an act of defiance

Down at nearly sea level. Not for long.

Just the other day, a college friend posted that it was the 20th anniversary of River Phoenix's death. Not his epic performance in Stand By Me, or his appearance on my much loved Seventeen magazine cover. No, it had been 20 years since his death that still managed to shock me long after the teenage crush had faded. While the wrinkles beneath my eyes and the children that insist on growing up have made me feel my years lately, this really made me feel old.

What's the perfect remedy for feeling old?

Trail. It's always trail. (Or a whole lot of beer and tequila. But that's a whole other story.)

My ultra patient running buddy Julie agreed to take on Mt Defiance with me. The Portland Hikers guide says this about it: "The Mount Defiance Hike is well-known as the most difficult hike in the Gorge."

They are not kidding.

It started innocently enough. Some lovely waterfalls. A little climb accentuated by the wide open expanses of the Columbia Gorge.

And then it starts to get serious.

I was in death march mode before mile 2.  Thankfully some lovely views helped to lessen the pain. Pay attention to Dog Mountain, that dome shaped monolith.

My legs were not having it. In rebellion, my mind decided that playing "B-Double E-Double R-U-N" on repeat would be an appropriate punishment. I was losing the mental battle.

She was on a mission today.

I would do my best Anton Krupicka impression and place my hands on my knees, attempting to power climb, but more often than not, I would just stop and heave in a breath or two. Every once in awhile I would remember to soak it all in.

I tried to not listen when Julie would tell me the pathetically small amount of climbing her Garmin was registering.

Yep, I was stalling on the climb.

At points the trail was crazy steep.

"Dog Mountain is just a little girly mountain now!"

Knee deep in self pity, we reached a clearing. Instant joy. The power of the mind is awesome. All of the exhaustion, pain and self doubt was gone. My body could suddenly move.

Well, at least for 1/2 a mile.

Mt Rainier and Mt Adams

Mt Adams

I never realized I could do panoramas with the iPhone. Please excuse my overuse of them for the next few adventures.

A bit more painful climbing, and we reached the summit at 4959 feet - complete with radio tower.

Conquered.

We lingered a bit and then started the jello-leg journey back down the mountain.

This will always be how I think of Julie on these runs.

And now, as I reflect on the journey, my legs pleasantly burning with the memory of the miles, I don't feel quite as aged. There's a lot of life to be lived if you are bold enough to go out and seize it. On to the next adventure!

Now I wonder what the most difficult hike outside of the Gorge might be...Julie?

About the hike: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Mount_Defiance_from_Columbia_River_Hike

on the road to spokane

Worked my second relay in as many weeks. 

I haven't been on a road trip to Spokane in many, many years. Once again, I am blown away by how much I love the rolling brown hills and plains of Eastern Washington.  I really need to learn how to master the art of pulling over at the right spot...

Such an amazing week working the race. 

Morning on the Spokane River. Dang, that water is cold. Listening to the bald eagles, a midnight swim. Yeah, lots of memories.

Sunrise at the start line.

Looking out over the valley from the top of Mt Spokane.

I don't know. I thought it looked cool.

Driving west through the Columbia Gorge is drop dead gorgeous.

cascade lakes relay 2013 - from the other side

For the past five years, I've made the trek to Diamond Lake to run one of the most scenic and challenging relays out there. Over the years, I've come to love every nook and cranny of the course - from the morning mist rising from Diamond Lake to the baking red glare of the cinder roads.

This year I experience the race in a whole new way - from the perspective of staff. At times exhausting, exhilarating and often hilarious, I felt myself growing as the hours progressed, and here, on the other side, I feel changed. It's hard to explain.

Still, I had my camera, and while I had limited opportunities to capture the beauty of the race I call home, I found a few moments when I had to stop my car and lift my lens.

olallie lake

Great place to spend the weekend. Wanted more photos but ran out of time to hike.

mt hood 50 from the aid station

Didn't have much time to bring out the camera at the Mt Hood 50 the other day. Just a couple of shots I enjoyed. The meadow was breathtaking in the early morning fog.

Working that aid station was one of the most rewarding things I have done in a long time. If you want to feel helpful, volunteer at an ultra!

The early start

The meadow at the ranger station

Buddies. Jason just realized he brought two right shoes.

Waiting.

boulder ridge to huckleberry mountain

While I was out galivanting on the Metolius last week, Julie was exploring a new trail on Mt Hood. The Boulder Ridge trail takes off from the Wildwood Recreation area and climbs 3,300 feet to reach the Plaza Trail, which meanders along a ridge and affords stunning views of Mt Hood and Mt Adams, and on super clear days, Mt Jefferson and Mt St Helens too. She had sent me photos, and me, in my overly eager way, asked her if we could run it again so I could see it. She patiently agreed to take me, even though her big race is just over a week away. If that's not a good running buddy, I don't know what is.

Now it has been hotter than Hades around here lately, with blazing blue skies and wonderfully clear weather. Until this morning. A nice marine layer of clouds, while wonderfully cool, also cut off our early views. I kept my fingers crossed that we'd get to see something after climbing up so far.

I do love a good cloud forest.

My Cathedral
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Like two cathedral towers these stately pines

  Uplift their fretted summits tipped with cones;

  The arch beneath them is not built with stones,

  Not Art but Nature traced these lovely lines,

And carved this graceful arabesque of vines;

  No organ but the wind here sighs and moans,

  No sepulchre conceals a martyr's bones.

  No marble bishop on his tomb reclines.

Enter! the pavement, carpeted with leaves,

  Gives back a softened echo to thy tread!

  Listen! the choir is singing; all the birds,

In leafy galleries beneath the eaves,

  Are singing! listen, ere the sound be fled,

  And learn there may be worship with out words. 

This poem always comes to mind when the trees are dark and hushed as they were today, and there is nothing to hear but the birds and the wind.

A modest cairn

You don't hit the wild rhododendrons until you're up around 2,500 feet

As we reached the top, the skies began to clear.

Once we reached the top, Mt Hood decided to be a bit of a tease. We lingered as the clouds floated by, giving us a tantalizing hint of what the view would be.

C'mon baby.

Finally, the clouds parted and we got a great view of Mt Hood.

Mt Adams even appeared for a few minutes.

A glimpse of the valley below and Mt Hood above...not visible on the way up.

More about the trail: http://www.portlandhikersfieldguide.org/wiki/Boulder_Ridge_to_Huckleberry_Mountain_Hike