We Went to See the Wildflowers
So it took 20 years ...
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Dear Beautiful Friends,
It started with a trail in the forest. Fifty-five degrees, 9:30 am, blue skies, the sun seeping through the trees.
I enlisted my nephew, Campbell, who’s been living on Orcas Island for the past year and is the most fun outdoor playmate you can imagine. He’s also a native Coloradan and wanted to get into some vertical radical wildflower subalpine business.
I wanted to see wildflowers too.
And I wanted to see them on Mt Rainier because I have a memory of being somewhere on that damn beautiful mountain during wildflower season years ago. It was like walking through perfume.
It’s wildflower season right now. The window is short. So in the spirit of summer enchantments….
Off we went. An informal survey among hiking friends came up with Summerland Trail (thank you Pam!).
It started with the typical forested path. I was eager to break into the open fields. I walked briskly, my mind set on: Just around the corner, just around this corner.
“What kind of hike is this?” Campbell asked on the drive.
“Oh, it’s out in the open, meadows, mainly above tree line.” I often don’t know what I’m talking about, but I sound like I do.
We did stop to admire some GARGANTUAN trees, the knotty thick bark. There were these cool contrasts of white smooth barked trees against dark textured trunks. But we were jonesing for the meadows! Where are the meadows! The flowers! We crossed gentle rivers. I engaged my core muscles and pretended I was balanced and zen, and hopped from rock to rock. Like a mountain goat. Baaah.
We walked for at least 3 miles of a 4.4 one-way trail and still: tunnel of trees. A couple times I wondered, “Are we on the right trail?” But we took a photo right in front of the Summerland sign.
And then . . .
And then . . .
AND then…
Above the tree line the Indian Paintbrush went from burnt orange to hot pink. Major pops of color. If you like to hike in silence, don’t hike with me, because I am one string of “OHMYGOD,” “LOOK LOOK!” “I CAN’T BELIEVE HOW GORGEOUS THIS IS!" “I WISH MY PHOTOS COULD CAPTURE HOW MAGNIFICENT THESE FLOWERS ARE!” “CAMPBELL! CAN YOU GET OVER THIS PINK??” “LET’S TAKE A SELFIE. ONE MORE…”
Lunch with a view.
Getting outdoors in a change of environment shook up my nervous system in all sorts of good ways. My thinking became more creative and wander-y. The rumination and stress took a vacation. Ideas came. I had so many moments of awe, that I was constantly being kicked out of my ego prison. Again, and again. I imagined the trees and flowers and evergreen mountainsides were happy to see me, as happy as I was to see them.
I heard somewhere that it’s healthy to change our biospheres. I don’t know if it’s true but I like the idea of it. Why else are we called to travel and explore? Is changing our cultural and physical environments inherent to our awakening process? Is this like the dust beater of our souls? You’re hanging out, content-ish, uninspired, second-guessing yourself—and then WHAM—the environment shakes you stirs you, stimulates you. In this space maybe we see something new, fresh.
Check out these pink monkey flowers. They lined all the alpine streams up here. INSANE delight.
We’re pretty sure that was the top of Mountain Rainier. I wanted to lick it clean, like an ice cream cone.
We even saw a marmot. The marmot is like the mascot of Mount Rainier. Meaning: full deal Rainier experience.
On the way down we stopped to admire all the shades of green the forest casts.
For about a mile I had the song “Rudolph the Red Nost Reindeer” in my head. 🤷🏻♀️
All this awesomeness, and sharing it with my beloved nephew.
You know what’s beautiful? Sharing experiences with others. What’s an experience that’s on your BEEN MEANING TO/WANTING TO and who can you invite?
Get out there! There wants you there. Report back, send photos. Beauty Hunters want to know. XOXO