iwasthrownoffacliffonce...

My buddy John and I are avid Hikers.  Him a little bit more than me.  He also loves to rock climb, and repel too.   One particular time comes to mind right now where we set out for one of my favorite destinations.  Tolmie Peak.  Tolmie Peak is a real place, and if you haven't been there, I encourage you to go.  Just do it on  a monday morning so that you don't run into the other 3000 people there on any given day.

So we start off on our usual day hike routine.  I wake up late, and am imediatley in a hurry.  John is patient with me while I take a 15 min shower, and put Gel in my hair to go hiking.  (I don't think he ever understood that...)   Next we packed our bags with the 26 essentials, but for some reason this day John's bag happened to be MUCH larger than mine.  I was not envious...

We then packed up the Prius for the drive.  We were going to the trailhead that starts at Mowich Lake. There is another way to get there, but I am not even going to mention it further.  Please don't look it up on a map.  It's just not worth it.  O.K. but I warned you...

We allways start by going to one of several coffee shops.   (see sentance about showering)  Usually it was a local place or starbucks depending on the mood, or if we were hungry.  Hiking UP is aided by the presense of caffiene in your bloodstream.  Caffeine is a dieuretic, and helps a bit w/ altitude sickness.  The stimulant nature also helps to keep the Cadence high.  The later is necessary if your the equivelent of a stout dwarf, hiking with a god damn 6 1/2 foot mountain elf.  If your drinking coffee,  of course you have to drink more water too.  Thats why we take 2 liters or more per person on a small day hike!  Some times we take beer 1.

Our drive to the rocky road that leads to Mowich lake was shortened by the usual coffee inspired loquaciosness.  (Ain't you proud Mrs. Goodwin?)  John and I have an interesting relationship.  We are great friends, and he is one of few guys I am comfortable in silence as I am chatting.  Usually our conversations had something to do w/ alternative energy, horsepower, girls, home-improvement, the weather, or politics.  This day however, John was unusually quiet.  Looking back, I think I was the only one talking.

As we arrive at Mowich lake & gather our stuff and adjust our packs.  We are imediatly attacked by fake bees.  I keep meaning to catch one and have it Identified, but I am scared that they will break through whatever bag I have and eat me.  Seriously.  They swarm around you, and occasionally bite.  They don't have stingers though...  Still, John heads back into the car because he is allergic to the air that the fake bees keep swirling around with thier wings.  For some reason our expeirience is that the fake bees don't swarm into the forest, knowing this we hit the trail rather without further dawdling. 

NEXT:   THE HIKE