In Search of Blisters

Though the title of this blog suggests that our efforts were merely pain-seeking, that is rather misleading. Blisters are just one of the more lingering details of our adventure.

For months now, my Sister-in-law and her husband have been planning with us to do an overnight backpacking adventure. Our first efforts to go were obstructed by excessive melting and runoff. Below is a before/after picture of some falls that were near our trail head. The parking lot and turn off to our trail-head was under 2.5+feet of snow, totally inaccessible at the time.

(Normal flow on these falls)

(In June)

Fast forward a month and a half and you will find us geared up and ready to go Saturday morning. Our boots were laced and our spirits were high.

First we hiked in and passed a few different lakes. We were headed up a rugged route which would be just over 5 miles in. It doesn’t sound like much until you realize this is an Alpine trail and the elevation gain and loss is rather substantial. The trail-head we started on was called Notch Trail and it goes in a loop (as shown on the map below).

Here's Clegg Lake, just a bit in after a decent that seems long and difficult (if only I knew how hard it would be to climb back out of this area).

We stopped to rest on the way in and this was our first real glimpse of how lovely it was going to be. As you can see, there's still an ounce of hope in my eyes in the picture below!

Here’s Notch Lake, which is very beautiful. You can see why they called this trail what they did.

Notch Lake is about half way in, and rightfully so at about 2.4 miles from the trail head. Our spirits were high after spending a little rest at this lake and anticipating what awaited us further up the trail. We hiked on and at first it seemed a pleasant walk. The notch (just above Andrea's head in this picture below) was soon blocked from view by numerous trees.

Now, as you noticed on the map, the trail goes in a loop. If you look at the upper right of the loop, there’s a dotted line that heads up. That dotted line is the only clue maps show as to how to arrive at Meadow Lake. That’s just what we did, we hiked the dotted line and found what we were looking for.

We arrived at Meadow Lake and had it to ourselves for a few hours. With a few curious chipmunks, fish and bugs, we found ourselves viewing a very beautiful area. The wind sighed through the trees and it felt like we were in the best part of the world..

We set camp and fished, though only one fish saw our bait as tempting. I fished for the first time in over 10 years and learned a lot about what not to do when casting a line. Thankfully, my dear Tyler was full of patience and exuberance for the overall experience of being “away” from the world.

(Andrea looks up at me as her husband, Shelby, is fishing in the background. He's the only one who caught a fish.)

After a nice campfire roasting marshmallows we bedded down for the night. Since the moon loomed above us, full and bright, it was hard to sleep. Or maybe it was the blisters, aches, bruises and hard ground. Actually, I think the fact that I’m a fitful sleeper as it is may have contributed. Either way, I did hear either gunshots or fireworks from somewhere over in the next valley. Celebrations of the 24th of July and the Pioneers who created a legacy of steadfast faith lingered around the corners of my mind as I drifted into slumber.

The next morning we woke to an over-excited chipmunk, who, wisely enough, didn’t stick around after we all stretched and yawned our way out of our tents. We fished for a few more hours and leaned that our bait didn’t stand up against the many bugs that landed on the water. The fish would swallow the bugs and watch our lures from nearby. I could have had more luck with a net since they loved to swim right under and around my perch. Some followed my bait and both Tyler and his sister Andrea each had a fish that got away. I know my line was simply in the water to provide distraction/amusement to the fish. I didn’t mind either, because I was able to sit and rest.

(Above, the morning we left at Meadow Lake)

The hike out was brutal. There’s nothing more crushing to the spirits than when you look up through the sweat and insect repellent dribbling into your face and stinging your eyes to see more “up”. Though we kept a good pace and the most excited of spirits hiking out, we all felt the beating the trail was giving us. The sun glared down on us, and one of our exposed accents of 500 feet was very cruel. Just around the bend and glittering in the sun was the parking lot, and yet, I had to stop in the shade and tell myself that there was an end to my pain.

5 minutes later, at exactly 2:00pm Sunday afternoon, we emerged. Stumbling our way to the truck, we looked back at the distance we traveled, thinking of the mere 10 and a half miles of trail that it took two days of willpower to endure.

(Above Tyler rests against his pack at Notch Lake on our hike out)

I will say that I made it out alive. With blisters, bruises, aches and even a few sunburns, we were alive… and well aware of it. But the tales we can tell make up for any of the woes that it took getting us there.