07.14.2002 -
Sunday
It's not often that I choose
to set my alarm for 5:30 on a weekend. There are all sorts of
things I would rather be doing at 5:30, the first 349 being 'sleeping'.
It was necessary this morning, though, because we wanted to get
to Rainier for a hike before the rest of the Seattle arrived.
I thought we might be in for
a cold, grey day based on the weather we had driving out of town.
I don't know if we just eventually ascended
out of the clouds or what, but when we passed the park entry
it was like BOOWAAHHHH - beams of light, angelic chorus, and
all that. The Mountain was out, freshly scrubbed and shining.
We had a tentative plan of
hiking to Camp Muir, which is at (I think) 10,500 ft. This turned
out to be a tad ambitious, because after 2 hard hours we collapsed
for a lunch break and decided to call it good. This was mostly
my decision because 1) it was a hella steep climb in slippery
snow and I was paranoid about plunging to my death on the way
back down and 2) while we rested I casually glanced at my legs
and practically shrieked out loud in horror.
The sun is relentless on the
mountain slopes, and you get eye-watering glare from all of the
snow. Despite the fact that I had slathered SPF 30 all over before
we started out, my legs and parts of my arms were completely
covered in tiny blisters. Blick, it was just one of the freakiest
things I've ever seen my body decide to do.
So I whimpered about that for
a while, slapped on more sunblock, and we headed back. I managed
to make my faltering, wimpy way down the snow with only one startling
ass-over-teakettle blunder.
I don't know why it has come
to be that I am such a chicken. I could sort of float outside
of myself today and cast a cold eye at the way I took feeble,
uncertain steps when descending a difficult terrain - the sort
of steps that are almost assured of a giant crapout. In comparison,
JB leaps nimbly along like a billy goat. It's not muscle strength,
or a lack thereof.. It's a matter of confidence, and where mine
has leaked off to I do not know.
Well, at any rate, I'm back
and comfortable in my happy little house, slimed up with aloe
and none the worse for wear. It was a good day, really. You could
see everything from up there - like being on the roof of the
Northwest.
0
comments so far.
I have moved. - 1.03.2005 Obviously, a work in progress. - 12.27.2004 Happy holidays! - 12.24.2004 Listen, I am not a complete dick, it's not like I want Joe to die alone surrounded by cats or something. - 12.23.2004 Plus I am convinced my butt is extra big when it's upside down. - 12.22.2004
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