THE RELUCTANT HIKER
My parents and I moved to Washington twelve years ago. I remember that every weekend we found ourselves overwhelmed by the limitless choices of things to do. Being a teenager, and having lived my whole life stuck way out in the country in the foothills of Northern California, my vote was always to go to Seattle and indulge in the city life. My folks, on the other hand, were still drawn to the mountains, and hiking and backpacking. After scouring the trail books, they decided to head for Mount Baker in the North Cascades for our first trip out.
I remember being a reluctant participant - you know - "been there, done that." To make matters worse they chose the Skyline Divide Trail, initially a steep climb up the side of a mountain. We were each carrying heavy packs loaded with gear and 4 days worth of provisions, and I complained most of the way up as we winded through the sub-alpine forest. When we reached the top, it suddenly opened up to a wide meadow and the beginning of some great views. We found an overlook where we could see forever - north to the rugged Canadian mountains, west to the San Juan Islands, and easterly across the snowcapped North Cascade mountains. Looking south you could see some of Mount Baker, and we knew that there was better viewpoint further up the trail.
With the prospects of even greater views and now beginning to get into the spirit of adventure, I found my aversion to this trip quickly waning. We forged ahead for less than a mile, climbed a gentle slope to the top of a knoll, and were rewarded with an awesome sight - a full-on view of the northface of Mount Baker! The mountain with it vast glaciers and the ridge trail that seemed to lead right up to its edge were magnetic. We hiked further in, set up a base camp next to a cool mountain stream, and spent the next 3 days exploring the area. We climbed along a ridge that teetered high above the snowfields that lie at the base of the mountain, played on slopes carpeted with wildflowers, scrambled over rocks, and munched on huckleberries.
It was an unforgettable experience, and I realized then that Washington is a special place. I live in Seattle now, a city filled with excitement and music, but still hike and camp throughout the state with my parents and friends. Without a doubt, though, this was my most favorite adventure.
Kim Wykoff
Seattle