Easton Glacier via Railroad Grade

Last fall we came up this area and climbed to the Park Butte Fire Overlook.

I looked on my MapMyRun app, and September 20, 2022 was the day we did that one. And September20 is the same day one year later we hiked the same trail, but different direction. 

Isn't that a cool coincidence? 

This time we took Railroad Grade to get to Easton Glacier on Baker. 

Most of the hike was along this ridge line, a cliff cut out by the glacier. 

It was actually windy and chilly, and right about here we smelled the rotten egg smell of a live volcano! That sulfur wafted right at us on the wind.

After the ridge line, you choose your own adventure over a rock scramble, making your way to the glacier. 

This group of people were rappelling down into the crevasse. 

Eventually the trail takes you right on top of the ice. This is where people begin their summit. 

The peak looks so close! But from here it's probably another 5 hours of climbing. 

We walked out onto Baker's glacier face. 

Vance continued out for a while, we stayed back near the edge. It felt safer. 

For about a half an hour we stood there with the living, breathing ground beneath us - it really does feel alive! You can hear water running constantly underneath, and sometimes groans and rumbles. 

Then all around us the clouds were doing the most wild things. They were rising up from below us - the opposite of the way clouds usually behave. They were swarming and moving all around like art. 

I was like: what is happening? It was just such a cool, 360 experience. One minute the sky was clear, then it was a smoke monster coming at us (think 9/11 when the towers fell).

Glaciers are so cool! Works of art. 

For a few years we have thrown around the goal of summiting Baker. 

This is were we would start, and we kept talking about Dane as our guide. 

He's done it a few times, and we discuss it often. 

Then we started back down the mountain. 

There was a German Shepherd who's owner spoke commands in German. Vance said that is probably a border patrol dog because they get their dogs from Germany. I said "Dane introduced us to the Sheriff's shepherd also from Germany." 

So, you know another reference to Dane.

And then we were hiking along the ridge line, and:::

There was DANE! 

Randomly in all the world in all the days, he and his SWAT team were hiking the same trail as us! 

I screamed because the coincidence called for a scream. 

I sent this picture to Jessica. 

By the way, this is the SECOND time me and Roxanne have ran into Dane and his SWAT team in the wild (on Oyster Dome). 

Isn't that crazy!? 

Be Real!

It was such a fun day. So many things going on all around us. 

 

School Schmool

Usually we are ready and excited and a "new school-ey" feel is in the air...

But this year we all dragged our feet up until the very last minute. 

The "start of school magic" just wasn't there. 

Is it because we are older? Maybe. The kids seem wise to the knowledge that summer is far better than school. 

School comes with all the social pressures and weird dynamics and hard work and intense sports. 

I told you this blog is going to really get boring here in its old age. 

Boring, or grown up. No one sits around and stares at the teenagers. Remember we used to all sit and stare at the toddlers? Marvel at the adorable things they would say and the new discoveries they would make?

Well, we should be sitting and watching the teenagers because the amount of biology/psychology/physiology PING PONGING around inside them is A LOT. 

And it is also somewhat repulsive to us civilized adults. What a strange combination of human-ness. 

At least they laid out their outfits. 

Also, I spent two days in a row (of precious summer time) at malls and there is nothing I hate more than shopping. It drains me to death. 

At one point, three hours into the ordeal, we were sitting there waiting for the shoe guy to bring Andrew a size 5, and I was a corpse. I asked Andrew if he would please give me a hug and maybe that would recharge my battery. It charged to the amount that I was able to limp to the car. 

The very night before school, Avery asked if we could meet the Dicksons down at the beach to watch the sunset. 

It sounded like it would have been nice, but it ended bad. Evan got thrown to the ground in a playful wrestle match that really hurt his arm, and we barely had time to mentally prep and get to bed on time. 

I don't know...but I'm going to say this was the worst end of summer - beginning of school season we have ever had. 

But the good news is, they had "good enough" first days and are off and running into the new year. As if they never left it. 

We are thick into sports sports sports mode. 

So much happens at this stage of family life. I didn't know how fast and furious it was going to be. 

Break neck speed. 

I can't even imagine the slow and steady days of elementary/preschool life - reading chicka chicka boom boom every single night before bed. That kind of lovely stuff. 

We didn't know. 

The people warned us. They tried to tell us.

But I didn't know.

Side news: the weather is still like summer. We have had lots of mountain biking adventures on the weekends, and 

Evan did the Rainbow Bridge! Big developments! 

Look at him go. 

Tomorrow I get to sit around and stare at Avery during her first soccer game of the season.

And tonight I sat right beside Andrew as he read his chapter book and I read mine. 

Ping pong.