j031130 (imported)
November 30, 2003
Here’s hoping you had a happy Thanksgiving (you Americans, that is). We certainly did, despite my dragging Robyn into an eternal game of Trivial Pursuit (which we ended up forfeiting) at my sister’s house. Not much else is going on around here, so most of this entry will be pictures from the hike I took yesterday, along with some of my fascinating commentary.
In defense of dorkiness, I’d like to say that being a super-dork sometimes comes in handy. I came face to face with a hiking couple at one point yesterday. They weren’t dorked out, but I was, so when the man asked me if the trail they were on would take them in a loop, I was able to whip out a trail map and show them a path they could take to make a big loop.
Damn Skippy.
Also, if you’re a man, and you happened to be on the east side of Montesano with your wife/girlfriend yesterday, sitting on the bench in the little shelter and about to receive a blow job when some dorky guy with a cool backpack stumbled up on you, sorry about that. I really was just looking for the yellow trail marker. I wasn’t spying. Honest!
My hike yesterday started at the hiker’s parking lot on Montesano (locals: it’s about a quarter-mile beyond the entrance to the State Park). From there I took the South Plateau Loop Trail (white markers) to the McKay’s Hollow Trail (yellow markers). The McKay’s Hollow Trail is rumored to be one of the tougher trails in the system of trails on Montesano. It declines about 600 feet from the trailhead into the hollow, meanders for a mile or so through a plateau in the hollow (I wish it had gone all the way to the base of the mountain, but no trail is perfect), then has an awesome climb of about 700 vertical feet up to the State Park picnic area. From there, the Blue Trail leads back to the hiker’s parking lot.
While the South Plateau Trail was boring — it was wide enough to drive down, for God’s sake — and the descent into McKay’s Hollow was pretty simple, except for all the small ankle-twisting rocks, the climb out of the hollow made the whole trip worth it. I was reeling around and theatrically gasping like Tallulah Bankhead by the time I stopped for lunch near the top. Two thumbs up for that.
A bluff near the beginning of the South Plateau Trail. If you
look closely, you’ll see icicles on it. That drop to the right
is into McKay’s Hollow.
Looking into the hollow from the South Plateau Trail.
Looking out over the hollow from the South Plateau Trail.
A view from in the hollow, back up toward the plateau.
The McKay Hollow Trail, meandering through the hollow.
Near the top of the trail, I stopped for lunch at this manmade concrete and
rock thing. I’m not sure what it was, but there was a hole in the center, and
there was another one just like it nearby. I suspect they’re some sort of support
holders for a building or tower that’s no longer there. Whatever they are,
they’re perfect for sitting on…
…and the view isn’t half-bad at all.
There’s a small waterfall near the of the McKay Hollow Trail.
It’s close enough to the picnic area of the park that
people come down to look at it.
The view from the very end of the McKay’s Hollow Trail, inside the
picnic area of Montesano State Park. The area to the bottom of the picture
is McKay’s Hollow, and to the left is the tip-end of the South Plateau.
I sure do wish we had some really big mountains around here.
What? No pictures of blow job couple? Damn it.
See, I just *knew* there were going to be blowjob pictures.
Oh my!
Come to New Hampshire. We’ll show you mountains!
If you lived where I do, in flat northwesteren Ohio, you would die here. I was just thinking how envious I was of where you lived, where you could take such hikes on trails and then I read the last line about bigger mountains. From my flat line viewpoint, your mountains are great. Just depends on perspective I guess. Keep on hiking and taking the pics. I love it!
We have bigger mountains here in Alaska. The thing is you don’t hike these mountains - you have to climb them.
I wanted to see BJ pics too!
Damn, I have a bunch of pervy readers.
I like it.
Ladyloo, every once in a while I Google up a picture of Mt. Denali and tell Robyn I want to go climb it (with my new backpack!) one afternoon.
I’ve semi-agreed (don’t hold me to this) to go to Maine next summer with her if she promises to let me go up Mt. Katahdin:
http://www.skypic.com/images/12-6445.jpg
(specifically, I want to go to Baxter’s Peak, so I can take a picture of the sign announcing the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Have I mentioned recently that I’m a dork?)
That pic of the concrete and rock thing? C’mon, admit it, that was totally just to show off the new backpack.
It is a very cool pack (I wish I had one!) and I think we should get a pic of you wearing it while hiking with your walking stick. Very cool pics!
OH COME ON FRED!!!
OH COME ON , FRED!!! WE KNOW YOU TOOK THE PICTURES, AND I BET YOU ARE GOING TO POST THEM SOON. SO STOP DENYING AND MAKE YOUR NEXT ENTRY THE RATED R VERSION.
RICHARD IN BOISE
Almost Heaven, West Virginia - that’s where the mountains are.
We have several geocaches here also!
I was eating breakfast when I read your entry and stumbled upon the bj portion, just about spewed Special K all over the place, it was so funny.
Why didn’t you take pictures of the mountains? Those hills sure are pretty, though.
Terry from Colorado
I was thinking the same thing….don’t see any mountains in those pictures. Just a couple of ant hills.
Poo poo on both of you. I make do with what I have here in the way of elevations.
I found a place near the corner of the state by Tenn/Ga that looks to provide some good hiking (albeit with not a lot of elevation). It’s called “Little River Canyon” and it’s apparently the deepest gorge this side of the Mississippi:
http://www.nps.gov/liri/