For my mother.

dear-mom

For my mother.

“Our mothers always remain the strangest, craziest people we’ve ever met.

— Marguerite Duras

To my mom:

Not including the countless hikes that we did as a kid and random day hikes that I’m not remembering, I estimate that we have backpacked and/or climbed over 304 miles together in the past 8 years.  This is relatively remarkable, because you live on the other side of the country from me.  But every single year, without fail, you make a migration westward so that we can complete our annual backpacking trip together.

As you will likely recall, our first backpacking trip together was to through-hike the Enchantments in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness.  Of course, after the trip, I read on a website, “This is not a trip to take a beginner backpacker on.”  Needless to say, that would have been good to know before I “coerced” you into climbing up the 2000′ gain in 1 mile that is Aasgard Pass.  And maybe it would have been good to know before we camped in sub-zero temperatures.  And maybe that would have been great to know before we hiked out in a snowstorm.  But who am I kidding?  We didn’t know, and you had a great time.  I still remember the excitement of getting you up Aasgard pass alive and in one piece, even after we had to scramble up rocks completely covered with ice.

Heading out for my mom

Heading out for my mom’s first backpacking trip ever into the Enchantments.

Mom and I in the Upper Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Mom and I in the Upper Enchantments, Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Sadly for you, the trips never got easier.  I have unbelievably taken you on hikes that are literally some of the hardest, most technical off-trail routes I have ever been on.  There were points where I had to help you through some difficult sections, but when I say “difficult” – I mean that most people would have turned around 10 miles before we got to that point.  You apologize for “slowing me down”, but if you think you’re “slowing me down” on a nearly vertical talus field with rockfall hazard to our right and 2000′ of death-by-cheese grater exposure to our left, well, let’s just say you aren’t, because I’m probably freaking out more than you (I’m just better at hiding it).

About to cross a nasty scree section on the Carne Mountain High Route.

About to cross a nasty scree section on the Carne Mountain High Route.

Me, mom and sister Reese above Upper Lyman Lakes, Spider Meadows Loop, Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Me, mom and sister Reese above Upper Lyman Lakes, Spider Meadows Loop, Glacier Peak Wilderness.

You were there for the Spider Meadows Loop –  the first “long distance” hike that I planned.  Looking back, it was such a simple trip, but at the time it was a huge accomplishment for me.  I had never planned a multi-day trip alone before.   I still remember the excitement of reaching Spider Gap – a place I had wanted to see so badly.  We crested the top of the glacier, and suddenly we were looking down on the Upper Lyman Lakes – a moment I had dreamed about for over a year.  And of course, spending a day in the sun on Middle Ridge – if you were there, you know how amazing it was, but words truly cannot describe that day surrounded by mountains and gazing at Glacier Peak.

My sister Reese, leaping for joy on Middle Ridge, Glacier Peak Wilderness.

My sister Reese, leaping for joy on Middle Ridge, Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Since those first two trips, we have gone on to complete countless other adventures.  We’ve climbed Mt. Saint Helens in a vicious windstorm.  We camped at Gothic Basin in the snow, and I’m pretty certain you almost slid to your death in frozen Foggy Lake.  We backpacked 50 miles on the Hannegan Pass/Copper Ridge loop in the North Cascades.  We climbed Mt. Hinman and completed one of the most ridiculously insane off-trail circuits from LaBohn Lakes to Tank Lakes (seriously, that trip was hard even for me) amidst swarms of blood sucking mosquitoes.  We completed the Carne Mountain High Route to Ice Lakes, involving one of the most death-defying scree traverses I have ever done.  We camped at Robin Lakes in a blizzard and still managed to climb two nearby peaks.  We have crossed endless, slippery logs.  We have boulder-hopped when you were sure you couldn’t boulder hop.  You have ascended incredibly steep snow and descended gullies so steep that most people would have stopped to whimper.

Mom about to step up onto a steep snow ledge just below the Mt. Hinman summit. 

Mom about to step up onto a steep snow ledge just below the Mt. Hinman summit.

Summit of Mt. Hinman, Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Summit of Mt. Hinman, Alpine Lakes Wilderness.

Skirting the edge of frozen Foggy Lake, Gothic Basin.

Skirting the edge of frozen Foggy Lake, Gothic Basin.

I am forever grateful that you instilled in me and encouraged my love of adventure.  I am forever grateful for the time you spent driving me back and forth to my volunteer “job” at Hopewell Furnace National Park, which ultimately helped shape my entire career path and genuine love for parks and the wilderness.  I am forever grateful for the creek walks at Evansburg State Park, and for the time you allowed 6 children to paddle an inflatable raft upsteam on the Skippack Creek (only to get lost for hours without you having any clue where we were).  I am forever grateful for the summer vacations spent hiking in Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, The Grand Tetons, Acadia, the White Mountains, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, and our very first camping trip to Hickory Run State Park, which was a complete disaster, but I loved it anyways.  My life is the biggest adventure that I can imagine – I have an insatiable desire to exploreI absolutely could not imagine anything more fulfilling, and I am so fortunate that you helped to clear that trail for me as a young, starry-eyed hiker.  I am even more fortunate to be able to share those adventures with you now, and lead the way for you to complete some pretty epic memories.

Crater rim of Mt. Saint Helens.

Crater rim of Mt. Saint Helens.

Descending to Ice lakes, Entiat National Forest. 

Descending to Ice lakes, Entiat National Forest.

A few days ago when you called me, you said you were worried about turning sixty.  Well, let me tell you what – I don’t know many 20 year old “kids” that could keep up with you.  You have climbed mountains.  You have hiked the Wonderland Trail.  You have crossed the Grand Canyon.  You hiked for 11 days, unsupported in Iceland.  You run ultra marathons.  If you think that turning 60 is going to slow you down, well, you’re incredibly wrong.  Turning 60 just means that all of your accomplishments and adventures (and there will be many more) will be that much more awesome and brag-worthy.

About to perform a cable crossing of the Chilliwack RIver, North Cascades. 

About to perform a cable crossing of the Chilliwack RIver, North Cascades.

It’s safe to say that 304 miles of hiking is an unacceptable total for me, which is why, we are kicking it up a notch this year.  I’m looking for an epic, off trail hike that is 100% on boulders and slippery log crossings over raging rivers.  If you’re lucky, we might cross a steep slope covered with loose pine needles.  Or maybe I’ll plan the trip so we can get swarmed with mosquitoes… or caught in a blizzard… I haven’t decided.  Either way, it’s sure to be memorable, as usual.

All kidding aside, I looked through all the photos today from every single trip that we have completed together.  Did you know that there are hundreds and hundreds of photos?  I am so glad that you are crazy enough to hike with me.  Some of the best memories of my life are on these trips, and as I look through the photos, I am so proud that I’ve been able to share my love of adventure with my own mom.  Sure, we have our differences, and there was that one time I tried to assault you with a pogo ball when I was 13, but I’d say that all things considered, I turned out alright.

I’m not a mom myself, but I imagine that being a mom is an awful lot like climbing a mountain: moments of frustration and misery intertwined with moments of pure, infinite bliss.  If you can somehow combine those two things, I think the frustration and misery cancel each other out (I’ve done the math).  And so, I imagine that being a mom, spending time with your child, surrounded by mountains and sharing adventures … well, I imagine that must be quite possibly the best thing of all.

Love you mom!  Happy Mothers Day!

-A

The infamous

The infamous “pointing leap” in front of Challenger and Whatcom Peaks, North Cascades.

4 Comments
  • Kathy Patterson
    Posted at 22:31h, 08 May Reply

    Thanks S. for sharing your love for your mother and the hikes you take with her. 🙂 It is a great tribute to ypu and your mother. (Kathy Patterson)

  • Jess Z
    Posted at 18:46h, 09 May Reply

    I think I have read this 3 times…a beautiful blog post. I can imagine the tears were flowing while writing and reading. <3

  • Lynda
    Posted at 11:47h, 10 May Reply

    Beautiful sentiments all moms dream for. I see where you get your amazingness!

  • marge guinard
    Posted at 02:04h, 30 September Reply

    I have benefited secondhand from you challenging your mother, Kathy. I hike and backpack with Kathy and she always kicks my trips up several notches. She is like an ever-ready energy bunny. I consider her a best friend and love her like a sister. You are blessed to have her as a mother.
    Marge Guinard
    Maryland

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