Montana Fishing

While I was in Three Forks, Montana over the past weekend (Aug 8 -10). On Saturday I headed to the Lewis & Clark Cave just a few miles away. Amazing geology. Then on Sunday I fished the Madison and Gallatin Rivers. After obtaining my two-day fishing license from a Three Forks motel, I drove gravel roads to a fishing point on the Madison. Thinking a beautiful small rift would be over-fished, I started casting just above the slight rapids. One other flyfisher was casting upstream, hemming me in from progressing too fast. After a half hour of no luck, three guys dropped into the rapids. First cast, the loud obnoxious one hooked one on the first cast. Looked like eight inches, though he didn't get the fish all the way in. Then in the next two minutes, the same guy got two more. While no one else was catching, I knew it was time for me to get out of the place and head to the Gallitan. As I was pulling my VW Jetta out of the parking lot, college kids were pulling in for rafting. Then I headed to the Gallitan, the edge of the national forest and wilderness. The river was faster than I expected for a storied trout stream, but I decided to drop in anyways. Both the Gallitan and the Madison are beautiful rivers. It is a real treat to see the difference in how the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallitan are so different just a few miles apart.

Lake Edna

Whew, I finally got some hike & camp in this summer! Ellen (my housemate), Mark (Ellen's friend), and I headed over to the Leavenworth area for a hike up to Lake Edna. Icicle Creek Road was washed out before we could get to our trailhead, so we parked the Ellen's Ford Taurus at the Ida Campground and hiked the extra two miles to the trailhead (elev. 3000 ft). The first 4.5 miles of Trail 1580 are all up, up Chatter Creek to the pass (elev. 6700 ft). The pass is just east of Grindstone Mountain. Then you drop to a boulder field and follow the ridge line from below for about a mile. There are impressive views of the Index Creek Valley to your right (northeast) and the ridgeline above (west), but don't stop for too long or you'll be attacked by hundreds of mosquitos instead of just a couple. The path is not well marked in this section (follow the cairns where possible) and the confluence of Trail 1580 (what we were hiking on) with Trail 1570 (the Icicle Ridge Trail) is not marked whatsoever except that wonders whether to take a right or or forge ahead at one juncture. Shortly thereafter, head up a small stream by shear instinct, and once on top of the ridge, you're practically at Lake Edna. After leaving the car at 12:30 pm, we finally made it to the lake about 6 pm.

Lake Edna is surrounded by cliffs and peaks to the north, west, and south, which rise about another 500 feet up. Named after one of Brigham Young's many wives, the lake is supposedly the most beautiful (maybe not the wife though?). Many of the surrounding lakes are named after his wives as well and there is even a Lake Brigham. Question: was this naming spree tribute or satire?

After making a tour of the lake and relieving ourselves of processed water, we quickly broke camp in a fine location on flat ground uphill and to the west of the lake. Previous settlers had build a fine 1.5-foot rock wall and a small cooking station so propane burners wouldn't flicker out. Mark went to work cooking our dehydrated meals and we quickly remembered that although water boils faster at altitude, cooking also takes longer. After 20 minutes, we were in business with the first batch. 20 minutes later, the second batch was done as well.

The weather was quite cold. The cool wind kept away mosquitos, but made me wish I had brought pants as Mark and Ellen had done. I ate my food from inside the tent looking out. The wind picked up at night and misty clouds rolled in. In the morning the wind wipt the mist into rain dropplets that fell onto our tents and dampened the ground. Which apparently was a good thing, as the wind had blown dust into Ellen and Mark's tent - the dampness put that problem at bay. The cold weather kept me in the tent as long as I could bear not stretching my legs, but finally somethings must be taken care of in the morning. Mark quickly prepared our oat meal and we quickly broke camp to high tail it down the mountain. After leaving at about 10:30 a.m., we made it to our car at 2:30.

A refreshing stomp in the ice-cold Icicle Creek capped our hiking experiences before we dined in Leavenworth, shaked at the 59, and sat in the car line from Sultan to Seattle.

Noisy-Diobsud

Said the way it sounds! (don't ask me for a pronunciation, you figure it out). This weekend I planned on taking the ferry through the San Juans, spotting some orcas, landing on the Olympic Penninsula, cycling to the Sequim Lavender Festival, camping out, then trekking back. But Andrew and Stephanie had different ideas. First of all, the promised me (and indeed gave!) a 32" flat screen tv and their futon if I visited them in Lynden. Second, they weren't up to wading the Puget Sound waters. So on Friday we visited with Sara & Bryan who were also in Lynden and stayed at the Rennie household. Then Saturday we made an impromptu decision to hike in the Noisy Diobsud Wilderness, just east of Mount Baker and Baker Lake. There has been exceptional snow sticking around, so we stopped at the friendly ranger station in Sedro-Wooley before heading up. They informed us that the snow line was at a lovely 4500 feet, quite low for any serious hiking. So we hit upon a short hike to the Watson Lakes from forest service road 1107. We had a few snow patches to cross on our way to the lakes and got a little lost on the final decent to the lakes. It was worth the travel though! Gorgeous views. It was a little heavily traveled, and understandably so considering the low snowline left this day hike one of the few accessible hikes this season so far. We had great views of Mount Baker across the valley and Baker Lake and great views of the peaks, cliffs, and waterfalls around the Watson Lakes. Next time we will have to add a short hike up to Anderson Butte (elev. 5,720 ft) for some views, but Stephanie was (and still is) in admist of a great sickness, so despite my upbeat spirits to be in nature, it was time to head back to the car after a quick review of our surroundings once we reached our destination. I will be posting pictures some day in the future . . . when I have a my upload cord that is currently in Prosser.

Activities since I last posted

So I've been pretty terrible at informing the world of what man in nature activities I've been doing. So here's a quick list:

During the winter I worked part-time for Mission Ridge in Wenatchee. I got some good skiing in during that time. After my bar exam at the end of February, I headed up to Big White in Canada for two days of skiing with Andrew and Stephanie. I managed to make a few winter hikes, mostly up Horse Heaven Hills or around a nature reserve in Kennewick. I also ran quite a bit more during the Winter and Spring than I have in a number of years, probably at least 3 times per week. After Mission closed, I came back for a day of snowshoeing to the top with my Uncle and skiing back down. Oh, I also bought a bike. I was doing 60-80 mile days this spring once or twice per week. I've been working in Seattle the past four weeks and have a 7-mile bike commute each morning.

I competed in two races, a 50-mile bike race in Prosser and the 8K Beat the Bridge Run. My 50-mile race went well, although I went backwards, got a little lost, rode about 10 extra miles, and still managed to come in just a minute behind the first finishers. The Beat the Bridge also went well. I ran the first two miles with my sister to make sure she beat the bridge, which we did barely at an abismal pace of 9 minute miles, then I took off, running at 6:17 or so pace. Not too bad for someone who hasn't raced in 8 years and had to weave through thousands of slower runners.

I converted to vegetarianism (but with fish) this spring, so I'm still learning to balance my nutritional needs with my physical exertion regimens. At times my body completely wears out. So I've started taking supplements and I try to be better about eating more protein. It's a life in progress.

I am hopeful to start taking up new adventures. I had a goal of climbing the four tallest Washington mountains. That goal seems unlikely now. I'm hoping for at least one though. I also continue to run. I have my eyes set on the Leavenworth marathon. My kayak remains in Prosser despite the fact I live in Greenwood now. My three Greenwood roommates are adventerous sorts, so I'm hoping to build-in some a weekend warrior activities. Our landlord says he wants to get us all on a climb of Hood or Baker. That would be great!

My fly-fishing is lagging. I've gone once this spring, to Rocky Flat Creek, but those fish are extremely patient and well-adjusted to the abundance of fly-fishermen. Hopefully I can do more during the second week of August, when I'm on vacation at Loon Lake for a family reunion.