50-Miler Day 4

Day 4 started out with a cup of oatmeal sweetened with freshly picked huckleberries.The hike began with 2,000 feet of elevation gain to reach McAlester Pass (6,000 feet). I was dreading it, but it turned out to be a lovely wildflower hike. First is Aconitum columbianum (columbian monkshood).
Flowers in the sunflower family typically have disk flowers in the middle and ray flowers around the disk. But some do not have any disk flowers, like dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), and some do not have any ray flowers, like Arnica parryi (Parry's arnica).
I also found a late blooming Viola glabella (pioneer violet).
Mimulus lewisii (purple monkey-flower) is named after Meriwether Lewis, famous for leading the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Lewis was an ardent biologist who documented the plants, birds, and animals they found with detailed drawings and descriptions.
And I always like to find a patch of Gentiana calycosa (mountain bog gentian). This one came with a bee.
We took a break after 1,000 feet of elevation gain. After the break, our slowest hiker was inadvertently in the lead. He worked hard to keep a steady pace, and we climbed the second 1,000 feet in 50 minutes (that is fast with a full pack). The top of McAlester Pass was scenic.
From the pass, the trail dropped precipitously, and soon the rocky cliffs were above us. The red flower is Aquilegia formosa (western columbine), and the white flower is Valeriana sitchensis (Sitka valerian).
We were planning to stop after 10 miles, but the campsite was in direct sunlight on a hot afternoon. So we decided to hike another mile to the next campsite. As seen in the upper left corner of this photo, it turned out to be too small to hold our party, so again we hiked on. The rickety suspension bridge was very wobbly, but it worked.
Late in the day, we found a nice view of Lake Chelan in the distance.
Day 4 turned out to be another long day: 13.0 miles with 2,500 feet gain and 4,000 feet loss. Unbelievably, we has just hiked 50 miles in four days with full packs.

Exit Kirby Wilbur

My all-time favorite local radio talk show host, Kirby Wilbur, was replaced this morning. It is a sad day for me. Kirby kept us up to date on all of the important local issues and events. Kirby gave absolutely fabulous interviews. Kirby taught world history on air. Kirby supported our military in so many ways. And Kirby was always willing to debate his conservative views, in a cheerful manner. I am grateful to Kirby for all that he has taught me.

Was the Ft. Hood Attack a Terrorist Attack?

James Taranto makes a good point in his blog today:
(http://online.wsj.com/article/best_of_the_web_today.html)

In fact, this was not a terrorist attack. By definition, terrorism targets noncombatants. When an irregular force like al Qaeda attacks a military target, such as the bombing of the USS Cole, that is more accurately termed guerrilla warfare. The real question here is not whether the attack was terrorism but whether it was an act of war as opposed to personal aggression. ABC News reports that "U.S. intelligence agencies were aware months ago" that the suspect "was attempting to make contact with people associated with al Qaeda," which if true certainly bolsters the case for the affirmative. When a soldier attacks members of his own force in an act of war, it seems to us the most apt term is treason.

50-Miler Day 3

The haze from the forest fire to the north was still hanging around on Day 3. After 26 miles in two days, we were looking forward to an easy day: 10 miles almost all downhill. Leaving Cutthroat Pass are some nice views of the North Cascades to the south.Our first stop of the day was at a pretty waterfall.We crossed Highway 20 at Rainy Pass.Erigeron lonchophyllus (short-rayed daisy). I photographed it because it was new to me, but I later found out it was not on the official plant list for Chelan County (where I found it).This photo shows what hiking over 30 miles in three days with a heavy pack will do to you.Our third camp was in a partially wooded areas with western larch.Our "easy" day turned out to be 11.0 miles with 260 feet of elevation gain (but with over 3,000 feet elevation loss).

50-Miler Day 2

The second day started out with a long level stretch followed by a long climb of about 2,000 feet. Deep in the valley, we noticed a lot of damage from bark beetles.
We took a long break at Methow Pass. In the distance, between the trees, you can see the switchbacks we would climb later in the day (you might have to double-click on the image to see the switchbacks, above the trail).
Climbing those same switchbacks. That pack is not for the faint of heart.
This is the second time that I have camped in this exact spot at Cutthroat Pass.
As the sun set and the moon rose, we could see the haze from a forest fire that we heard was about 40 miles north of us.
We hiked 13.3 miles with 3,200 feet elevation gain on this, the second day.

50-Miler Day 1

My annual 50-mile backpacking trip with the boy scouts began on the Pacific Crest Trail about 40 miles south of the Canadian border. From there we hiked south on the PCT and other trails to the remote village of Stehekin, accessible only by boat and float plane. But first we hiked to the top of Slate Peak, shown in the background.

Pedicularis racemosa (sickletop lousewort). I named this the "Troop flower" about 15 years, because we always see it on the 50-miler.

Epilobium latifolium (broad-leaved fireweed) is very similar to regular fireweed, but it is not the same. We found both at this spot.

Nice wildflower display among the rocks (mostly buckwheat (white) and paintbrush (red) )

Typical scenery along the PCT near Harts Pass.

First 50-miler for the dog (he did fine!).

Can you see the switchbacks far below? We descended about 1,000 feet in this meadow.

Our first night's camp along Brush Creek was tucked in a hole under the trees.

Including the side trip to Slate Peak, we hiked 13.6 miles with 1,600 feet elevation gain on the first day.