Meteor over Green Mtn.

~ Glacier Peak Wilderness ~

July 30, 1984

Green Mtn. View © Ken James McLeod

With heavy packs, my hiking friend (Phil Leatherman) and I trudged up the steep Green Mtn. Trail in the Glacier Peak Wilderness destined to parts further off the main trail. As we neared about 4,000 feet just before darkness engulfed us, the stars came out in the night sky. Over to west, it looked rather eerie. Then, suddenly, appeared one of the most magnificent events I've ever witnessed in the evening sky, let alone while in the mountains. A reddish star fire-balled through the heavens, splitting up into ignited pieces in the atmosphere, appearing much like that of fireworks on July 4th of Independence Day. Whether a meteor or just a fantastic shooting star, I know not, but what a sight!

trip notes: We slept out in the open until the rain woke us up at 2:00 AM, then set up Phil's little tent and crawled into it with his wet dog, too. Little sleep was had. The next day we wandered beyond the mountain in thick fog mixed with heavy rain only using an altimeter as a guide. We climbed up a steep-long iced-snow slope to the top, both of us wishing we had an ice axe or even ice fangs on our feet, then traversed around the cliffs. About the only thing visible was the top of Glacier Peak, everything else was gray! When we eventually retreated, we were both thoroughly soaked to the bone. Upon arriving back at camp, we gathered our gear up and ran down the mountain arriving at Phil's van (where we left it parked) in the darkness. Phil then talked me into driving while he slept all the way back to Seattle....."grins Phil."

KJM

(McPilchuck)

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