September 20,21, 2009
So, is this day three, or day one? I consider it day 3, but it really is a new beginning. Now, I feel a little more informed about what to expect, and I plan accordingly. This time, it will be much lighter gear, and I leave the mountaineering boots, crampons, helmet, etc. at home. And, the blasted tent that caused me so much grief last time. That went right back to REI as soon as I was able to get to the store.
Anyway, this trip would be different. Even the route would be different…I drove down I-5 all the way to Vancouver, and cut over on the Lewis and Clark highway…That took over 4 hours to get to Trout Lake!!! Won’t be doing that again, either. Once at Trout Lake Ranger station, I self registered, paid my climbing fee again, and took off down a now slightly familiar road to Cold Springs Camp.
Yep! Tonight I would dine on steak!
Since I was coming in on a Sunday, the place was jammed full with cars, so obviously there were many climbers here to take advantage of the good weather. The report calls for clear skies again tomorrow, as well, and I’m hopeful that this will be my chance to summit. I brought my car camping gear and an old tent that we’ve had for years, a nice big twin air mattress (boy, if I could only figure out how to get THAT into the backcountry without a pack mule), and my Smokey Joe. Yep! Tonight I would dine on steak! I figure, hey, if I’m going to camp out of my car the first night, I’m gonna get a good meal under my belt, for that’s a long uphill trudge to the top!
…Even after dark fell, they still came in, and from my tent, I could hear their conversations, and see their headlights as the tires crunched gravel out of the parking lot. I wondered if I would be as happy when I returned…
After a satisfying meal, I plop myself down next to a warm fire, to fend off the night air, for its gotten cold, near 33 degrees. I’m in bed once again, by 9:00pm, wanting to get an early start in the morning. After I had finished dinner, the groups of climbers came strolling back into camp, group by group, talking and laughing about their climb. Even after dark fell, they still came in, and from my tent, I could hear their conversations, and see their headlights as the tires crunched gravel out of the parking lot. I wondered if I would be as happy when I returned. Slowly, I drift off to sleep, with some anxiety for the morning.