The Lost World

The Lost World © Ken James McLeod

The Lost World: lush-green flora abounds here; three-four foot high skunk cabbage, immense ferns, man-high blueberry bushes, gardens of devil's club, and grass-like sedges adorn the shore of this quiet little lake. Huge old cedars shade parts of the shore and numurous rivulets cascade down from the cliffs above (in the early June) and flow towards the lake. Bear and deer sign is always prevalent, and the quiet cirque is occasionally broken with with the whir of a hummingbird and with other bird melodies. Off-trail in the Boulder River Wilderness is a "forgotten world" for the most part, simply because few step off the beaten path or trail. It's no wonder to me as to the why, when one considers that just a few short feet off the trail exists a "jungle." Perhaps this is why I love places like this much, for they simply don't attract the status quo hiker and or nature lover, nor fishermen and hunter. Puddles or frog ponds are not for those who are seeking great views and great things, that's for sure. That is, unless one is able to see beyond the routine scope of things, put up with the "brush fight" and enter another world filled with marvelous "jungle" discovery at almost every turn. So, I call it (the Boulder River Wilderness) most of the time, The Lost World, for it is a lush-green forgotten world.

It was a slightly overcast day, but the sun was peeking through, when I strapped the backpack on. The dew was heavy on the blueberry brush and it wasn't long before my pants gathered the moisture. What's this, a ripe blueberry, then another! Ahead of me sprang my new pointer dog, Maggie May, now about 10 months old. As we clambered through the maze, I couldn't help but remember my old faithful 4-foot spaniel friend "Rainbow" (that has since departed onto other worlds) who accompanied me here the many times before. I whispered her name...and called out Maggie's from time to time.

Time for wandering: up the inlet bed to a bench above the lake for photos, but not before a few were taken of wildflowers and skunk cabbage. The sun was coming out more and more. Enroute deer track in the mud and bear sign. Whoa! A bear den in the base of a huge old cedar that spanned a 25-30 foot circumference. The camera clicked away. "What a sight!" And as I scanned the hillside at hand and at my feet, I noticed almost every plant had chewed tops. These bears have been busy, I thought. I guided myself and dog away from the den area quickly, not wanting a meeting on the steep hillside with no place to dash. At another point, we sat in silence, watched a few garden-type snakes slither away near our feet, and just took in the view of the lovely little lake below, and it was all that I needed to make the day. Eventually, we made our way back down to the lake where I snacked on some food, and then headed back through the brush towards the trailhead. As we neared the truck, I thought, it was another fine day in, The Lost World...

Ken James McLeod
(McPilchuck)
July 30, 2007

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KJM

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