SMELLING THE MOUNTIAN AIR

Last Friday BB comes home from work with his three children in tow. They threw their sleeping bags and backpacks into a big heap onto the floor. Their dad had a wild plan. “We’re going backpacking.” Apparently BB had a master plan, a plan that I had nothing to do with. You see when BB makes plans to do something major like taking an over night back packing trip with kids/dogs he doesn’t zero in on the fine tuning details of such a trip. I usually come into play with organizing such a family event. Food, shelter, warmth, you know the basic survival necessities. Most men are just out for the hunt and don’t think of “what could go wrong.”

FACTS:

• WHERE A picturesque sub alpine lakelet called LAKE ANNETTE which is tucked away in the Mt Baker/Snoqulmie Wildreness
• HIKING DISTANCE 7.5 miles r/t
• SHELTER tents 2 of them
• NOURISHMENTS dehydrated foods

LAKE ANNETTE

This all sounded fine and dandy but then BB went on to say we would also use are bikes to ride up to the trail head. We would have to ride through an unused train tunnel in the dark. Many red flags are going off in my head. “What about Sami.” she is only 6 years old, how will she keep up with us, and what about the dogs? ” Wondering if they could handle a trip of this magnitude. How will we walk the dogs on leash while riding the bike through a dark tunnel?”

MORE FACTS:

• SNOQUALMIE TRAIN TUNNEL we would drive up to the John Wyane Park /Snoqulmie Pass
• DISTANCE The tunnel is 2.3 miles one way-in the dark
• ENVIRONMENT Cold, dark, and wet

  

SO BB has planned for us to take three kids, 2 big rotties, 5 bikes on a back packing trip -an adventure we had never conquered before. No trailer, no cabin, no generator, just what we carried on our backs and the elements. We drive up to the Snoqualmie Train Tunnel, ride our bikes and try to control the dogs through 2.3 miles of a tunnel in the dark, wet, cold, THEN ride another 3 miles on the John Wayne trail to the trail head of Lake Annette, THEN ditch the bikes and lock them up, THEN ascent up the trail for 3.2 miles to the lake with kids,dogs trudging onward to our goal!

Making memories, pushing ourselves out of comfort zones. I was up for the challenge. I helped out with the details. Making sure all the bikes had air and in good working conditions, made sure we all had sleeping bags, head lamps for the tunnel, personal cooking utensils, tents-with all the parts, lighter, dehydrated food, dog food, tarp, cell phones fully charged, water. Oh, and marshmellows -can’t leave home without them.

All went well, drive up to the tunnel without any mishaps. This tunnel was built between 1908-1911 and was used by the Milwaukee Railroad up until 1980. We were lucky on the first phase of our excursion, not very many people in the tunnel-at least not near us. When I first entered the tunnel it was very unnerving at first, very dark I wobbled from wall to wall of the tunnel trying to catch my bearings. The dogs were just as confused. Once my eyes adjusted and I could see the key hole of light at the end of the tunnel. I was able to peddle with confidence with the dogs running along side of me. I felt I was the mean witch in the Wizard of Oz peddling faster and faster into the portal of hell. Gradually the light became brighter and I ride on with exhilaration peddling with the dogs running along side of me at full capacity. WHAT A TRIP!!!

After my fantastic ride, I waited for the others to come through the tunnel. It started to pour down rain–go figure! We finally all grouped together and had to make a decision if we wanted to call it quits or continue with the next leg of our journey. We all choice to continue on because nobody wanted to ride back through the tunnel again. So we peddle down the John Wayne Trail.—ouch I wasn’t used to bike riding. Can’t remember the last time I rode my back–maybe two years ago–ouchie right between my legs. I peddled very slow with my doggie and sami huffing and puffing right behind me. The rain continued to pour, I don’t mind the rain, in fact I love the rain, but I only brought one change of clothes. Didn’t factor in getting too dirty. “Oh why didn’t I buy that $24 poncho at Big 5!!!! The boys were waiting for us at the trailhead–still pouring down rain. We ditched our bikes as planned and locked them up. Now onward to our goal to see Lake Annette.

We started to hike up the trail, I asked BB if he had googled the lake to find out what we were infor–He hadn’t done any homework just knew it was about 3 miles up. Up meaning switchback after switch back after switch back. Poor little Sami had a hard time handling her backpack. BB had to take over and carry his pack and also her pack. It was funny when a hiker that was coming down asked BB if he was in training. *smiles* no he is just being a good daddy. My pack was extremely heavy–taking a peak inside I realized that the boys put glass-GLASS bottles of Lipton ice tea into my pack. I don’t even drink that sugar crap. I have my water bottle with a filtration system. Ugggg!!!

When I would see hikers coming down the trail as I’m going up, I would ask them “how much further to the lake.” “Oh, only about another 20 minutes.” Lairs!! I than asked two cute hippie chicks “Honestly, how far to the lake.” “Oh about another hour. and you will have some serious switch backs with heavy avalanche areas.” These chicks spoke the truth and I will always love hippie chicks now *smirking.”

We all made it to our destination, albeit wet and cold, be we made it!~!!! We set up camp immediately, quickly trying to find firewood as in dry firewood which was hard to find. Make a fire and keep it lit-I’m always the fire person cuz I like to keep warm and have to throw something into it in honor of my father who passed away. I threw a beautiful rock into the fire and prayed for safety and warmth. The boys set up the tents and BB strung up the tarp. All was well for awhile.

It stopped raining long enough for us to get warm and heat up water for our dehydrated foods. We were able to roast marshmellows. I make the perfect campfire marshmellows, just slightly melted with no flame to it just the heat of the fire, whereas Sami sticks her entire stick into the fire and burns the hell out of it and the marshmellows. *insert smile here* Then the rain started and the wind howled. Nasty,NASTY weather. We went to bed at 7pm to get cozy in our sleeping bags. It rained buckets all night long. I had both dogs on each side of me -you gotta love rotties. Nobody slept a wink, I loved listening to the rain beat down on our tent–exciting and a bit scary.

It really was a camping trip from hell but now a week later I find myself thinking about our adventure and what we accomplished.

but it is nice sleeping in my own bed.

*pictures are from google image, I didn’t want to destroy my camera.