Monday, July 21, 2014

Comanche Peak Wilderness Adventure

Co·man·che

kəˈmanCHē/

noun

1.

a member of an American Indian people of the southwestern US. The Comanche were among the first to acquire horses (from the Spanish) and resisted white settlers fiercely.

With 25 lbs. of stuff on my back, I was looking at 4 miles up, up , up. The path before me was a steady incline and I had to stop a couple of times so I could lean backwards, pressing my pack up against a tree. It had been ten years or so since I backpacked into the mountains to spend the night. When I wasn't craning my neck to the sky or searching the ground for "fool's gold" rocks, I found myself admiring my hiking stick. The blonde wood, smooth and varnished and sturdy, it was just the right height and weight for me, and it felt good in my hand. My own father, Guitar Whitey, Jack of all trades, had made that stick for me with his own two hands.

The old forest of spruce and fir stood proud on either side of the trail leading the way to an opening. This is what we were promised. An alpine meadow, wild and lavish of willow and moose, the Fall Creek winding through it, this way and that.

The place was cool and quiet, except for a soft whir through the pines. You know the sound. We set our tent up at Fir Camp, site #4. We promptly boiled water, brewed some 'Morning Buzz' coffee and dove into a mixed bag of hazelnuts and pumpkin seeds. We sipped our coffee by the creek, drinking in the remoteness, the natural beauty of the snow capped peaks towering above us at 13,000 feet.

After a good foot soaking in the creek, we took off on a trail that would eventually lead to Emmiline and Cirque lakes. But, along this path we got somewhat distracted. There she was. A mama moose and her baby. The cinnamon calf was making awkward leaps and curious nose dives as they sauntered along, pausing for breaks in the shrubbery.

Animals in the wild can beckon you. They are enticing and captivating and they can sweep you off your feet. And that's what this little family did to us. The rest of the day was given over to watching them and Cinnamon Girl was the star of the show. Lake Emmiline will just have to wait for another time.

 

 

21 comments:

  1. What a beautiful hike! Looks like we both had the same thing on our minds....we also spent a few days on our mountain. Sometimes you just gotta have that mountain high, that communion with the aspen and pine, not to mention the occasional deer and moose! xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, you're really getting out there too, Jules. Communing with the wild things on mountain tops, swaying with the trees. Yay for us!

      Delete
  2. That is the cutest baby moose ever! I know you were drinking in nature and quiet on that trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This summer, it's all about quiet, Diana. Town is so hectic these days, I just can't take it sometimes!
      Seeing moose is a true gift, and Cinnamon Girl is unforgettable.
      Glad you stopped by.

      Delete
  3. of course you already named a baby moose.
    of course….
    so, tell that little moth i'm naming it bluewing.
    so glad you cannot stop admiring your guitar whitey walking stick.
    did chad read you to sleep under the stars?
    love you, red dirt.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ha! I know. Aren't you surprised I haven't named my walking stick??!!
      Is that a moth? I think they are butterflies, Bernard. Whatever, that soft blue is unreal. Bluewing + Bernard 4 ever. xx

      Delete
  4. Gorgeous! And how special to see that cinnamon colored batch of legs frolic around. The lake will still be there, the ability to watch that calf might not have been.
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. geweldig wat groots en wat mooi.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. grand beest en kleine baby. ze zijn wat maakt de woestijn! bedankt!

      Delete
  6. My oh my. How beautiful. Not just the walking but the privilege to see the baby Moose and her family.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes! Absolutely, a privilege!! Wild animals turn me inside out. xx

      Delete
  7. Bliss!! The moose has the cutest big brown eyes!
    Love your title photo - it's simply perfect - you, prairie & horse!!! I adore this.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Replies
    1. Oh wow, thank you!!!
      It was an amazing time. :)

      Delete
  9. You both are such adventurous souls. I love how you love, cherish, and explore nature. Thank you for always taking us on these journeys with you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keith, my pleasure!
      I have a feeling you & Beate will be taking your own journey alongside us in the future, don't you think? Remember, Yellowstone.

      Delete
  10. i think Cinnamon wanted to join the 25 pounds of stuff in your backpack and come home with you.
    or maybe that's what I would want...
    either way, looks like one blissful outing to me!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Of course the moose wanted to come back to camp with us! I had Mountain Home freeze dried Lasagne in my pack!! Have you ever tried that? UNBELIEVABLE.
    Anyway, thank you Janet. It seems to be blissful wherever we go this summer.
    Gotta enjoy it while you can! (Can't take it with you.) ;) x

    ReplyDelete
  12. Perfect little calf...glad you weren't out there in March though. :). Xx

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.