Upon my return to Langley in July, my old climbing buddy, Jon Pollack, and I took off for a two week camping trip in the North Cascades. Were we lucky! Two weeks after returning to the East, while I was at my summer place on Lake Winnepesaukee in New Hampshire, mudslides covered the entrances to every place we’d been. Some of you may have read about it. Believe me, it was no exaggeration!
Here are a few slides from our final two days. The first was a magnificent climb up Winchester Mountain where we got off the trail and I was sure I was going to die. I had to scramble up an embankment in search of the trail, grasping for heather and whatever rocks I could find. Clawing my way up the steep hill on my belly, Jon kept saying, “Stand up for God’s sake! Stand up.” How could I when it was so slippery and I could easily fall backwards! Jon assured me I would survive. He was right.
These days were marred by the worst influx of black flies that have plagued the Cascades in recent years. This was told me by a forest ranger whose arms were as red and bitten as mine. A snow-bound trail cut short our final hike at Artists Point. During the night, a torrential rain drenched us. The rain flaps valiantly stood their ground, but lost. We decided to bring water wings next year!
Jon Pollack
They are stunning pictures, as always!