Among the Goats

I took some old friends over Chinook Pass to the William O. Douglas Wilderness last weekend for some camping and hiking, to limber up and clear my head for the big event. (Carmen stayed in Seattle to entertain her folks newly arrived from Honduras!) From start to finish, we enjoyed the kind of sunny summer weekend that's been sorely lacking in these parts for most of Junuary... the clear, warm weather we've been knocking on wood for since we scheduled our wedding date months ago. AFter a cool night camping by the Bumping River, in perfect Sunday conditions, Harry, Keith, Pascal and I made an early-season go at Goat Peak, 6473 ft. The going was easy, until we encountered deep snow just below American Ridge, which steered us off course only momentarily. Once we broke out of the deep woods, the trail reappeared on mostly snow-free American ridge, beautiful in its carpet of glacial lilies. A bit more postholing and scrambling up the north slopes of Goat Peak, and we arrived at the summit just in time for a sprawling picnic, the Bumping and American River Valleys spread out below us like the wide world's welcome mat. Close up views of Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams, among other snow-giants. I always find a level head and booming heart among the volcanoes: couldn't ask for a better beginning to this busy week...