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 Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 12:12 PM
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I had originally planned on an overnighter on Spencer Ridge this weekend but due to some personal reasons - that was out.
Krista sat looking up at me with her big soulful brown eyes; as if to say - you’ve got to do something! Come on take me out! It will be fun! The sun is shining, come on lets go!
But where?...
“Elk ...and as far as we feel like going along the ridge! It’ll be just what you need to brighten your mood.” Her look seemed to say. “Come on lets go!”
I don’t know if you’ve ever peered into the eyes of an insistent Labrador; Krista really knows how to pour it on and though I don’t often like to admit it, she knows how to work me. But not like I needed that much prompting anyway. 
So the next thing I know I was packing a light bag and loading Krista in the car and we were off to the Elk Trailhead.
My intention was for a fairly mellow day and it was a rarity that I had the full day; so there was none of my regular rushing about to get home by a certain time. I brought the camera with full intention of making use of it. I thought the day’s weather with changing light and swirling cloud would make for some interesting photo opportunities.
As I walked up the trail with Krista romping ahead, I let my mind run for the first half hour and then eventually the internal voice quieted as I got into the space of being present and really seeing, smelling and hearing the forest around me. The stillness was wonderful. I had expected to see other people on the trail but there was only one other car parked below and at this point I was glad for the solitude and for the fact that I’ve trained Krista to recall to a simple whistle. The serenity was such that spoken words would have felt like a jarring intrusion. The creeping cloud shrouded forest dappled in light rays and quiet sounds of the rustling trees were golden.
   
The snowline started at the “neck” of Elk. Crusty, icy debris laden; typical for the mountain this time of year. I slipped on the microspikes and we carried on; the satisfying clomp clomp and the sure footedness of the traction breaking the stillness. I reach the rock near the trail that reminds me of the lion of Narnia. So much of the walk till now had been transporting me back to the days of my childhood; the aura of fantasy in the misty forest had me flashing back to recollections of a much younger version of myself playing the heroine in some grand adventure. I was never one to be the damsel in distress; life had a way of pushing me to be self sufficient. There is a certain safety and security in self sufficiency but I've also learned that even the strongest among us still need a bit of rescuing from time to time.
I look at Aslan snap a photo and think of Alexa; when she’s old enough to see him, I’ll introduce her.
 
There are a few cms of fresh snow at the slope before the lookout, it’s been raining a bit and the snow underneath is quite soft. I’m starting to post-hole here and there; we pause briefly at the rocks. The cloud is grey and swirling, not much to see here. We continue on.
   
It not much longer before we reach Elk proper. Someone has dug out a lounger. I drop my pack and take out half a sandwich. And there goes Krista with the Labrador eyes again. I peer at the cloud covered ridge in front of me.
  
Hard to say what the weather is about to do, the wind is whipping the clouds around and conditions are on the fence; warm and sunny one moment, cold, dreary and grey the next. I’d been following a set of tracks until now. They stopped at the jump point. Looks like he caught a ride down. I had the ridge to myself.
After taking a few minutes to watch the cloud and a consultation with Krista, I swap the microspikes for snowshoes, pack up my bag and decide to carry on - at least to 2nd peak as long as the weather stays reasonable.
I actually love days like today on this ridge.
    
Nearing 2nd peak, the ravens and eagles are out playing in the updrafts. A few of them oblige me in a photoshoot. For a few moments I regret not bringing my “big lens”.
   
Nearing second peak, for that moment the sun was shining and the view from the top was stunning. The rest of the ridge rolled into view, inviting us onward.
 
Then clouds rolled over us obscuring that white carpet of welcome.
The weather was edgy; it seemed it could really go either way but in the next moment we had a pretty good window of sunshine so on we went.
   
The sun stayed with us just until the peak before Thurston. I looked at Krista; it seemed our views might have reached an end...
I grab the rest of my lunch and a few dried apricots from my pack sharing the odd piece with my canine companion. The weather doesn’t seem to be improving.
So I make the call to head slowly back. No sooner do we drop off the small peak, the clouds clear and the sun returns. Ack! Oh well. Might as well start the saunter back, I hadn’t really expected to travel this far today anyway.
       
Once back to the lounger at Elk, the sun is shining again and we settle in to take in the last of our views for the day as the sun sinks lower in the western sky.
    
On the way down the tangerine glow through the trees made me wish I had elected to stay up top a bit longer. Oh well, I’ll get that overnighter complete with orangey-red sunset, pink alpenglow and an indigo sky full of stars again sometime soon.
 
For now I’m pretty grateful to have a place like this only 15-20 minutes drive from my front door and today I had it completely to myself.
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Edited by - exscape on 04/14/2012 12:26 PM
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Langley
242 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 1:44 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by exscapeThe snowline started at the “neck” of Elk. Crusty, icy debris laden; typical for the mountain this time of year.
Where is the neck exactly? I don't think I've heard that term used wrt to Elk before. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 2:16 PM
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Its my term just after the shoulder where things get steep.
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Happy go lucky, plaid wearin, postholin, safeway gaitor sportin, old-school film shootin, giver of many regards
Abbotsford, B.C.
Canada
13475 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 2:34 PM
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A lot of beautiful shots; like the early green forest scenery. That mist in the trees is really cool.
K |
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Langley
242 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 2:47 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by exscape
Its my term just after the shoulder where things get steep.
Excellent. Sounds like Elking season has arrived again.  |
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Popkum, BC
Canada
5887 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 6:25 PM
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| Lovely photos Jenn! Elk is always there for us, a healing mountain for many. I especially loved the God Rays! |
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Mission, bc
Canada
151 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 6:49 PM
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| I very much enjoyed reading your report Jenn. Dont worry, lots more overnighter opportunities to come! :) |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 7:37 PM
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| Oooh, some very puurty shots in there. : ) |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
1005 Posts |
Posted - 04/14/2012 : 9:39 PM
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Not only is hiking healing, but I find this such a 'feel good' song...always lifts my spirits when I hear it. I'm not a country music fan, nor was I a Taylor Swift fan, but I really enjoy this one. : )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ34LlaIk88&ob=av2e
"...people throw rocks at things that shine..." |
Edited by - John and Katie on 04/14/2012 10:23 PM |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 12:32 PM
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Thanks John, Nikki, Lynn and Karl. It was a good day to wander with the camera and Krista was right just what I needed. |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
277 Posts |
Posted - 04/15/2012 : 8:57 PM
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| It is amazing what eagles and dogs can do for us I don't know what I would do or be without them both... Thanks for the report! |
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Surrey, BC
Canada
96 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2012 : 08:12 AM
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Hey Jenn! Nice trip! I'm jealous of the views you got! I was up there on Saturday with my brother and followed your tracks about 1.5 kms past Elk when I turned around. My brother had stayed behind at the top of Elk because his knee was really hurting him and I didn't want to leave him for too long. Also, we were completely socked in with cloud and I figured seeing the inside of a cloud from Thurston looked about the same as seeing the inside of a cloud from Elk. I was wondering if those were your tracks I was following... dog tracks that were roughly matched Krista's size and MSR Lighnings that were a little smaller than my 25's... Now I've gotta get up there on a day with some views!
Patrick
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2012 : 10:35 AM
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You're welcome Justine. We shall have to arrange some Killa Joules training hikes on Elk this summer.
Patrick, absolutely on all counts! Too bad about that Saturday cloud, hope your brother's knee feels better soon. Must have been a bit tricky for him on the way down! |
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Vancouver, BC
Canada
277 Posts |
Posted - 04/16/2012 : 11:29 AM
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| It's a plan!!!! 8D |
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32 Posts |
Posted - 04/21/2012 : 10:10 AM
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| How was the parking lot/FSR near the trail head? I want to go there on Sunday, but not sure if my car will make it up that hill going into the parking lot, earlier this year it was in pretty rough condition. |
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Outdoors addicted flyfishing, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking car crooner and resident motormouth
Da'Wack, BC
Canada
5372 Posts |
Posted - 04/29/2012 : 4:41 PM
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| Sorry I missed your post WS. The road is good now. The forestry company had done some work to fix it. |
Edited by - exscape on 04/29/2012 4:43 PM |
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Takin it easy on the Elk-Thurston
