peaksandpeanutbutter: Weekend Warrior: Ice Caves and Wilderness Waters

The sky is blue and cloudless overhead and there's a faint smell of pine lofting through the air. The wind is whistling through the grass and a couple of squirrels are playing in the shrubs nearby. The rock glistens in the sunshine and the megaliths of stone towering above you create a deep feeling of acceptance and home. You look down at the ground you're walking on. It's soft and bouncy and your feet seem to sail down the trail. The quiet crunch of leaves beneath your boots is a symphony of tranquility to your ears. The rushing of a creek is getting louder as you approach its glacial waters. The descent into the valley was a struggle for your knees and you know the return trip will test your quads and lungs. But in the moment you stop by the water's edge and stare at the cascades flowing rapidly over the rocks into the deep pool twenty feet below, you know it was worth every discomfort in the world. To be standing on the precipice of nature's magnificent display of power and precision is nothing but breathtaking.

My weekend in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest and the foothills of mighty Mount Adams was incredible. In that moment, standing by that forested creek, I was content. I have rarely felt at home in any other environment more than I do when I'm deep in the woods, experience Nature's beauty all to myself.

I was visiting the small town of Trout Lake for the Friends of Mount Adams annual conference. This years theme stemmed from the 50th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The great minds on this subject flocked to this mountain town to discuss past and future actions of the Act and the ethical decisions that are made within wilderness borders. I met many wonderful people and learned a variety of new things. But as I made my way four hours from home into the foothill of the largest volcano in the Washington Cascades, I realized something that my mind had only mentioned once or twice before.

I have a unquenchable obsession with the natural areas of the world. I struggle to find words to describe the pull they have on my heart. Leaving them leaves me feeling empty and sad. The forest is my community. I feel at home deep in the forests, high on the mountains. And it's extremely difficult and physically painful to leave it. Hopefully, someday I won't have to.

Although leaving was hard and the time spent there was far too short, I had a magical experience. I visited the ice caves and hiked to a beautiful creek. I was the only person in the county campground (maybe because it was opening day). I shared a cup of coffee with the mist shrouded mountain in the early morning light. I ate homemade huckleberry ice cream and slacklined at camp. I built a wonderful fire and listened to episodes of the Dirtbag Diaries. It was perfect in so many ways and I cannot wait to have another adventure soon. Enjoy the pictures and the video!