Although I’ve been back to Washington State nearly every year for the last five years to climb in the Cascades (and visited somewhat sporadically before that), Mom hasn’t. In fact, this year marks 30 years since we moved from Washington back east to Maine.
Timing is everything, and since Mom's 75th birthday coincided with the 30-year anniversary of our family moving to the East Coast, it was the perfect excuse to take Mom back to the West Coast for some adventure.
One non-negotiable stop on the itinerary was Mt. Rainier, as that was typically where we’d celebrate Mom’s birthdays when we lived out there. As for me, well, I wasn’t going to argue with that, since Mt. Rainier is one of my favorite places to visit.
So, after spending Sunday in Seattle (mostly at Pikes Place Market…yup, if you know Mom, she’s a shopper!), we headed to Mt. Rainier for three days.
We couldn’t have planned it any better! It was unseasonably warm and clear, making for spectacular views of Mt. Rainier and the snow-capped Cascades. And the great thing is that in 30 years, nothing has changed at Paradise Lodge on Mt. Rainier, bringing back fond memories for Mom and the great times we had there.
Even better is that Paul met me at the crack of ass on Tuesday morning for a sprint up to Camp Muir and back. And I mean literally a sprint, as we covered 5,000 feet of vertical, reaching 10,000+ feet on the glaciated beast in less than three hours. After hanging out at Camp Muir for 45 minutes, we were back down at Paradise in no time flat, for a total round trip of six hours. Not bad for what is typically an eight-hour round trip.
I have to admit, I felt really good with both my fitness and endurance…and felt even better hanging out at the higher altitudes of Rainier. There is something about that mountain that keeps drawing me back for more. I could have hung out at Camp Muir for the entire day, just chatting with Paul and taking in the views if it weren’t so cold! Regardless, this was just what I needed after what has been an extremely busy year with work. It was a great way to decompress, and it was the perfect way to prep for Mt. Whitney, which was coming up at the end of August.
But this trip wasn’t about me climbing; it was about hitting all of the spots with Mom, sooo…after three phenomenal days on Mt. Rainier, we packed up and headed north to Olympic National Park.
Hitting yet another great weather window, we made our way onto the ferry to the Olympic Peninsula, where we ventured to Hurricane Ridge with spectacular views of the glacier-covered Olympic Mountain Range, the Pacific Ocean and even Canada, all from a bird’s-eye view at 5,000 feet on the ridge.
Mom said it best when we were hiking along the ridgeline: “It feels like we are in The Sound of Music!” It really did, with the fields of high alpine flowers rolling into the snow-capped mountains.
Staying in the high alpine, we made our way to Lake Crescent, a remote glacier-fed lake that is clear and cold as can be with a teal tint that boasted the reflection of the surrounding mountains that feed it.
From the lakes to the Pacific Ocean we went, where our cabin was situated on the edge of a 50-foot bluff above the Pacific. After taking in the ocean views at dinner, Mom and I made our way back to the cabin, where we enjoyed the sunset from our Adirondack chairs, reflecting on the day of travels. That night we didn’t even need a sound machine to sleep as the crashing waves below filled the cabin.
The adventure continued the next day as we went from the ocean to the rainforest. Yup! Olympic National Park hosts all four major ecosystems (desert, ocean, alpine, rainforest) and is the only place in the lower 48 of the United States that does so.
Can you say Jurassic Park? Or maybe Twilight, as this is the home of Forks! Regardless, the rainforest was a unique place that was eerily damp and dark with the moss- and vine-covered forests creating absolute silence as the dense rainforest absorbed every bit of sound. Although it was eerie, it was at the same time very peaceful.
Before you knew it, the week had flown by, and Mom and I found ourselves back in Seattle. We covered a lot of ground and saw some new sights, all in a week’s time.
I’m glad Mom and I were able to make it back to Washington and were able to spend the time exploring our old stomping grounds. It’s always great to take in the magnificent views and recall the many memories that were made while living there.
Looking back, Washington had a great influence on who I am today. I don’t know that I would be a mountaineer, tackling some of the most technical mountains in the country, if it weren’t for growing up in Washington and visiting Mt. Rainier every summer for Mom’s birthday.
Washington also helped to build a deep appreciation for the outdoors, where as kids we spent most of our time playing sports, climbing Saddleback Mountain behind the house, fishing on the Columbia and Yakima Rivers or shooting BB guns in the aqueduct, and even camping on Mt. Rainier one summer. I have to say, I was pretty fortunate to have those opportunities and was happy to enjoy the views and memories with Mom back in Washington this summer.
In addition to recognizing where my true appreciation for the outdoors bloomed, as with all of my journeys, I walked away with some life’s lessons as well. Some, I wish I would have reflected on sooner and applied on the trip, but hey…I’m only human! Here they are.
Mom will be Mom. Just go with it!
Patience is a practiced art!
Instead of stressing out and trying to capture each and every moment, just live in and take in the moment.
(That last one is for you Mom!) Yeah, I’m pretty sure Mom used up all 64 gigs of memory on her phone with pics.
While I joke about this, it does tie into the appreciation of the outdoors, as pictures capture the beauty you are experiencing, but they don’t always capture the feelings you’re experiencing at that time and moment, all which influence the meaning and reason for taking that photo.
With some things like Mt. Rainier, photos and words can’t explain the massiveness and unique beauty of the mountain. The only way to truly understand it is to physically see it. While Mom understands that, she still tries to capture those moments with others in mind who may not have the opportunity to experience it firsthand. Which brings me to my final lesson….
Mom is always thinking about others, which is beautiful and unique, much like Mt. Rainier. Whether it be attempting to capture the beauty and story of our trip in a thousand photos to share with family and friends when she returns to PA, or spending over an hour in every gift shop we stop at, trying to pick out the perfect gifts for everyone, Mom had a reason!
Although it tested my patience, I finally realized the true reason for this effort: so that others could get a glimpse of what Mom was experiencing on her trip. What’s unique is that during these excursions, while Mom was always thinking ahead about how others could enjoy her experience, I was attempting to solely live in the moment and take it all in mentally and physically.
But, the more I processed, the more I realized that Mom and I actually aren’t that different. Yes, although Mom returns with many photos and a suitcase full of food and gifts, and I reflect on those moments and post pictures and write stories, all actions are done with the same intention: for others to capture and appreciate the experiences we had.
So, although I thought I was always my father’s son, I guess I got more than my chicken legs and immense appetite and metabolism from Mom. I got the thirst for exploring and sharing my experiences from her as well. Our approach may be a bit different, but the intent and end result are the same.
For that, Mom, I thank you! Thanks for the great trip and new experiences and memories!
Climb On!
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