Mount Catherine
 

I know this will disappoint Mark Wilson, but here I am using "Mount" as a noun rather than a verb. I woke up yesterday morning about 100 ft from the summit of Mount Catherine. The summit is too narrow for a tent. It was my fiftieth birthday. Breathtaking 360-degree panoramic view of the Cascades. Warm and sunny. Calm. Had champagne and coffee at sunrise.

I've been wanting to resume the backpacking habit I had in college which, obviously, was a LONG time ago. And since I live in the world's most ideal location for backpacking, I think I'll not just stop at mounting Catherine only. There are others that should be mounted. Many others. Many. Many that are at lower elevations. But the most attractive stretch to me right now is between Snoqualmie and Stevens passes, along the Pacific Crest Trail.

Anybody out there have any idea what I'm talking about?

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/suppo.../smileysex.gif

I'm a leg man. SmileWavy

[QUOTE=Superman;3477320] Many others. Many. Many that are at lower elevations... QUOTE]:eek:

Happy Birthday Supe! Half a century!

Did you slap the cratch?

Happy birthday Supe. You reminded me of this;
An old lady had two pet monkeys named Cuthbert and Catherine, coincidentally. The two monkeys were very close to each other and were like children to her. Cuthbert and Catherine would go everywhere she went and consequently everybody in town knew her and her monkeys. Everything was fine and the happy family lived together for many, many years until one day Catherine passed away. Cuthbert was devastated and in his grief took his own life hours later. The old lady was very upset to loose both her monkeys so suddenly, but spent the rest of the day trying to think of a fitting tribute to preserve the many fond memories of the time they’d spent together. Finally, late that night she hit on the idea of taking them to the taxidermist to have them stuffed.
Early the next morning she loaded the two little monkey corpses into the car and set off to the taxidermist. Obviously the taxidermist had heard about her loss,

“I’m very sorry to hear about Cuthbert and Catherine, but I guess you’ve decided to have them preserved in just the way you remember them, so I guess you’d like them mounting?”

To which the old lady replied,

“No, just holding hands”

yup, Mt. Washington, NH, Mt. Marcy, NY, Mt. Robson, BC, Grand Teton, WY, and countless more.

Thanks dad!

Damnit you beat me to it!

You mean sleeping on the cold hard ground when there are perfectly good hotels around? No... no, I don't know what you are talking about!:D

As my friend would say "my idea of roughing it is slow room service"

But seriously, I just turned 50 myself and I do love hiking outdoors and all that but my memories if backpacking aren't quit as fond as yours.

Happy B day! SmileWavy

My idea of roughing it,

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189718152.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189718297.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189718380.jpg

Happy B-Day. I used to do the same thing, and hiked up a lot of the mountains here in AZ "getting away from it all" at one time. Nice waking up on top of everything, fresh chilly air and just knowing you are going to have a great day.

[QUOTE=Superman;3477320]
There are others that should be mounted. Many others. Many. Many that are at lower elevations.
[QUOTE]

Now THERE I might know what you are talking about.;)

Okay for all you horny guys who are still snickering, consider this: At 5000 feet above the valley floor with the nearest road two days away, there are absolutely no old, fat, women. There are many women up there, and they are all healthy enough to carry fifty pounds for two days. So........clear water and air, breathtaking vistas and........sporty women with fresh faces and pony tails hanging out their baseball caps. One of the very finest locations for a BJ is on the shore of an alpine lake.

There are a couple of places in the Cascades I visit annually. Unfortunately, I haven't been to any of them yet this year.

As a consolation prize, I have been riding the snot out of the new Cannondale mountain bike I bought myself a few weeks ago.

By BJ, do you mean...
http://www.moviemarket.co.uk/library...173/173366.jpg
...Billy Jack? :D

Thanks, Joe. I figured you'd understand. I've never woke up on a mountain top and then had a bad day. That'd be hard to do.

But again, I fully intend to hike portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail, especially certain parts including the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, Indian Heaven Wilderness and William O. Douglass Winderness areas. If anybody is interested, or has comments for me, please chime in. Here are a couple of pics:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189720581.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189720630.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189720678.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1189720691.jpg

Happy birthday, Supe. We are now the same age:cool:

I spent most of my youth outside, from kayaking with my father to running rivers as a guide in the west as a college student so your recent trip resonated.

After I lose the uniform, I plan on getting back west...I'll tag along someday:)

Supe - I do know exactly what you're talking about. I too have spent some time in the mountains, miles from anywhere, a week at a time without seeing another person and it's great! My Uncle took me and my family backpacking in the Sierra Nevadas a few years ago and I loved it. The only bit I didn't like was being half eaten alive by mosquitos in one of our camp sites. I didn't mind having to hoist our food up trees to get it away from the bears, or having to chase the little buggers away in the middle of the night, just those damn mosquitos! I think you found a perfect way to enjoy your 50th. Best wishes and keep at those peaks.

Excellent. I was hoping this thread might attract a kindred spirit or two. You are all welcome to tag along. It would be a pleasure. A double-pleasure.

In the days of my youth I was a pretty avid backpacker. Been out in Desolation Valley on many occasions and seen no one for days, which I would not be able to do now, due to the population thing.

You need to go to Alaska or Montana if you think Washington is the best place in the world for camping. Did a whitewater rafting trip down the Talkeetna River in AK, mighty fine country up there.

Happy Birthday, BTW

Yesterday was my birthday, too Supe. I just took the day off and relaxed.

My brother, however, who is a few years older than you has climbed every serious mountain in the PNW, plus several in the Himalayas, including K2 -- a couple of times. He likes that stuff. It mystifies me.

Happy b'day.