From the Transition Hike- Sept 18th ish

So this is an overdue post about a 3-day, 2-night transition hike that half of the cohort took in order to get our minds wrapped around moving from a rural, remote location where we had been for a year to the big city where there are people everywhere. We had a lot of fun going to the dry, east side of the Cascades... where it was supposed to be warmer but wasn't!

Codi smells deeply into a Ponderosa Pine, Pinus ponderosa. She will kill me when she sees this photo! This tree smells like vanilla or butterscotch (maybe Molasses!) when warmed by the sun.

We hiked to Tiffany Mountain (from 6500 at the trail head to 8100 feet at the summit). This is a famous burn-out zone from a huge forest fire (Tripod Fire) that torched thousands of acres in 2006.

Among the dead trees were flowers... even this late in the blooming season. It was a reminder that even in the midst of death, life exists. In fact, there would be no life without death.

Codi is not my muse, but she was in a good place for me to take a picture. John is in the background, walking towards us. We are at the easternmost point of the Cascades as the mountain range transitions to rolling hills and eventually the Okanagan plateau (high elevation, but flat) behind us. In the background of this picture (looking west) is the northern third of the North Cascades Mountain range (south is left). It was an impressive view as glaciers and snow are still visible. Perhaps a good year for glaciers to have grown. In fact I collected some snow around the corner and threw snowballs at all of my colleagues!

The next morning we stopped by the Cinnamon Twisp Bakery. This is one of the famous "Cinnamon Twisps" though it came out sideways :( Lots of butter, nuts, sugar, cinnamon and dough baked to perfection. It is called a "twisp" instead of a "twist" because that is the name of the town: Twisp.

Four of us walking toward the Beaver Pond: Steph, me, Teresa and Kate

A Mourning Cloak butterfly, Nymphalis antiopa, fluttered about as we walked in the autumn sunshine.

This view made me think of Japan. Even in America there are places designed for observing and recognizing the exquisite views that nature provides. The only thing missing is a small shrine or gate. Still, it was rather "Zen," I felt.

If pictures could describe my transition, then these would do it. Did some camping and cooking, American-style, and it was a lovely way to settle into life in Bellingham after three wonderful weeks in Japan.