Leopard lilies, tiger swallowtails and bears
After months of planning and very little preparation, the three of us slipped into the car for a 5 hour drive to the trailhead. It was Andrew's birthday backpacking trip. The same trip I missed 2 years back in order to deliver the totaled magnet Honda to my parents on my birthday. This trip two years ago left Andrew with bruised heels for roughly six months and black toenails then no toenails then flaky toenails until recently. Those toes still aren't quite normal.
We were up for 43 miles of hiking with 35 pound packs for 5days and were looking to gain and then loose 6,000 vertical feet to the top of Thompson Peak. We were in for some work.
Much of the Shasta-Trinity national forest has burned recently. Fire was historically a frequent occurrence, and some species of trees as well as herbaceous plants depend on fire. The USFS has done an amazing job of suppressing fire to the extent that should the forest catch fire, there is plenty of fuel to burn. Old growth and older trees withstand frequent low-intensity fires as their bark is fire resistant, leaving charred giants standing amongst the bright green new growth of the forest floor if it burns regularly.
As we hiked up we left summer behind and walked back into springtime in full bloom. Penstemon lined the path, honeysuckle sweet in the air, butterflies everywhere. We forded snow melt streams and swam in the ice cold lake that is fed directly by the snow fields of Thompson peak.
As I sat at the summit butterflies by the hundreds fluttered over my head, around me and down to the alpine meadows below. I could hear their wings moving clumsily in the breeze. Butterflies amongst granite crags at 9,000 feet.
We were up for 43 miles of hiking with 35 pound packs for 5days and were looking to gain and then loose 6,000 vertical feet to the top of Thompson Peak. We were in for some work.
Much of the Shasta-Trinity national forest has burned recently. Fire was historically a frequent occurrence, and some species of trees as well as herbaceous plants depend on fire. The USFS has done an amazing job of suppressing fire to the extent that should the forest catch fire, there is plenty of fuel to burn. Old growth and older trees withstand frequent low-intensity fires as their bark is fire resistant, leaving charred giants standing amongst the bright green new growth of the forest floor if it burns regularly.
As we hiked up we left summer behind and walked back into springtime in full bloom. Penstemon lined the path, honeysuckle sweet in the air, butterflies everywhere. We forded snow melt streams and swam in the ice cold lake that is fed directly by the snow fields of Thompson peak.
As I sat at the summit butterflies by the hundreds fluttered over my head, around me and down to the alpine meadows below. I could hear their wings moving clumsily in the breeze. Butterflies amongst granite crags at 9,000 feet.
posted by humble bee at 8:55 AM
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