Yesterday we took a picnic lunch & with dog, headed up Coffee Creek road to Mt. Meadow. The dirt road is 14 miles and dead ends up there but it took a good hour to drive. It’s in pretty horrible shape (county had no $, same story all over) and not advised for vehicles with low clearance. Not that that stops them! It’s the trail head into the Alps and hikers and packers love it. There were Prius’s at the trail head! And it was going home day for hikers and for the resort up there so the traffic was heavy and I guess those guys don’t value their cans all that much. On the ONE lane road as they were driving like it was paved! We tooled along slowly, more or less enjoying the bumpy trip and watching out for on-coming as most of them don’t know how to drive roads of this kind. Their idea of passing on a one lane road is to stop when they see you and let you figure out how to get around without climbing the bank or going over one! But we made it and I hope all them did too. Oh yes, there was another factor in the back woods ‘freeway’ traffice- opening day of bow season. These two photos might give you an idea of the road. But no photo can really show it.   

Off the edge. That’s Coffee Creek way down there.

But before the trail walkers started coming back to their cars the campground was totally delightful! The quiet so thick it was almost tangible.  Sis is right, it is not so much just the lack of noise as it is the lack of background noise. The noises we all have grown so used to that we don’t really hear until they are missing. The distant traffic, the lawn mowers & leaf blowers, the electronics and appliances in our houses, we just don’t really hear them anymore. But when they are missing it is very noticeable! The quiet falls softly on your ears. Talk about stress relief! It’s amazing. I just sat and listened. Once in awhile there was a bird chirp, and a breeze came up later adding a soft whisper above. Then around 1pm, as we were were finishing lunch, the hikers stared coming out of the woods. But even with added people noises it was still a lovely day.

We took a walk about the camp ground & down to the meadow. Most flowers were already done and the little  patch of aspens have not yet started to turn. But it’s still pretty. Looking up to the resort & the old historical cabin.

Then while Randy and dog walked down to play in the Salmon River I sat at the table and got out my loom.

Weaving in the Wilderness

I don’t trust my bad knee on that very steep trail but He took pictures. Used to love wading the the stream. Dog enjoyed it!

  Salmon river,

Salmon river, down stream it gets a bit more rugged.

And the view across the meadow into the Alps is just beautiful, anytime of the year. You can see there is still snow up there. The hikers told us there is a lot more than shows here on the sunny side of the hill.

And there are still some flowers blooming in the first meadows.

But now it’s Monday. He’s back to deck building, I’m canning plums, peaches, and zucchini relish. I managed to fit a peach pie in there, too! Dog is snoring in her bed, staying out of the heat & dreaming of that nice cool stream for wading!

Hope you’re finding some cool too!