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Table Mountain,
Columbia River Gorge |
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In preparation for my PCT hike coming up and to take a break from studying for finals, I was anxious to get in a few miles while the weather held out. I grabbed a pack full of gear including my new Gossamer Gear Whisper Uberlight G6 and started out a little later than expected, but not especially. After driving highway fourteen for it's scenery, I parked at Bonneville Trailhead. The miles rolled by easily as I came upon Gillette Lake. It is a place where Amber and I had visited not too long ago. A memorable time then. A memorable time now. The water was a spectacular bright teal in color, caused by minerals in the rock from the snow melt from high above, I imagined.
The wildlife seemed to be coming out of hibernation in droves. Deer seemed to be around every blind corner and it was all I could do to keep from stepping on caterpillars or newts. The miles flowed by without effort.
I drank and treated water at the last spring I would see for a while, about a half of a mile from the Table Mountain spur trial. Over some of the more serious blow down I have seen, at least on this trail, I reached the junction to Table Mountain and started the climb. The climb was snow-free and I relished in the fine, fine weather.
I topped out and decided to lounge at an old site Bob and I stayed at while watching the Perseids Meteor Shower. The views were fantastic today as I wallowed in the early arrival time..
Luck was on my side as our old site was the only snow-free place at the top of the mountain. In some spots I would post hole to my waist. After some water and eats, I laid out my ground cloth and stripped down to soak up the sun.
I had to sit up and gaze at all the mountains, Adams, Hood, Helens, Rainer, they were all here, just for me. I laid back down and wondered what this summer during the PCT would hold for me, if anything. In staring at the mountains, it triggers the feeling of wonder for the unknown. The PCT is unknown to me and no matter how much I read about it or how much I study, it is still unknown to me.
I could not believe the feeling of peace that washed over me, bare bodied in the first warm sun of the season. The clouds overhead were in 2 layers with a lower layer just skimming no more than 100 feet overhead. Mentally, I was done with winter hiking and the weight and hassle involved therein. I enjoyed grabbing the essentials and simply heading somewhere, anywhere, hiking in without worry and preparation. Of course, by the end of the hot summer, I will then be ready for some cool winter hiking.
If I only brought my tarp, I could have stayed up here for a week. The calm feeling I had is very hard to explain in words. I basically forgot all the troubles I had this week at work, at home, with the family, etc., as only hiking to such a place would bestow. It was only then that I remembered my arrangement to meet Bob at Walking Man Pub in Stevenson by 3 o-clock. Since it was already after noon, I dressed, packed everything up, and high-tailed it back at an accelerated pace passing many hiker on the way down. I felt blessed to have the summit all to myself for so long.
I made it back with plenty of time to change into some clean clothes. After the Pub with Bob, a movie with Jordan. I love days like this when everything fits into place and you can live a weeks worth of fulfillment within one day. A full day indeed.
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