Since Then

Since Henry's accident last month, I haven't quite been able to get my feet under me.  I've felt off-balance and ungrounded.  Scattered and flat.  I hoped that a trip to see both kids in MT would help me find my way back.

And it was good to see them.  Good to be in their presence.

But that didn't do it.  I came home today feeling no different. I'll have to find my way back on my own.

Norm - He Tells The Truth. But Meteorologists? Liars!

I wanted to hike Railroad Grade this weekend but kept going back and forth - should I stay or should I go now?  Weather forecast looked perfect and the trip reports were good, but I had just one question.  Was the bridge down over the river?

Each year the Forest Service puts down a bridge, which is essentially a horizontal aluminum ladder, over Rocky Creek (which is a river, if you ask me).  I have hiked this trail probably 10 times in the past 14 years and the bridge/ladder has always been down by mid-July.  But the trip reports were misleading.  Everyone acting like it was no big deal to cross the river, yet no mention of the bridge/ladder.  I called the Forest Service and the young woman I talked to didn't sound too sure of herself and ultimately said: "Oh yeah, there's no bridge this year."  This is the main climber path for a Baker ascent with 100s of people hiking that trail every single day - so I just didn't believe her.

The most recent trip report author was from a guy named Norm - so I messaged my new friend and asked about the bridge/ladder situation.  He replied it was a low snowpack year, no need for a bridge, and they just walked across.

Huh.  I wasn't sure if I believed Norm.  So I packed some sandals in my backpack and headed out, prepared to wade through up to my knees.

First up - So. Many. Dense-Flowered Spirea (or Spiraea? depends who you ask).  Full bloom, everywhere.

Then I got to Rocky Creek.  No bridge/ladder.  And - no water.  What the actual hell?

Okay - I lied.  There was water.  This much.  I couldn't believe it.  I guess I should have known to trust someone with a name like Norm.  He did not lie.

It was a blah day.  Grey skies, not a lot of light.  So I found joy in the flowers and the glowing green of the fir tree's newest needles.

Just when I thought we were past lupine season.

These yellow flowers were beautiful - Arnica Latifolia, aka Broadleaf Arnica or Mountain Arnica.

And these flowers!  Best name of the day - Luetkea, aka Partridge Foot.

I loved the curvy Partridge Foot.  Feet.

Another new one for me - Bistorta, aka Snakeroot or Snakewood.

But the main attraction... Mt Baker!  Oh wait.  She was hiding right behind all those clouds.  The forecast was perfect - not mostly cloudy, not partly cloudy - 100% sun!  When I saw this, without thinking about it, in my head I heard: "Liar!" With the exact voice of Valerie, Miracle Max's wife in The Princess Bride, when Max suggests Westley is only "mostly dead" because she suspects he is actually just bluffing so he can get out of doing a miracle.  Those meteorologists - Liars!

It was still a good hike.  I'm still glad I went.  Dirt under my feet is always a good day.

Flowers, Pika, Baker, & Dirt Under My Feet

A majority of the US is under heat warnings with 100+ temperatures day after day.  Meanwhile, in the PNW, we're a cool 66 degrees and clouds.  I am NOT complaining.  We will take all the cool temps and rain we can get.

There's a promise of sunshine in the near future, but for today, I made due with low hanging clouds on my Chain Lakes hike.

The flowers were popping!

48 degrees when I started out.

I got to hike next to Sandy's lakes.

Lupine.

Spirea.

Daisies.

And.. a pika!

His look of shock and dismay that I would have the nerve to walk near his rocky talus slope.

Western Mountain Ash.

Phlox.

My favorite Pasque Flower which I thought I was too early for, but there it was!

And the top. Finally. This hike is down down down, then up up up, and just when you think it's never gonna end, the top!  Then you get to go down down down only to go up up up.  It's that kind of hike.

At the top, I was patient. Unlike my normal state.  I waited.  I sent up tiny little wishes in the sky that the clouds would blow just the right direction so that I could glimpse Baker. And it worked.  For about 3 minutes!  I took these photos, and the clouds rolled back in.  Whew! My patience paid off.

Clouds rolling back in.

The Chain Lakes are made up of Bagley Lakes, Icicle Lake, Hayes Lake, and the twin Mazama Lakes.

It looks like blue sky.  But this view should have been taken up by Baker, tall and proud.  I know she's back there.  But she was hiding today.

Flowers and a pika, a glimpse of Baker, and dirt under my feet.  All good things.