Buckhorn Wilderness Solitude
July 2000
The wind blew in my face, the rain pelted my body, the pack I was carrying seemed to be heavier than normal, and the forest had a dark-gray gloomy cast about it as I hiked alone on the trail to parts unknown with no destination clearly in sight. Not the start of a hike one forsees as fun at any rate.
I had spent a rather sleepless night wondering where I was heading and what exactly the high country would look like once there. Already tired, but still enthousiastic, I kept on the slow ever impending trudge up the valley of Copper Creek and the Tubal Cain Mine Trail in the Buckhorn Wilderness of the Olympic Mountains. On the trail, I saw nobody, but this was a week day, and by the looks of trail, I could see it had regular useage. Today however, the forest was mine, and as I penetrated deeper into the wilderness; the sight and sounds of it became increasingly apparent, my soul was absorbing it without any hesitation or restraint. And soon, despite the gloomy atmosphere, my senses told me I was now apart of it, and at this particular moment, I had shed all ties with my fellow man.....the planet earth I walked upon was indeed solely wild! And the further I rose to the elevated heights of the alpine land, the more I became awestruck with its beauty.
The peaks were obscure hiding in the clouds and the wildflowers (blooming profusely) were covered in thick heavy layers of the mountain spray. Onward I went, taking photos along the way savoring the moments encased in film. My spirit was now soaring and I literally drank from the mountain upon which I walked. And the solitude was wonderful!
Soon, without my noticing, the day began to fade and dusk was near. I crested the ridge at Buckhorn Pass (5,900') and set up my little one-man tent for the night. The fog rolled in as I made supper and I felt enclosed in an abyss. Nowhere was the sound of civilzation, it was just me and natural world now, and as I drifted off to sleep, nothing but silence was felt or heard.
In the morning, I was awakened by the birds chirping and the sunshine of a clear-blue sky day. "How wonderful," I thought as I grabbed my camera and headed up towards Buckhorn Mtn. (6,988') without even having any breakfast first. I climbed up its shoulder just before Marmot Pass, and onto one of its peaks. The rock was rather loose in places, but I continued on higher. There was no fear. Once there atop a pinnacle, my shutter open and explored all the facets my wandering eye could conceive.....the hunt for good photos to me, is like the hunters stalk of an elk or even the maticulous art of painting.....it requires my utmost concentration as well as my imagination into a different realm that is in wait of discovery. The surrounding mountains were something to behold! And the tiny formations of moss among rocks, the occasional bug crawling along, and the wildflowers of the meadows received my attention. The camera click away!
About mid day, I was joined by two old friends who knew where I was going, and we settled in for a night camp on the ridge. During the evening, we watched several deer feeding about and then bed down for the night, too. And the weather was still magnificent! The next day, after a cold night under the bright stars, we met a few other hikers who were enjoying the weather and the grand high land as well. We also scambled around to the various points for other glorious views. Upon our retreat back to civilization, the way we had come, I couldn't help but think how truly blessed I was for living in a state where one can find solitude and grandeur in the mountains not too far from civilzation.......
for more photos of this trek see:
KJM
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