Sunday, August 31, 2008

Obstructed view

There has been this ongoing theme this week of rain, mist and fog in the mornings, followed by beautiful afternoons. It works well for most people. Not so much for me. But September is nearly here and I've come to the troubling realization that I've spent precious little time in the mountains this summer. My high ambitions are slipping away with the approaching snow. I hoped to get up early and try to reach Cairn Peak today, but after my alarm went off at 6:45 a.m., I looked out the window to a low bank of fog obscuring even the tops of buildings downtown. So I went back to bed. Hiking for the sake of hiking is all well and good, but not at 6:45 a.m.

I woke up again at 9. It was still foggy. I no longer had enough time to push for Cairn. But I figured I might as well make the most of what was supposed to be a dry day, and head up Mount Jumbo. No new territory there. But I like Mount Jumbo. I can walk out my front door and be on the trail in less than five minutes. Climbing 3,500 feet in 2.5 miles is a brutally efficient workout. Plus, it's always scenic ... even in the fog:

Sure sign of fall: When the devil's club leaves begin to wither.

At the peak. I purposely made myself look like a marmot.

Just below the peak, the big cloud finally moved out of the way.

Come September, I'm always on the lookout for those first hints of termination dust. I've seen dustings of new snow already on 5,000-foot peaks, but it's a little early at 3,500 feet.

Cruise ship in the clouds.

And all along in the city, the sun was shining.

Maybe Cairn Peak tomorrow. There's always tomorrow.

8 comments:

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  2. A fine looking marmot at that.

    Your pics continue to amaze me Jill. I too am using the Olympus (Stylus 850SW)and absolutely love it. Perfect for hiking and biking.

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  3. *sigh* And here's the picture I woke up to this morning outside my bedroom window: http://evilmoose.smugmug.com/photos/362433592_brgGt-M.jpg

    I'd been hoping for a few more weekends of summer at least.

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  4. My fiance might have been on that very cruise ship! How dare she goto Alaska without me. :(

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  5. i wonder if my boss was on that cruise ship?

    great pics, jill!

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  6. Love your hiking stories. thanks.

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  7. Jill, thank you for showing me what it is like on top of all those mountains I saw but was not able to climb last year on an Alaska cruise. Your pics and stories have given me a lot of vicarious climbing and cycling miles. Jared

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  8. It's posts like these that remind me: I love your blog.

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