Mount Townsend

Gazing at the snow-crowned Olympics from by desk at work a few weeks ago, I knew that the time for heading into the high country was over. But things can change. When the clouds broke on Tuesday, it was not just snow-free mountains that appeared, it was a glint of hope. And when Steve Pool said the weather Wednesday would be, shall we say, unseasonable for Novemeber, the use of a vacation day was assured. Said I, "Mt. Townsend, here I come!!!!!"

Though I knew the summit was snow free, I didn't know, so I took along a small assortment of gear to make sure I could tackle and snowy/icy patches I encountered. It wasn't required though. The trail was in beautiful condition, as bare and dry as it might be in late August. After having resigned myself to the fact that my next time in the wilderness would require snowsnoes, it was a magnificient treat...Novemeber and still able to get "up there" with just a pair of boots.

The views were as astounding as always. The high clouds and light haze failed to obscure the views of the volcanos from St. Helens to Baker, The San Juans, Victoria B.C., and the skyscrapers of Seattle. The views westward towards the Dungeness valley and the inner Olympics beyond were equally stunning. Yet, these expansive views were also tinged with a note of sadness. What is a land filled with lush green meadows filled with wildflowers during summer is now brown, brown, brown. The mountains have tasted snow, and the flora have entered into their winter hibernation. It is a fascinating constrast to spring. In spring, things are equally brown, yet the world teems with life...buds are filled, things are growing, and even a few early bloomers, tired of waiting, have burst out. But now, as the wild prepares itself to spend the coming months cocooned in snow, those signs of life, those rays of hope, are absent. The colors are the same between Spring and Fall, but the interpretation is different.

The low sun angles made for some great lighting for photos, but thanks to the 1MB limit, I don't get the share the good ones. My apologies.