Interrupted

My Life Thus Far
2017-01-13 00:32:06 (UTC)

Beaver Ponds

I can't recall a time where I've been as disappointed about a hike as I was today... and that realization alone made me all the more sad. It took a concerted effort to remind myself that every hike is a good hike, and that I'm grateful for any and all time I get in nature. Truly.


To be perfectly honest, today was hard. I woke up with the deepest, darkest, pervasive sense of sadness I've felt in a long time. I almost said "fuck it" and didn't even bother getting out of bed, but it really was such a beautiful day and those are so rare this time of year. Who knows when the rain will start back up, and I'd feel like I missed out if I hadn't taken full advantage of the day.

That pep talk in and of itself might have been what left me feeling sad about today's hike. It wasn't what I'd hoped for and I felt like I hadn't maximized the full potential of the day. My plan had been to take Gold Creek trailhead to Tin Mine trail and maybe give Gold Mountain another try. I wanted to see that spectacular view of the Olympics I saw back in July, only now snowcapped and the day was exponentially clearer than it had been when I was up there last. I recall rain was coming in from the west. Anyhow, I digress. I splurged on myself and spent $30 on a tripod and cellphone mount, so I can take better pictures/videos and I wanted a gorgeous opportunity to try them out.

My initial inkling was that Gold Creek trail turned into Davis trail (if I went straight instead of turning left and heading up Green Mountain), which then intersected with Gold Mountain trail and Tin Mine trail. My plan was to hike Tin Mine, but maybe also Gold Mountain if Tin Mine didn't offer any kickass photo ops. All was well and good walking along Davis trail, but soon I started to get the sensation that this trail wasn't going to start gaining elevation, and that I wasn't going to end up on the side of Gold Mountain as anticipated. Davis trail was running right along the valley floor between Green and Gold Mountains. Not what I'd expected or hyped myself up about. That's what I think invited the sadness. I wanted to stand on top of the world, and I was basically in the arm pit of two mountains. I kept waiting for the trail to change, but it kept on as it was. Very straight. Very flat. Kind of boring.

Davis trail, I'd imagine, is very pretty in the spring and summer months. Even during fall with all the leaves changing color (there was a large number of deciduous trees in the area), but it's only real claim to fame at the moment is the massive beaver dams running along side the trail. It was freezing in the valley, so the ponds were frozen over, the trail was icy and snowy, it was like I was my own Snow White, walking through such a pretty winter wonderland. Once I'd passed the beaver dams the trail got pretty ho hum, and that's when my spirits dropped. I could look up and see that the sun was shining so brilliantly on the tops of both mountains, but I had no way of getting up there.

Because the trail was so flat and easy, I was already 2.5 miles in before even bothering to look at the time. I got a late start, so I had to turn around at about 4pm to make it out by dark. I did 5 miles in what felt like no time. I didn't get to see where the trail ended, or what was up ahead. So, I'll have to go back with more time, and a reasonable expectation that there isn't anything spectacular to see, but the area is still very lovely for an easy stroll. Snookums and the kids would like it, too. Solely for the beaver ponds!




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