Mt. St Helen's

The weekend of the big hike had finally arrived, and I was mostly ready for it. Truth be told, I had a bit of a meltdown a few weeks prior, convinced I was nowhere near ready or capable to do the hike. Thomas asked me if I could borrow an ice ax from someone, and it put me over the edge. Ice ax? Um, no.. Mountain still covered in snow, ice ax to glissade down, and by the way, we need some micro spikes- all words spoken that terrified the hell out of me and had me twisted up in anxiety. Those aforementioned words meant 'technical hike' to me- and that was neither something I wanted to do, or planned on doing. After a very long conversation, and oodles of patience dispensed, it was decided that we would keep the date and hope for the best. After all, he said, it's going to be so much easier to do the hike in snow than it will be in late summer heat and ash. And wouldn't you know that the summer route and the only campground actually opened 3 weeks early, just days after the meltdown?

at Monitor Ridge, halfway point- Mt Adams in background

Summer came early this year, arriving promptly on the 4th of July. We were heading to the mountain on the 5th, to camp the night before the hike. We decided to do a little prefunk for our trip and grilled up some amazing prime filets and opened a super yummy 05 Rafanelli Cab. As we drove on the small windy roads to Campers Biouvac, where we'd be camping, the mountain began to come into view. And let me tell you- it's big and covered in snow. Queue that anxiety again. It was an early night at camp, since we had a crazy early departure time planned.

Waking around 4:30, we ate, broke down camp and packed up the car, and set off on the trail at 5:50 am. The first two miles of the trail is mostly through the forest, and the light breaking through the trees was just lovely. We were the only people on the trail at that time, so it was peaceful and quiet. Once you break through the treeline, you're immediately hiking on snow. A quick stop to put on the micro-spikes and a change into a short sleeve shirt and it was back on the trail. The best thing about this hike? You can amazing view pay-off pretty soon into the hike; once we were out of the trees, Mt Hood sparkled in the early morning light. I could have been happy to sit there, not going any further and just enjoy.

The second push of the hike is alternately through some steep pitches of snow and along the boulders of Monitor Ridge. A little bit further up, and Mt. Adams came into focus. The sun was shining high, and we were so very thankful to be doing this hike with such amazing weather. The hike itself is really only 4.5 miles each way, and an elevation gain of 5600 ft. However, you're gaining nearly all of that elevation in the last 2.5 miles- the payment for that leisurely early morning stroll through the forest.

At the crater

The last section of the hike is mostly all on ash and sand. It's hard work; like walking on a beach that angled at about 90 degrees. You took one step forward and sank back a little, so it was constant work. And you can see the top, it looks so close and yet you keep going and going and going... It took us 5.5 hours to get to the top-knowing what I know now, I could probably shave an hour or so off that time, but I am a slower climber. Arriving at the top, with the wind whipping and Mt Rainier greeting us- there are few words. The photos don't do it justice; the stratification of the crater, shining hues of pink; the pockets of steam billowing from deep inside; the 360 degree views, of which now we could Rainier, Adams, Hood and Jefferson, thanks to the gorgeous day. We had lunch, chatted with other hikers and began our trek down after about 1/2 hour.

a typical chute for glissading

So, the getting down part. Since the mountain is still mostly under snow, the easiest and fastest way down is to glissade- which is basically sledding down on your behind. Enter the ice ax, which you will need to stop your slide. Thomas braved the first chute down from 8367 feet- there was NO way I was going to do this from such a steep height- I was riddled with nerves! About 1,000 down, I made my first attempt to glissade. It was super fun, pretty fast and equally terrifying. We ended up glissading about 2/3 of the way down, which saved our knees and tons of time. 


The entire hike took us about 10 hours. It was hard, and I was beat by the end, but I'm so incredibly glad I did it. To stand at the rim of an active volcano and marvel at this bit of nature, with picturesque views cocooning me during the endeavor? Well, there's really nothing like it- it was magic. 

* the entire album is located here*

mid-week getaway

Nothing like some sunshine, a great concert, and missing work mid-week to make for a great little getaway. We went down to Portland to stay at Edgefield- a place with much history of good times for us- to meet Tom's sister for a few days. Our plan was to try to secure some tickets to the Foster the People show on Wednesday- the whole reason for Karen getting rooms booked earlier this year. Pulling into the parking lot, so many emotions filled me: comfort in being back in place where we shared many fun getaways, many of with good friends and family; anxiety at wondering what it would feel like to be back here with him; and a llittle reserve for all of this. By chance, Tom's brother was in town on business so we had a nice family dinner together on the property.

Despite driving in mini monsoons all the way down, we lucked out with some fantastic warm weather. Walking the property is so inspiring- their veggie gardens have grown to an acre or so and were thriving. It was fun to chat with the gardeners and ask questions about their practices. They also have bee hives on the property now- so of course, I had to come with some local honey. We lucked out with getting tickets to the show early Wednesday morning! The crowd was definitely a good 20 years younger, on average, but the old folks braved the kids and staked out a space close to the stage. The concert was tons of fun, and all in all- it was a perfect little mid-week getaway.

brutal.

We have only 3 weekends remaining before the St Helen's hike, and that means only 3 more training hikes. So, it kind of goes without saying that these last 3 are going to be tougher than those before, as we're going longer and harder for training. This past weekend was no exception. I'd go out on a limb and call it extreme hiking, and also say that I don't need to do again anytime soon- possibly ever.

Full disclosure: I picked this hike; it was all my idea. I had heard about it from a friend, and I was expecting it to be similar to Mt. Si: about 4 miles, and roughly 4,000 ft of elevation gain. The first 2 miles of the hike was just lovely- slow grade, talus fields, and foxglove blooming everywhere. Once you traverse the slippery rocks along the falls to continue on the trail, which had me terrified of falling on the rocks,  you enter new territory. The rest of the trail, about 2 more miles and somewhere between 2-3,000 elevation gain, is brutal. There wasn't a real trail to speak of. It was pouring rain, and you're climbing at a steep grade- all of these things combined meant for a very strenuous, very stressful and very muddy hike. Once we reached about 4500 ft, we hit a snow bank. With adrenaline working in overdrive, I was able to hike up the first snow bank and then I was done. The next rock scramble was too narrow, too slippery and I just couldn't- and didn't want to- go any further.

This is the 'trail'- and me coming down.

Needless to say, there wasn't any break at the top; no time for resting and eating our lunch. It was miserable- a fact that Thomas was kind enough to point out first. So we headed back down. Carefully and dreadfully slowly. The rain continued, and we kept slipping and falling in the mud- it was that steep and treacherous.

We finally made it down to the waterfall, and somewhat safer terrain. At this point, we'd been hiking for 6 hours with little rest and no real food to keep our reserves up. We briefly ate and finished the hike down. I was done, beyond done. I think the adrenaline kept any pain away, but once we inched ourselves closer to the car, they came. My feet were aching terribly, knees throbbing, and booty hurt from one nasty mud fall.

It was the first hike where we didn't reach our goal, the summit. We figured out later that we were a mere tenth of a mile away, but there was NO way I was going any further- it seemed too dangerous. I just don't need to get to the top that badly.


So, 2 more weekend training hikes remain. I'm feeling a variety of things: strong that I was able to go as much as I did last weekend, but defeated that I was so wrecked afterwards. I have to work just as hard on conquering my internal fears as my external strength in these next few weeks.

easy.

My last shift at the winery came and went; it was a bittersweet day and I felt a little sad as I pulled away that evening. I had a handful of friends stop in for one last tasting with me, and I left with the a little gift for myself.

Tom's nephew was in town for the weekend, so we took him with us on our hike Sunday. We planned for a little easier hike, in an effort not to kill the company, and hit Little Si again. It was a little bit of a dreary day, and super muddy, but it was a good hiking day.

A stop at Snoqulamie Falls ended a quintessential PNW day- drizzle and all.

poppies at the p-patch

the pantry.

I've been taking and assisting with classes at the Pantry for a years now- when it was a one- woman show, teaching in a space when it was closed on Monday and Tuesday nights. Then they grew into two, and now have this beautiful space with a little garden lining the pathway to the entrance. The space is open and bright, with touches of urban farmhouse and shabby sheek. I just love it there, and feel fortunate to be able to work with two women who are so dedicated to building a community around food.

I was super excited to assist this last class- my first with a guest teacher. Willi Galloway was up from Portland, and her class was going to bring the garden and the kitchen together. The class was focused on the herb garden and we started with smelling and tasting a variety of herbs, while nibbling on tartines with a dill butter and smoked salmon and sipping a herbed tisane. I picked up some good tips on planting- like how it's best to plant smaller seedlings that bigger ones, as well as helpful tips on pruning herbs (which I rarely do) and fertilizing (kind of lazy about).

The class participated in making batches of herbed salts and a delicious parsley and cilantro pesto (sans cheese). The goodies were used in putting together a dinner for us to share at the end of the class.


Since the chives were blossoming in the garden, I took the opportunity to make my own batch of chive blossom vinegar together. It's a simple recipe and after a week of steeping, you just drain off the blossoms and enjoy the vinegar. I'm thinking this will be a great addition to a baby lettuce salad with strawberries...

pushing the limits Memorial Day weekend.

 Memorial day weekend was the hardest yet in the training program, with two hard hikes. Our first hike on Saturday was Lake Serene, in Index. The day was set to be beautiful, which was comforting for our first longish hike. Lake Serene is an 8 mile hike with a 2,000 foot elevation gain. There was another small side trail to Bridal Veil Falls, which we also took.

The falls consist of enormous slabs of granite. Magnificent. The hike was arduous, I can't lie. A lot of stairs to the summit, and since it was a nice day, it was pretty busy on the trail. Arriving to the lake, we trekked through a little bit of snow to lunch and sun on the large rock overlooking the still frozen lake. Mt Index loomed over the lake. I can only imagine how lovely this place is when the lake is melted.

The reward for the hard hike that evening was a
decadent burger from La Bete- a favorite neighborhood
restaurant- this was on the way to a BBQ mind you.. There
was no time for resting post hike- it was a quick turnaround
to shower, grab a bite and head to see some friends.
That was probably best though, as the adrenaline just kept
us moving forward.

The next day? Sore. Creaky. Calves felt like they might
explode. Still, some good walks kept the lactic acid moving, after all, Monday had another big hike waiting for me. There was a shopping trip to REI (who incidentally seems to be getting all of my money. no cute shoes for moi lately.). There was a walk up to my favorite farmers market. watering the p-patch, and then over to Chateau St Michelle for glasses of wine and wandering the grounds, gawking at the classic car show on the green. Tasting some mead at a local winery, and then hitting one more, because hey, the suns out and it's there!

Monday arrived, and my mind was not in the game. Mt. Si, the big mountain was the destination for the day. 4 miles up, gaining 1000 feet each mile. Roughly the same hike as St Helens is going to be, so it's a great training hike. But. My legs hurt so badly from Saturday's hike, it was raining, and I was having a hard time getting into the head space I needed to be in. It may have been a slow trek, but I got there. And I was ever so glad to see the bottom of that mountain. It was equally invigorating and exhausting to have pushed myself that hard in 3 days. The weekend ended with a delicious dinner with friends- the way they should.