Vacation pics
Friday, 12. September 2008, 05:24:52
Coming back to work after a couple days off is hard enough. Coming back to work after more than a week is nearly pointless. In principle, I should just stay home for the first couple of days after a vacation; nothing much gets done at my desk until the third day back. It's neither laziness nor apathy, it's just momentum.
It's a lack of momentum actually.
Truth be told, it's not always as bad as all that. It can be that bad, though, when my time off was really enjoyable. And last week was really enjoyable, except when it wasn't. Even the hurdles of unpleasantness were well worth conquering.
We headed out to the Enchantments, a restricted area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Staying overnight requires a permit, available only via application. There are five permit areas, but the best permit is the Enchantments permit. It allows you camp anywhere in the area, and that's what we managed to get.
The route is a horseshoe-shaped trail, starting at the Stuart/Colchuck Trailhead. We weren't wanting for confidence, having hiked its entire 18 miles (30 km) four years ago in the snow. This time around, the weather was much nicer, and we were much better prepared. In some ways, that is. By definition the unexpected took us by surprise.
Most hikers enter the Enchantments near the Snow Lakes at the east end, then they hike up into the Enchantments area. We opted for the second time to hike into the Stuart Zone, over Asgaard Pass, and out the Snow Zone. Four years ago, the Enchantments were covered in unseasonable snow. Last week, it was sunny and warm. We'd figured that dry trails would be easier to traverse. They weren't.
We found out firsthand that the trail up to Asgaard isn't a trail at all, and it's much easier to traverse covered in snow. This time, the bone dry trail was nearly impossible to follow and lacked traction. There was one bright spot: I saw a mountain goat for the first time! We made it to the top just before dark, i.e., just before the temperatures plunged below freezing.
Thank God for Steph, she'd had the foresight to don an extra layer before it got cold so fast. Me? I hadn't bothered to do as much and got a bit hypothermic. I could barely help set up the tent, but it was okay in the end. Over the next couple of days, I managed to return the favor.
Steph's boots didn't fit quite right, thanks to a new pair of insoles. Hiking up Asgaard just about trashed her heels. The next day's 2.5 mile (4 km) hike was no better on her feet, but it was really easy on our eyes.
That second night, we cobbled together an elaborate system of gauze, tape, and band-aids to protect Steph's heels. Remarkably, our improvisational first aid held up for the next couple of days - all the way out of the Enchantments. We took plenty of pictures along the way, including more mountain goats.
Four days' hiking with 45 pound (20 kg) backpacks wasn't quite enough downtime. We headed up to Chelan, (pronounced /ʃəˈlæn/), to spend three days with Ashley's dogsitters, Jenny and Shannon, and their three dogs.
It was great finally getting some time off. We came away with a nice online gallery and a pleasant reminder that I am incapable of growing a beard.
Nine days without shaving left me with this:
It's a lack of momentum actually.
Truth be told, it's not always as bad as all that. It can be that bad, though, when my time off was really enjoyable. And last week was really enjoyable, except when it wasn't. Even the hurdles of unpleasantness were well worth conquering.
We headed out to the Enchantments, a restricted area in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. Staying overnight requires a permit, available only via application. There are five permit areas, but the best permit is the Enchantments permit. It allows you camp anywhere in the area, and that's what we managed to get.
The route is a horseshoe-shaped trail, starting at the Stuart/Colchuck Trailhead. We weren't wanting for confidence, having hiked its entire 18 miles (30 km) four years ago in the snow. This time around, the weather was much nicer, and we were much better prepared. In some ways, that is. By definition the unexpected took us by surprise.
Most hikers enter the Enchantments near the Snow Lakes at the east end, then they hike up into the Enchantments area. We opted for the second time to hike into the Stuart Zone, over Asgaard Pass, and out the Snow Zone. Four years ago, the Enchantments were covered in unseasonable snow. Last week, it was sunny and warm. We'd figured that dry trails would be easier to traverse. They weren't.
We found out firsthand that the trail up to Asgaard isn't a trail at all, and it's much easier to traverse covered in snow. This time, the bone dry trail was nearly impossible to follow and lacked traction. There was one bright spot: I saw a mountain goat for the first time! We made it to the top just before dark, i.e., just before the temperatures plunged below freezing.
Thank God for Steph, she'd had the foresight to don an extra layer before it got cold so fast. Me? I hadn't bothered to do as much and got a bit hypothermic. I could barely help set up the tent, but it was okay in the end. Over the next couple of days, I managed to return the favor.
Steph's boots didn't fit quite right, thanks to a new pair of insoles. Hiking up Asgaard just about trashed her heels. The next day's 2.5 mile (4 km) hike was no better on her feet, but it was really easy on our eyes.
That second night, we cobbled together an elaborate system of gauze, tape, and band-aids to protect Steph's heels. Remarkably, our improvisational first aid held up for the next couple of days - all the way out of the Enchantments. We took plenty of pictures along the way, including more mountain goats.
Four days' hiking with 45 pound (20 kg) backpacks wasn't quite enough downtime. We headed up to Chelan, (pronounced /ʃəˈlæn/), to spend three days with Ashley's dogsitters, Jenny and Shannon, and their three dogs.
It was great finally getting some time off. We came away with a nice online gallery and a pleasant reminder that I am incapable of growing a beard.
Nine days without shaving left me with this:
WIDGETIZE
Karen # 12. September 2008, 16:40
James # 12. September 2008, 18:26
manlyscraggly beard?Karen # 12. September 2008, 19:07
Although your beard would make Chuck Norris shake with fear, I was referring to the scenery and animals.
James # 12. September 2008, 19:21
Karen # 12. September 2008, 19:22
Cynthia # 16. September 2008, 00:32
James # 16. September 2008, 01:44
Cynthia # 16. September 2008, 03:22
hungryghost # 17. September 2008, 02:27
And the beard(lessness) - why, even I could outgrow that...with a bit of help from a mascara brush, maybe...