August 10, 2018 Never Walk Alone

Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Roll on, Columbia, roll on
Your power is turning our darkness to dawn
So roll on, Columbia, roll on
Green Douglas firs where the waters cut through
Down her wild mountains and canyons she flew
Canadian Northwest to the oceans so blue
Roll on Columbia, roll on

Woody Guthrie

Bridge of the Gods or “the gods must be crazy!”

Mission crossed the Bridge Of the Gods into Washington on August 8 and is now hiking among the southern Cascade volcanoes, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Adams.  Granny Hat was curious about the name of this bridge, turns out there is a tale full of adventure, dispute, romance and revenge, surprised Disney didn’t already snatch it up.  The native Klickitats believed that the Chief of all the gods and his two sons traveled down the Columbia River in search of a new home.  When they spotted the beautiful countryside which is now called The Dalles, the two princes quarreled bitterly over the land so their chieftain dad came up with a way to settle the dispute.  He shot two arrows from his mighty bow, one to the north and the other to the south.  The eldest, Pahto, traveled to the north of the river and the youngest, Wy’east, settled south of the river.  Hoping that his family dysfunction was resolved, Chief Tyhee Saghalie built a natural stone bridge over the river called Tanmahais, “the bridge of the gods”, so the family could travel back and forth to see each other.  But the princes were fated to war about everything and fell in love with the same beautiful maiden, Loowit, who should have been named Low-wit as she couldn’t decide between her two suitors.  The brawling escalated and the Chief couldn’t take it any longer so he turned the love triangle into three peaks; Wy’east became Mt. Hood, Pahto became Mt. Adams and the lovely Loowit was transformed into Mt. St. Helens and well…. we all know how her story ended.

A Special Trail Angel

Mission celebrated the border crossing with a very special trail angel, his Uncle Nathan, who lives with his family in Portland, Oregon.  Granny’s brother Nathan has always been known among her family as “the funny Uncle”, the teller of tall tales and he has trekked many wilderness miles with his own kids over the years.  Mission was a little late to their appointment at Cascade Locks so Nathan just hiked up the trail about five miles to meet him.  On the way Nathan met many other PCT travelers hurrying down the trail to get to their morning coffee at the Locks.  Uncle Nathan brought yummy homemade muffins courtesy of Aunt Glenda, snacks and of course, watermelon.  Gotta replace those electrolytes!  Great magic, Nathan! Granny Hat imagines more spring in Mission’s step as he was able to hike along with you.

 

Thank you again, trail angels, for the encouragement and morale boost all of you have given Mission along the journey.

Topics for Discussion

Several of my readers have alluded to a couple of burning topics of conversation:

What motivates a trekker like Mission to set out on such an adventure?  and…How will he ever transition back to the rat race which, for him, includes a busy University life in Orange County, CA?

Granny Hat is going to be exploring these topics for some time and you are all invited to chime in.  I’m not sure the heart of adventure can be stopped, nor should it.  All of us need to be able to look forward to the next adventure, whether it is travel, academic pursuit, romance, career advancement or something simple but challenging like raising a family. Some walk quietly, alone, and then some are always on a noisy, boisterous team, but God created us with a desire for adventure, for a new name and fresh views.

Ake Nordin, founder of Fjall Raven (Actic Fox) said it this way: “We’ve been trekking for 50 years, and I hope we never get there.”

Meanwhile, Mission sees each stunning mountain view as a gift, each difficulty along the way as a “test” and he is stronger for them all.  He has learned there is a light at the end of forest tunnel insanity:

He knows what the river knows, “there is no hurry, we shall get there some day.”                 A. A. Milne  (Ramona Falls, Hood Wilderness)

And Mission has experienced walking all by himself but not alone:

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”Joshua 1:9