2004-08-10 - 10:27 p.m. - the sound of settling

I took the day off today from packing and went on one of my favorite hikes on Mt. Hood. I went with three close friends of mine to whom I had introduced this same hike a couple of years ago, and they absolutely loved it. We had to go hiking at least once before I left, plus, I usually try to do this particular one each summer, so today was the day. We got an early start at 7:30 and were on the trail by 9:15 a.m. It was a gorgeous day with the peak of Mt. Hood never hiding behind the high clouds. We started at Timberline Lodge and hiked 5 miles (down through Zig Zag Canyon, across the river and UP to Paradise Park). I call it the best lunch spot on the planet and plan to have some of my ashes scattered there when I am no longer of this world.

When we reached the lunch spot, I just felt like lying down and having the mountain absorb me in its beauty – I’m already to settle myself there. And the tune going through my head the whole time was "bah, bah, bah, bah, that’s the sound of settling…" by Death Cab for Cutie (whom I plan on seeing this Friday!).

The hard thing about this hike besides being at some altitude (6K feet) is that you’re not all downhill on the way back. It’s another 5 miles down the canyon and back UP again – I think my muscles will be a bit sore tomorrow, but in short – it was a perfect day.

30-something - 2005-03-01
the holding back the the flow of tears - 2005-02-20
song survey - 2005-02-15
song for the day...or perhaps the year... - 2005-01-25
something new - 2005-01-24
">next