herestahuya

The corruption within (or how I learned to love the fall of the American empire)

It’s been almost two years since we travelled to Spain with a couple of close relatives and their friends. We had a great time in Spain and I wrote then about the beauty of Spain, and the challenges we faced under who is now thankfully the (past) president. It seems so long ago, looking backContinue reading “The corruption within (or how I learned to love the fall of the American empire)”

The Monkey of McMicken

This recounting of the fable of the monkey of McMicken Island was recently told to me by Scooter McMicken, a resident of Herron Island and the great-great-great-great grandson of Jedidiah McMicken, who was the first to claim McMicken Island back in the 1800s. Rumored to be a summer getaway for Bigfoot family reunions, Jedidiah foundContinue reading “The Monkey of McMicken”

Rainier Chautauqua

Last steps

Rainier Chautauqua

Comet Falls Wake up. By the light of the tent I can tell it’s overcast. Hopefully it’s only the morning mist. Roll out and relieve myself. Turn my head back and try to read the sky. High overcast, no rain…for now. We’ll stay on the forest trails today. Glaciers are misery in a storm. OnContinue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”

Rainier Chautauqua

Ohanapecosh and a trek to Indian Henry’s Campground Ohanapecosh. Crying babies, barking dogs and overzealous wood splitters punctuate the cool morning air. I wake up with sunburned warmth in the chill. A stark change from the hot meadow at Indian Henry’s filled with the constant drone and manic buzzing of hornets, bumblebees, flies, wasps andContinue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”

Rainier Chautauqua

Rainier as Touchstone Like so many times in the past, I’ve come to Rainier for a reawakening of the senses, to feel the stark exertion of a 45 pound pack on a steep switchback, to eat crushed gorp with physical hunger born out of exertion, to drink water clear and cold on a hot throatContinue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”

Rainier Chautauqua

Glacier hiking Crawling out to the tent in the early morning is like leaving a womb. The warmth immediately wears off, so quickening steps are used to awaken the body’s heater. Cuts on the hands throb with a sharp intensity. Turning on the stove with cold hands brings the consciousness of sensation – pain –Continue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”

Rainier Chautauqua

One step at a time… I finish lacing up my boots, running the red cord up and around the eyes, and with a flourish of the bow, finish. Today we are hiking up to Glacier Basin and onward to Camp Schurman. It is one of my favorite hikes because it taught me a life-long lesson.Continue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”

Rainier Chautauqua

The beauty of Rainier The beauty of Rainier. It hit me one beautiful summer day as I was lacing my boots in preparation for a climb. The utter magnificence of Rainier Park compressed itself into one instant of pure comprehension and held me spellbound, hands holding the laces. My soul felt washed and clean ofContinue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”

Rainier Chautauqua

A Novice Climbs the Mountain (July, 1989) We arrived yesterday at Rainier in pouring rain. Going to bed the night before settled down for sleep as the thunder slammed the windowpanes in Seattle. Awoke at 5:00 to hear the rain coming down hard and sullen. Not really a summer storm at all…it was much moreContinue reading “Rainier Chautauqua”