I Climbed My Mountain

I started the day listening to the weather report.  They explained that starting today, we can expect Seattle drizzle all week long.  Gray leaking skies.  This is not good news in Eastern Washington.  We definitely look forward to our sunny sky's.  So imagine, my surprise when I found puffy white clouds embracing light blue sky's.   My spirits immediately lifted and I made quick plans for some outside time. 
          
Time for adventure,
                                                    time is a wastin
                                                                                          soon it will be winter.    : (

I recently bought my new years Discover Pass for Washington State Parks and day use areas.  I had seen a trail head close to where I am living and needed the pass to park in the parking area.  So now seemed the perfect opportunity to check out the trail.


The trail begins in a heavily forested area along a bluff I am hoping for some views.

We shall see....

People who know me or  have been following the blog know that I have been dealing with hip problems since I broke my leg last fall.   My leg is doing great but the hip continues to bother me more and more.  Anything that involves climbing steps or elevation gain are particularly difficult for me and aggravate the pain in my hip.

So onto the trail I went...

 I quickly discovered that the trail made a sharp turn...

                                                     

up the mountainside.

Now why didn't I simply turn around and find another hike.  I begin to understand, the mountaineers answer to the question, Why do you climb the mountain?  Because it is there.  Once I am on the trail, hearing the sounds and smelling the smells of the forest, I feel compelled to continue.  Reason is merely a futile exercise that occupies my mind.

I push ahead.  Because it is there.

How many tomorrows do we each have.  We don't know....

I know my body yells at me more.  Don't do that again!!! What were you thinking??? Are you sure you can do that?  Because it is there.  Because I am here....  Because I may never be able to climb this mountain again.

 Rocks and logs form steps,
                
                    taking me up and up and up.












Rocks along the way provide great stopping points to rest my weary bones along the way.








I try to find vistas to check the elevation and views.  But the views are blocked by the dense forest.

The rock plates beneath my feet becomes the path that I scramble over as I move to higher ground.

 

The plentiful fields of spring flowers are replaced in the fall with the single blooms demonstrating the strength of the late blooms which have survived against all odds.
 
I am seeing the forest change day by day.  While we haven't had a killing frost in our area yet, the foliage is beginning to change do to the change in hours of light.  The vivid greens are beginning to change to light golds.

                   Soon there will be an array of yellows, golds, oranges and reds.

The summer heat has been replaced with cooler weather of fall and intermittent fall rains.

  In the forest mushrooms
             are returning to the forest floor.

 All the while I climb higher and higher.

Ahead I see a path barrier that appears to block any 4 wheeled vehicles. 

Still no vistas. 

 I need my rewards.

 Off in the distance are several strings of power lines.  I know what that means.  Massive tree clearing under the power lines....

Maybe there IS a vista is in my future.  

  Why is it that you get to a mountain top there is always more ahead?

I am never sure of how far I will go... but when I see the trail going farther I know I will be going higher still.







Finally some views...

 
I have gone as far up as I will go.... but always there is still farther I could go if my body was willing.  I don't make any promises that I will return. 


The clouds are rolling in as promised.  I'm hoping to make it down the mountain before it rains.

Normally, I hate the power lines scaring the landscape.  But today I am grateful for their presence as it has opened up the mountain so that I can see it all through the trees.

Gratefully, the trip down is swift as the strain from stepping up is diminished.
I pass by all the little gifts of nature and enjoy them again.

The light green flat spots are a golf course on the level that I began my hike today... Oh its been a good day... a long steep hike.  I climbed my mountain.

 

I am happy to see my truck waiting for me.

I never regret the adventure taken.