Push it to the limits

Well here is a thought for you?

I seem to be getting people thinking after last weeks post about Everest so how about this.

Once maybe every week or two(depending on what I have on my mind). I do an opinion based article? Maybe it'll give a better sense into who I am as a hiker/nature person/outdoors men.



So with that, here's my first one


Many people ask me why? Why climb? Why even do something as silly as just walk through the woods just for a view that can't be guaranteed and you run the risk of so much going wrong. Or when I do something dangerous, like climbing up Haystack on Si in a waterfall or bushwhacking into the unknown. Why Zach, why do you do this?



Well for me, and I can't speak for the whole world but more on that in a second, it has two answers. One short and one long but first, why I can't speak for everyone.


One of the biggest reasons why my answer to the reason why we climb is simply because I am not them. I honestly believe that the truth is, even mountaineers, not typically the articulate sort, rarely seem to have much idea of why they do what they do. Some may have a certain personal belief or goal that they're trying to climb but even the faint thought of risking it for even the slim chance to say you did it, simply gets peoples juices going. For me personally, until someone comes up with a  well defined general idea, I think it's because they can.


Now for me. Now note, this is a personal thought. I do not speak for anyone else but ME.


So as I stated before, I have two reasons. The first being short and it is simply this. I do it so I can be Free.

Going WAY back to 2013 I made a video highlighting some of my favorite pictures from 2012. In fact, here's the link-----> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcRHkqFqJGk

(Here's 2013s as well--->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDpknqMJuus&list=UUxol9cO47Q-gcgRvW_Qymgg 

 (Features Shake the mountain by The Treatment and "O Fortune")

The song playing is "Free" by Twin Atlantic. Not normally my genera to listen to but the song says he does what he does to be "free". For me, it is the same thing. I hike to be free of stress, pain, worries, anger and all negative emotions. The elation I get from sauntering through the woods is such a indescribable feeling that I have trouble teaching it to other (but my teachings are for another day)


NOW for the long

In my mind... It kinda goes back to what I said in the beginning. People they do not know why. For me, what ever inside my brain that signals me to go and the little siren noise in my head from the mountains that always softly whisper to me to come back for more. To come back for another adventure. To come back to see where your limits can be placed and where you can reach beyond and go further then you ever thought.

I believe, that is what causes me to go. I personally think, and I know I sound insane.... It is the siren call. Almost like a small voice whispering in my ears, it calls and I have to go and answer to see what it wants.

For me, I will likely never know and will always search for that answer and I will likely never know but for me, I will continue to search for that answer. No matter how long it takes and so what if I can't or don't ever find the answer. For me, it will be the search for it. Finding it will fill me for ever and bringing along my friends to help search for that answer will make the experience, as a whole, well worth the search.

But at the end of the day... Who knows? Those are personally what I believe to be the reason why but at the... No matter if it is or not. I will search in ever mountain top, every valley, every mine, every ledge, ridge, saddle, ever butte, ever lake and all over the world if I have to maybe some day find the answer to the reason why I climb.






















but honestly, I hope I look forever.

You want some White with that Green?

Well... What can I say?

I want and desire hikes to be out of the way and with nobody on it and that is exactly what I got.

Green Mountain is where I found myself today. I won't say where this lovely hike is how to get to it or even which Green Mountain is because I want to keep this one a bit more on the secretive side though.

SO

A little different in the fact that I won't actually be describing the trail to much and more a long the lines of experience.


SO after finding the trail head, which was an experience within its self, you begin. The trail is mellow for the first 2 miles. You walk through a marsh or bog but either way, the amount of Cedars and Alders is to damn high! There is also a lot of water at this point in the year so if you do decide to find this place, get ready to get a little moist.


As we traversed the easy route we ran across this tree. I personally think it was struck by lighting because the wood felt burned and defiantly looked like it exploded but who knows?


You continue up a section in which I have now dubbed the "Alder Ridge"... Wall to wall with the bloody things. Although I shouldn't say that to loudly because 2 did save me from falling on my rear on the way down.


One thing I will point out is the amount of stream crossings. Since it has been wet lately, any place you go, it is going to be a wet one. My partner today decided to send the foot swimming not once but twice along with constant avoiding of mud holes. Made for a lot of fun!

As you keep going on you eventually reach what looks like a forest service road. Its local name is the CCC road. Why and the history? Well from my under standing, it was created during the depression by young men for who knows why?

You mush down this for a bit when you meet what looks to be more of a road and follow the rusty gate and from there, its no more easy climb, up is the word to use.

You do come across a few areas in which you can nab a look at the area below you but nothing spectacular. I was sad cause of the moving clouds meant no views BUT that would fix it's self later.






As you go up, you keep hitting creeks again and again BUT then the fun in the white stuff begins as you hit snow! Now I love snow and know how to hike both on and in it but this was so easy that it was laughable. I normally carry around what are called Yak Traxs simply because you never know when you need traction and NOT once did I.








So as you continue to parade up, you pass a lot granite. Now most people don't care about this and look at it as just another rock BUT here is why you should care. Green Mountain is apart of a GIANT Batholith. For those of you illiterate in Geology, a Batholith is a LONG section of rock(Normally no less then 40 miles in length) in which it has either been forced out of the ground or has been eroded out. Now one may say meh? Who cares? Well here's the thing, Granite is a prime ground for a shinny mineral with the atomic sign of Au and again, for those periodic table illiterate, Au stands for....................................................................................
GOLD
There's gold in these hills! Now not enough to cause a massive gold rush, but long ago, the area was significantly searched for gold and there was some found here and there. With a little looking about, you can still find mining camps but that isn't why it is important. To find gold, it takes miners and to have miners, that takes money, a town and such. This contributed to the growth of the small towns of Tanner, North Bend and Snoqualmie. If not for miners in the area. Who knows what the area would like today?


We kept going and reached a point along a ridge line where I decided to go up and have a look around. Me being me, I affixed my ice ax and scrambled up the hill to look around. When I broke the small ridge, Nothing but trees greeted my view which meant one thing, we made it!





The views sadly weren't there though, clouds every where. I snapped a FEW photos

Cloud 9 eh?

I like

You get to Panoramas today!

As we headed down, in fact... 20 minutes after... The clouds dispersed and we were greeted with sun and blue sky's.... Sigh, I swear it some times... In fact all the time, when it is foggy or cloudy when I leave a summit, with in the next 2-5 hours..... BAM sun....








Oh well. I loved this little hike. It is only 8 miles and about 3,200 feet in elevation gain, so about Si only MUCH MUCH MUCH more out there. Which is fine by me.


So since I didn't name the place, road etc. If you can find it, it is well worth it. Good warm up for when the snow is starting to recede from the higher peaks.









So all in all... Not bad at all. I even got a few pictures for future hikes but I won't name drop, just yet ;)



So also got some ruling done today. At 51 for total!


Think I will actually be able to get if off before Christmas. SO if you still wanna help, it's not done yet!

Thoughts on thin air

Kinda out of the ordinary for me to share my personal thoughts here, unless it is about my disdain of a hike but I guess that is what a blog is for right?

In my English class, we are currently reading Jon Krakauer book "Into Thin Air". A non-fiction book about his journey up Mount Everest and the horrific events that transpired during the climb

One main factor that he touches on is the over crowding of such hikes. He even goes so far as to share some interesting facts. For instance

 

"In 1991 the Ministry of Tourism (Of Nepal) charged $2,300 for a permit that allowed a team of any size to attempt Everest. In 1992 the fee was increased to $10,00 for a team of up to nine climbers, with another $1,200 to be paid for each additional climber"

and

"And while they were at it, the government ministers jacked up the permit fee once again-this time for $70,000 for up to seven climbers, plus another $10,000 for each additional climber. Traditionalists were offended that the world's highest summit was being sold to rich parvenus-some of whom, if denied the service of guides, would probably have difficulty making it to the top of a peak as modest as Mount Rainer. Everest, the purists sniffed, had been debased and profaned".

Krakauer then goes on to talk about how some of the "rich" even go on to sue guides if they don't make it to the summit and actually win as if "a ticket was a sure ride to the top"

Krakauer makes some strong points and I surely agree with him

I first began to see this when I was on Rattlesnake Ridge.

(And I promise, this is my last time complaining)

As the small group I descended with reached the ledges overlooking Rattlesnake, one can gaze upon the lake and see the parking lot form above. The most immediate thing you notice is the amount of people that fill the parking lot, down the roads and even, from what it looked like, Infringing upon peoples private property (as in driveways, ditches etc). I didn't have much problem with this due to the fact that any trail report I had read had made it clear that this was a busy hike.

As we left the lower ledge and headed back down the easy switch backs, the situation became painfully in our face. A thin trail was being over run by trail runners, soloist, family's with and without small children, dogs and people of all shapes and sizes. This would present a problem as we traveled downwards in the fact that we'd wait any where from a single person to twenty people or even more to pass us as they trekked up. In fact, it went so far as to one of my partners quoted to say "This is a hike that people do and say 'I love hiking!"

Sigh... The complaining is done... Now onto some sense.

Let me make one thing clear. I have NO problem with people getting out and doing something. In fact it is a great thing. It was a gorgeous day in which we climbed and it was good to see people getting out but at the same time, it was a bit saddening.

Don't get me wrong the hike itself was very good. I liked the trail, the environment and the views but the people though... It was a bit overwhelming and clearly frustrating for that specific reason. There was simply to many people and once again, please don't get me wrong. It is awesome to see people get out and do something but in my opinion, hiking locations such as Rattlesnake Ridge(s), Tiger Mountain, Cougar Mountain and even Mount Si are to busy. This is the exact reason I always make it my goal to go to more "Out there" places.

Bouncing off of Krakauer's point of "the world's highest summit was being sold to rich parvenus-some of whom" and I come into some conflict here. I personally have a beef with if I am a Conversationalist or Preservationist. Both have fairly strong arguments, especially stemming from Gifford Pinchot and John Muir but that's where I am torn.

In my personal opinion, something like Everest shouldn't be sold. I mean, $70,000 for a group of seven to go? In my opinion, a sacred ground such as the summit is at 29,029 feet is absolutely something that only a select few should even be able to stand upon. For me, this stems from many reasons. It's the same thing as the Marianas Trench at the bottom of the ocean or the moon for examples. Both are wild places and in reality frontiers that man has trouble even getting to (I know people have been to both)  but in the same fashion, Everest, for many, is a place of mystical beliefs. Many locals call it the "Mother of the Heavens". For them, it is a place of worship for there religions and what they pray to. Also, lots of people are ill prepared for the challenge of Everest. The number of people who have died is a absolutely insane amount. The statistic I have most commonly found is 1 out of every 4 people die on the mountain, be it climber, guide, Sherpa what ever. These are people who have money and as Krakauer states "if denied the service of guides, would probably have difficulty making it to the top of a peak as modest as Mount Rainer" and don't get me wrong, Rainer is a challenge for a lot of people but when they can merely pay $10,000 to be apart of a expedition that takes them to a place where someone like me could barely even fathom to dream about EVER going there to even lay eyes on the mountain. In my opinion it is a ridiculous thing.

BUT I will also play devils, or in this case, hikers, advocate. In the 1920's an expedition of two British climbers attempted a summit. George Mallory and Andrew Irvine both never made it to the unsummitable mountain at the time one quote from Mallory really rings with me. During a tour around the USA, Mallory was quoted as saying "Because it is there" when a news reporter asked him why he wanted to climb Everest. For me personally and many people I know, that is the reason to why we climb. It is not because the mountain has been previously unsummited (a next to impossible feat in Washington state) or that we do it to say we did. We do it because it is there and we can. In many respects, it is a way to prove to our self's that we are capable of going out into the world and living to the extent of going into our own unknown. It is to see things we never have before, to experience danger that gets our heart going, to feel alive and to accomplish something that we feel is a mountainous task to even conceive of.

Now I know that I only have one point for hikers advocate but I feel that one point is enough to match the conflicting side.

Now is there a compromise?

Well yes and no..

At one point, the world can slap a restriction on ALL major world summits and only allow 5 people to even dare attempt them or even the opposite way where all restrictions are lifted and the mountains turn into a super high way(Lets hope not..) but I truly believe that with a little effort, we can find some type of balance between allowing people to get out and experience the world like Everest or Denali, or anything else they desire and conserving that place for the future where it will still be in a semi decent condition 1,000+ years from now.

It will take a lot to

Both sides will argue, they fight, there may even be some times in which one side isn't even willing to consider the others view BUT with a little effort, I think it is possible.

It is a tall order to save our planets resources, wonders, places of freedom and the world we want to believe is still pure and free but I think we can do it. It maybe hard but I believe and always, for my entire life, try to make this my goal. I believe in nature and I believe in man and when we can all believe in those at the same times... Something great just may happen.

Taylor Mountain

Well after the last instance... I needed some time...

I don't think in my life that I have ever been so angered at a hike like I was at Rattlesnake Ridge. So I knew the next one was going to have to entail something that I would enjoy and since February was a fairly close to a swimming pool, I waited and sat for a hike.

What eventually came to me was an old favorite, Taylor Mountain-Holder Ridge.

Now this is a VERY easy hike, I would put it below Poo-Poo Point on a scale of easy. We did 1,420 vertical feet in 3.23 miles. Mind you, we did some exploring but by no means was it "Hard".


You begin at the parking lot. No passes here either. Thank goodness for King County Parks.

There is particular route has two directions. Neither matter but are equal in there way.

　
I normally head up the service road but that's because I like to have view going down rather than coming up. Why have your back to a view?

The trail up is a simple service road and has no views. Which sucks because I think from that position, you'd have a good view of Tahoma (Mount Rainer). After about 1.2 miles, you come to a T in the road and take a left turn. This will take you up and up and such until you start walking along a flat surface.

From here, you can hear Highway 18 below. Not my favorite thing obviously but at the same time, I can deal. As soon as you begin going downwards, you can look straight a head and catch a small glimpse of the metropolitan area. I was never sure if it was Seattle or Bellevue but either way, it is only to be seen on a clear to semi clear day.

You come around the corner and BAM. A stellar view of Hobart, Maple Valley and beyond. You don't actually see the cities but if you know the general location, you'll have a good idea where they are.

After taking the sights in, you continue on the well worn trail. It was clear to me that it had been well used. This is considering the fact the network of 30+ miles of trails is open to access for everyone, hikers and bikers and horsemen and women a like. It's not to hard to traverse but at the same time, it can provide some ankle busting situations. SO be careful!


As you keep on meandering through the trails, you come upon another T. Your option here is to go straight, which will lead to service road again OR the path that I take which is Z backwards and keep going on the trail. At that point, you go down for a bit, and a bit and a bit and then you make a Sharpe turn up hill. Up and up so more and the over ridge and down the other side. Not much to mention after you dive back into the trees. the trail will level off and lead you back to the parking lot and that's it.

So in short, a simple hike, not much to it. It's in the same category as Poo-Poo Point. Something small and easy and is a good after work/school hike.

So now that I have that outta the way... 68,500 feet left..



AND don't forget to comment with hiking rules or if you want one a book for yourself. I think that it'll be 101 rules?


And note, the photos that I included here weren't take on the day I hiked they're about 2 years old.

A Tribute

A little back ground on me and you'll find that I suffered some life changing events during middle school, I won't go much into detail but just know that it wasn't the lovable saunter you see today. In 2011, I had just recently gotten out of a relationship and was experience another depressions swing. Next to out of no where, my now right hand hiking partner, Noah Hebert, asked to spend the day with me and we decided to go for a hike. That hike happened to be Mount Si, a local favorite. After a long slog up the hill (which is what I now deem it), we reached what is considered the summit. This in reality is not the summit due to there being an extra 250 foot climb to the true summit. Many people stop here BUT being the young ambitious people we are, we decided to climb the "Haystack". We got about 75-100 feet up and it began to RAIN and I don't mean rain, I mean the gully we were climbing turned into a waterfall... and we're half way up.. With no ropes or guards to falling. We began the rapid/careful decent down and arrived back at the summit plane soaked to the bone but were laughing at our silly mistake. As we toured back down the hill side, I couldn't help but feel that I was happy for once. I felt that I could do something and beat it, despite to this day, still not having actually "summited" it and having a strong disposition to busy hikes, Mount Si started it all for me. After Si, It was a common thing to push the elevation higher and high and go further and further into the wild.





 So whats this all mean? Well that is my beginning. With out Si or Noah,who knows where I'd be in life?

Hiking is my escape, It allows me to be free. As the old Times Magazine motto goes,


"To see the World, things dangerous to come to. To see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life"



I live by this every day and believe in it truly


I would have likely gone down an much different path in life. I would have never become more active, I would have like stayed in a depressed state for longer and who knows frankly?

I thank everyone who's helped me along this amazing journey and just wanted to give thanks to the support given to me.

Rattlesnake Ridge-East Peak

I have a hike I hate






Which is scarey because I love hiking and always have and always will



So in all my hiking, I must admit that at any rate.. I have some prejudice when it comes to hiking.

I avoid hikes. It's at any rate, not something I try to do BUT when you have a mentality like mine, it is meh.

Now by avoid hikes, I mean popular ones.

Now what is a popular hike? Well this exact hike, Rattlesnake Ridge, is a popular hike...

NOT my fault we went here but that is another story.

Anyways. The hike begins at a semi large lake's parking ground. We arrived at about 9:00 AM and boy was there a lot of people AND I MEAN A LOT. The parking lot is pretty good sized and was FULL. Which made parking a lot of fun to find but since this is a hiking blog, my suggestion here is to get there early.

You begin at the "trail head" which I assume is a forest service road. If you can't find it, then simply follow the crowds. It's a small walk to the actual trail. There are a couple porta potty's there which are apparently being changed into stationary toilets. The trail head looks to have been Tailor made to look like a hike. You begin walking up the trail and it gets obvious. Looks can be deceiving. As you walk to and fro, the trail does occasionally look like it splits off but stay on the most beaten part. So long as you a come up to a tree over the trail. Either duck over or under, hikers discretion. I think it was placed there to make it "challenging".

You begin going up and up and blah blah blah. It's all minor switch backs and for anyone looking for a challenge, it isn't enough to even raise a heart beat above a reasonable level.

You hit a straight point and after about 3 minutes of going straight you reach the first ledge. I admit, the view is cool. Not many view like that around here. Rather than doubling back like most were, we continued up the trail. We found less and less people as we went and I image that's how it always is

We continued toward the peak  through the woods. Not many views or a description here. It's mostly trees dirt and what not. To be frank... It's boring

I won't continue on but just know, unless you hike this EARLY EARLY EARLY, it won't be worth it...



I know this took me nearly 2 months to post but I could never actually sit down and type with out getting angered about this...



More to come soon... Taylor Mountain-Holder Knob, Mount Peak (Pinnacle peak) and the Mud Mountain Dam trail.


Also am working on a hiking rules book, check out our blog about our rules to maybe add some of your own and I'll include them in the book or even a order for a book? Insert shameless plug here...

Til next time, keep calm and hike on.

Hiking rules

20 rules.... For now...



Rule 1

Death by gardener snake would be the worst way to die\

Rule 2

Girls are always going up while I'm going down

Rule 3

Ice axes will make things more interesting

Rule four

Roots are evil

Rule 5

Trail running can be dirty dirty

Rule 6

If you don't know where you're going, it's Narnia

Rule 7

Birds like my nuts

Rule 8

Lake Serene=Heaven

Rule 9

Trick people with a wolf dog

Rule 10

Days I can't hike are ALWAYS SUNNY

Rule 11

Vertigo is bad

Rule 12

Preparation, Preparation, Preparations

Rule 13

Don't go climbing water falls

Rule 14

If it's worth doing, its worth over doing

Rule 15

Saunter, don't hike

Rule 16

VOODOO ROCKS can be odd

Rule 17

Silence is golden

Rule 18

Find a short easy hike... For warm ups of course

Rule 19

Pick up where others left off

Rule 20

If it looks like a trail... It likely is...