lbs worth of food
and 6
bags)The moon was just past full and when the mist rolled in, it
took
my breath away. Rarely have I seen a night so full of beauty.
The last few days were walking along primitive trails. We ate
lots
and lots of blue huckleberries and blueberries which are so
sweet
right now. We saw bear scat and smelled the scent of bears. We
also
say a bear gracefully lumbering its way across the landscape.
I am so thankful for the beautiful earth and the beautiful wild places.
I hope that all of you take the opportunity to get into
the
Wilderness around where you live and breath in the sheer wonder
of
creation.
Many blessing to you all,
Becky
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