Granite Mountain- 10.16.11

Granite Mtn, Snoqualmie Pass
Hike #4, 8.6 miles, 3,600 ft Elevation gain

 
Enter trail head 11:30 am.  Exit 6:30 pm
This is a hike that should have only taken me 3-4 hours.  And most times I am blazing up or down in little regard to those around me.  But what today taught me was to look up, make eye contact with your fellow travelers and give a heartfelt greeting.
Sometimes we don't realize when things are about to change.  It just happens without warning.  Today I embarked on an amazing journey up a mtn and thought I was prepared for what was ahead of me.  I loaded my pack, made sure I had plenty of food, warm clothes and survival supplies in typical hiker fashion.  You never know what to expect out there.  But what I did not expect was to find a great friend and learn a little about my own strength.

 Daryl was perched on a boulder as I passed him about a mile and a half up the trail.  As I approached him he asks "Where is your dog".  In reply I say "I have no dog".  He tells me..."you look like someone who would have a dog".  Ummmmm.  ok.
I say thanks and keep on going.
I am in the zone...I am all alone on this mountain.
10 min later Darryl has caught up to me, treking poles in tow and looking like a true mtn man.  He asks me if I would like to hear a story?  But only if I share a story with him.
Ok...I take the bait.  Darryl seems like a gentle soul who may have some interesting insights.



He begins to tell me an amazing story about his daughter who is researching animals in Botswana.
In exchange I share with him how I have found myself on this mtn and the amazing journey/self discovery that is evolving in front of me.  We begin treking the rest of the way up the mtn sharing the stories and challenges that makes life so amazing and gloomy at times.

Daryl and I in a Hucklberry field

 Before I know it we are scrambling over boulders and taking photos of each other like long lost friends.  I found Daryl's mountaineering stories highly inspirational...and gave me a new found appreciation for what we are capable of (at any age) with a little passion.

Old Fire lookout

Summit View

Having someone to share in the experience of cresting the summit at Granite mtn was truly a gift.  I know what its like to take in the awe of these experiences by myself and being overwhlemed with a sense of self accomplishment.  But to look over and see my new friends smiling face made it even more beautiful.  We took in the view and had a bite to eat before making our way down.

Pratt Lake behind the summit

At this point its about 4:30, and we have crested at almost 6000 ft.  We made our way up 3800 ft in 4 miles and now was the sweet point of our downward return.  As we made our desent the clouds have begun to circle around us and the sun is strong in the west.
Its like a dream.
My thighs were burning from the ascent and now they have grown cold and weak from the altitude and fatigue.

Fall Foliage scattered the landscape

My stash of hucks

The huckleberries are in full bloom, ripe and sweet.  But heavy trail nibblers have made them so picked over you have to head well off the path to find the large sweet berries.  I manage to gather a handfull as a sweet trail treat.

Last fleeting moments of sunlight

About half way down I realize that our conversation has become very thoughtful and inspiring.  Touching on the things that are important all while taking in the beauty of the setting sun against the mtns.  I realized then that my legs had reached beyond fatigue and if I stopped moving they began to shake.
This is all part of the conditioning, Darryl tells me, its the threshold that a mountaineer needs to cross over to grow stronger.
As we part ways at the lower basin to the trailhead parking lot I think to myself....
Now whats next?