Sunday, September 7, 2008

Snow Lake


Two weekends ago I FINALLY went on a backpacking trip! I really enjoy backpacking and was looking forward to getting back into it once I moved to Washington..........2 years later........and my first trip has happened. I went with a fellow teacher/friend.......Tracey.





We went to Snow Lake.......it is up in the Alpine Wilderness Area. It was only a 3 1/2 mile hike in........BUT with an 1800 ft elevation gain. It would be putting it mildly that I was a bit slow. Poor Tracey was a trooper as she is Miss Mountaineers and I am sure felt like she was backpacking with her 3 year old son.......but she kept a smile on her face and talked about where we should go next summer........thank you Tracey!!




This is the view from our camp site








Saturday morning we got up had a little breakfast and headed out for some more hiking and exploring. We hiked another 3 miles to Gem Lake. This is a picture of Gem Lake........I need to work on my photography skills as none of my pictures look as amazing as it did in person.




a view from the trail......love the Alpine Area....




What I love about backpacking is it's simplicity. Carrying everything you need on your back......cooking all meals out of 1 pot.......wearing the same clothes for 3 days straight.......sleeping in the fresh air......... no frills or fluff just the very basics. It is nice to be reminded of how very little we really need when it comes right down to it. I really needed this trip.....my soul really needed this trip and it came at the perfect time. Fall is around the corner and I have a backpacking trip planned for the end of September......from what I hear it is Fall that is the perfect time to camp and backpack. I am looking forward to my next trip!

3 comments:

azlori said...

Wow..don't know that I could do that! 3 days same clothes and no shower? I'd at least need clean socks! So is that how you are surviving the strike? Pretending your backpacking in the beautiful wilderness? How cold will it be in the end of September? I'm sure it would be too cold for me!

Carol Dunton said...

Check you out, girl!! That's a lot of gear your lugging there...I am very impressed that you hiked that hike and carried all of that as well... something tells me that by the end of my trip, I'd be sleeping on a rock and eating berries off of a bush by the end of 3 days after having ditched my stuff along the way!! Gem Lake is a gem! So crystal clean...and what a sight to wake up to in the morning from your campsite! Wow! I'm glad you posted these beauties!
: )

Kiz said...

No fair!! That looks beautiful. Reminds me of Montana. It looks like you had a great time - your pictures are beautiful.