Jane Vincent
Showing posts with label Shaneinbaw. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shaneinbaw. Show all posts
Saturday, March 7, 2009
shaneinbaw
As I am writing this, the wind is howling outside.
When driving into the yard around 5.30 pm things had been blown about.
Jane and I have had that before; we are enjoying the power of the elements in the mountains, only to find out that back home it was actually worse.
At 8.15 am I ski to Jane’s. We load up the skies and take her car to the head of the trail. What I didn’t know; is that the trap line is active and Jane has asked the 93 year old elder, who runs it, permission to use the cabin by the lake.
We both don’t know though, what the condition of the trail will be, so she takes her short skies, with skins and I actually took my regular ones.
We see the start of the trail, but in the gravel pit it soon disappears. Again we know we are on it, as we are not sinking in too deep. I loose it, Jane finds it..
Once in the forest, the trail (skidoo tracks) is obvious. Jane regrets not having faster skies, but I am happy, because now I can keep up with her.
As the crow flies it is about 8 km to the lake. The trail going up gradually along a creek.
We both didn’t bring a watch, which is totally ok, neither of us has to be back a certain time.
We come onto the ridge with open views of the creek bed below. No mountains though, it is cloudy today, and starts snowing a bit. Higher an d higher we climb, jane with her skins walks straight up, where I at times take off my skies to walk.
Snowing more, but softly. Looking up along the ridge, it looks like we will come to the top of the world, in reality disappearing in the cloud.
As we are heading for the valley of brides, a name I have given it. Here we enter the ridge of dwarfs, hillsides full of miniature, gnarled aspen, probably very old trees.
Snowing harder and we are entering a open forest with big tall spruce. To stay in the spirit, I guess these are the grooms. Their dark shapes softened by the fresh snow.
We go through another thicker forest, turning west. Because of the weather, we only see the trees close by, which makes us notice them more. Now the big Spruce are getting dramatic shapes. Many of the tops blown of long time ago, has them grown a more rounded top.
Now it is snowing big flakes, wet ones.
Through a willow dip, we start entering the valley of brides. Ah, they are wearing veils, all that snow.
They are beautiful.
Here the trail starts disappearing once in a while, we mark some places (as we like to make it back). We never really loose it though.
The valley narrows, we are in between two steep mountains now. Only the one on the right visible at times.
Jane is way ahead of me now. Suddenly she reappears coming my way. We just ski into each other and hug. We both share this tremendous love for the wild. I am very grateful, to have her as a friend. She likes to go ahead to the cabin, close to the lake.
That is totally fine by me, I figure it’s only another hour.
Going straight into the wind, the snow stinging our faces,
But it’s at the most –10C, which feels warm to us Northerners.
When she takes off;
She disturbs a flock of Ptarmigan.
Pure white birds flying in all directions.
At times her tracks are already snowed in, but the trail is visible enough here, a white line through buck brush. As I am starting to feel tired.
Suddenly there is the cabin, I could have sworn, I still be half an hour.
The cabin, a gift from God. The people owning it put a lot of love in it.
We make a fire in the woodstove, hang our moist clothes, eat and relax.
The journal says that the trapper was here 3 days ago. Jane leaves a note too.
We split some kindling, bring in some wood to replace what we used, and leave the place as we found it. Thanks!
While inside, the sun actually tries to come out.
Not successful, but now we see the surrounding mountains. Shaneinbaw’s top still shrouded in clouds.
On the way back we get a glimpse of the lake behind us, we never really went there, no need.
The wind in our back! We get pushed by it and truly fly at times. Our ski tracks mostly snowed in, but the trail itself easier to see.
Snow blowing around us. Swirling around ‘the brides’, whirlwinds and flurries and all those good things. It is a wonderful sight.
Going around the mountain , turning east, we ski in total calm, while the wind still howls and the snow blows. It is like skiing in a dream.
The drifts getting bigger, but very soft.
Turning South, the trail goes down steeper. I take a dive several times. No comparison to water, this is all soft and lovely.
I am proud of my own skills though, knowing how to curve down the hill, this slightly winding path. Flying past big trees. Enough control, to be able to fall when one would come too close.
Ah…. only too soon we reach the road.
Thanks for a glorious day!
When driving into the yard around 5.30 pm things had been blown about.
Jane and I have had that before; we are enjoying the power of the elements in the mountains, only to find out that back home it was actually worse.
At 8.15 am I ski to Jane’s. We load up the skies and take her car to the head of the trail. What I didn’t know; is that the trap line is active and Jane has asked the 93 year old elder, who runs it, permission to use the cabin by the lake.
We both don’t know though, what the condition of the trail will be, so she takes her short skies, with skins and I actually took my regular ones.
We see the start of the trail, but in the gravel pit it soon disappears. Again we know we are on it, as we are not sinking in too deep. I loose it, Jane finds it..
Once in the forest, the trail (skidoo tracks) is obvious. Jane regrets not having faster skies, but I am happy, because now I can keep up with her.
As the crow flies it is about 8 km to the lake. The trail going up gradually along a creek.
We both didn’t bring a watch, which is totally ok, neither of us has to be back a certain time.
We come onto the ridge with open views of the creek bed below. No mountains though, it is cloudy today, and starts snowing a bit. Higher an d higher we climb, jane with her skins walks straight up, where I at times take off my skies to walk.
Snowing more, but softly. Looking up along the ridge, it looks like we will come to the top of the world, in reality disappearing in the cloud.
As we are heading for the valley of brides, a name I have given it. Here we enter the ridge of dwarfs, hillsides full of miniature, gnarled aspen, probably very old trees.
Snowing harder and we are entering a open forest with big tall spruce. To stay in the spirit, I guess these are the grooms. Their dark shapes softened by the fresh snow.
We go through another thicker forest, turning west. Because of the weather, we only see the trees close by, which makes us notice them more. Now the big Spruce are getting dramatic shapes. Many of the tops blown of long time ago, has them grown a more rounded top.
Now it is snowing big flakes, wet ones.
Through a willow dip, we start entering the valley of brides. Ah, they are wearing veils, all that snow.
They are beautiful.
Here the trail starts disappearing once in a while, we mark some places (as we like to make it back). We never really loose it though.
The valley narrows, we are in between two steep mountains now. Only the one on the right visible at times.
Jane is way ahead of me now. Suddenly she reappears coming my way. We just ski into each other and hug. We both share this tremendous love for the wild. I am very grateful, to have her as a friend. She likes to go ahead to the cabin, close to the lake.
That is totally fine by me, I figure it’s only another hour.
Going straight into the wind, the snow stinging our faces,
But it’s at the most –10C, which feels warm to us Northerners.
When she takes off;
She disturbs a flock of Ptarmigan.
Pure white birds flying in all directions.
At times her tracks are already snowed in, but the trail is visible enough here, a white line through buck brush. As I am starting to feel tired.
Suddenly there is the cabin, I could have sworn, I still be half an hour.
The cabin, a gift from God. The people owning it put a lot of love in it.
We make a fire in the woodstove, hang our moist clothes, eat and relax.
The journal says that the trapper was here 3 days ago. Jane leaves a note too.
We split some kindling, bring in some wood to replace what we used, and leave the place as we found it. Thanks!
While inside, the sun actually tries to come out.
Not successful, but now we see the surrounding mountains. Shaneinbaw’s top still shrouded in clouds.
On the way back we get a glimpse of the lake behind us, we never really went there, no need.
The wind in our back! We get pushed by it and truly fly at times. Our ski tracks mostly snowed in, but the trail itself easier to see.
Snow blowing around us. Swirling around ‘the brides’, whirlwinds and flurries and all those good things. It is a wonderful sight.
Going around the mountain , turning east, we ski in total calm, while the wind still howls and the snow blows. It is like skiing in a dream.
The drifts getting bigger, but very soft.
Turning South, the trail goes down steeper. I take a dive several times. No comparison to water, this is all soft and lovely.
I am proud of my own skills though, knowing how to curve down the hill, this slightly winding path. Flying past big trees. Enough control, to be able to fall when one would come too close.
Ah…. only too soon we reach the road.
Thanks for a glorious day!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Moss Campion and Frigid Arnica
going down, looking up
July 23, Shaneinbaw.
From the highway we biked up for one and a half hour, on a firm, but sandy trail. Turning muddy, which harbors the Valerian ( A favorite of mine), which landed us in a city park like valley, an undergrowth of Willow brush etc. with increasingly beautiful big Spruce trees, spread out, so each individual tree rises to its greatest potential.
We figure out a line to follow, and hike across the wetland, first Jane fills up her water bottle in a pond, but a little up she finds beautiful clear water, maybe a spring, which gives us a delicious draft. We are hiking towards sand dunes on the foot of the mountain. From the bikes it takes us 2 hours to come out above the treeline. I am thinking that seems to be the usual thing around here. The Valleys where we live are at just below 2500 feet and the treeline above 3500 feet. The toughest 1000 feet of elevation gain for me. I work out a pattern of climbing and resting which works for me, I stop at regular intervals, and very much enjoy the increasingly beautiful views, and the increasingly beautiful wild flowers. Adding to the list I made a few days ago.
Aria! I saw a field of Lupines like on your photo from Iceland. Gorgeous.
I said tough, but actually we are very lucky and follow moose trails most of the way.
Once I am beyond the steep climb above the treeline I gallop. Jane is ahead of me and sees a line of sheep on the mountain over, but still part of the Shaneinbaw Range ( which is not named on any map. The lake below is Shaneinbaw lake. The highest peak from this group is called Shaneinbaw mountain, so does that make this Shaneinbaw Range?)
Now we are up here we decide if we go on to that highest peak or follow the ridge above the lake. The snow helps us make the right decision, we don't quite know it yet , but we are in for a most amazing hike. About the snow, yes fresh snow, first I see little clusters of snow crystals behind every poll of grass. Dressed for the weather I am happy that it is not snowing now, or worse raining. Although when I am out here I enjoy it all.
I will maybe add a picture of flowers, which are totally amazing again today. But distinctly different. Today not many pink plumes of Bistort, but more of the Alpine Meadow Bistort(Polygonum viviparum). The most glorious on the uphill are the Blue For-get-me-nots. Up but especially later on down, there are many flowers from the pea family, which I have to identify another day. The Hedisarum alpinum, which is the Eskimo patato is the very same that grows at lower elevations.
Anyway This ridge is my dream come true. It is a mountain cut in half, by who knows what kind of event. We are walking on very top of the ridge, one side gently sloped (imagine gentle with wind and snow) But the side I am googling over, vertically down. On top of this ridge we are following a sheep trail 10 inches wide and often 10 inches deep. We follow their trail on to a rock outcrop down the vertical slope. You gotta see it. Its too much for words (one day I'll try). Back on the ridge we have a break just north of the top, the wind is coming from the south.
I definitely don't want to walk back into that wind and we decide to find a way down towards the lake, which again, was the best decision ever. On the map it looks like we might have to go all the way to the north end of the lake. But as it turns out we see from the top a beautifully green and white plateau a little lower.(you cannot see this from below) The green being grass and flowers, the white; Rock, crystal clear white rock as it turns out.
At this very moment as I am typing I am tantalized by the feeling that I just want to be there , right now.
Jane chooses a line down, starting by the most ,white outcrop, which is distinct from below. I would have thought it too dangerous , but as it turns out it is most spectacular and climbing down carefully I am not scared at any point as the rock provides solid steps.
We come out on a 'dune' which leads us straight to the lake. Where we watch the ducklings, have a fire and make soup and tea. Again we come upon a game trail which eventually crosses the meandering, sandy. small creek and brings us by the trail, which will bring us to our bikes.
Our legs are tired and it is totally invigorating to step on the bike. The trail has a perfect slop. Who ever made the trail (thank you) It is perfect. on a certain stretch it follows a ridge that is steep on both sides. As I get sand in my eyes, I have to take out my contact lenses and put on my glasses. I have fallen behind now, which gives me the opportunity to fly down to catch up. I love it!
footnote: one more flower, Androsace chamaejasme, Rock Jasmine.
Next time I encounter it I will hopefully recognize it and put my nose to it, it is fragrant!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Shaneinbaw
Wednesday July 23
1 day bike /hike with Jane Vincent.
Another 10 hour day and again not long enough.
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