Silver Star Mountain Trail

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I know, it's Tuesday. It took me this long to recover and I can tell you I'm not fully recovered. I'm in some serious pain because of some serious mistakes I made on the hiking trail, Sunday.

First of all, we wake up and Kieran, Baloo and I decide we want to take a good long hike. Only after searching the internet, seeking for a simple 2 to 4 mile jaunt we end up choosing Silver Star Mount and the Grouse Point trail...6 miles round trip, rugged, MODERATE hiking trail. Let me tell you something. It was not moderate. It was a butt kicker.



Straight off the bat you are headed up a tunnel of trees and a pretty slippy incline littered with logs, debris and loose gravel. This part of the hike was blissfully shady and cool and quite beautiful. As the tunnel of trees opened up (approx. 1 mile) you hit a well maintained gravel path headed up the ridge. There is beautiful bear grass and wildflowers all around the trail and some gorgeous views of the saddle of the mountain and the surrounding valley. Then there is the occasional patch of snow to cross. Baloo LOVES the snow. He immediately dives into it like a little polar bear and starts to scoot his nose around in it while doing a belly crawl. Then, there was another snow field, and then another, and then another...OK, hiking through the snow without the proper snowshoes is haaaaard. But we were determined. It had been a while since we had started out and we didn't want to have to do the 2 mile walk of shame back down the mountain without making it to the summit. So we kept going. We stopped to take some pictures of a beautiful outcropping of rocks and tableau cliffs that were decorated with yellow wildflowers like little hankerchiefs in their front pockets.


Then we came to LegBreaker, a boulder field covered with a blanket of snow. You could see where those who had gone before you and met a bad dip in the dance. We made it across OK. Much fear, no injury.

I have to say we met a number of people along this trail( it became quite crowded as the day went on) and there were a number of dogs. I'm very proud of Baloo and how well he did even when greeted by two lab mixes that appeared to be barking curse words at him. He was magnificent when greeted on the way back down by a pitbull that really really wanted to kill him. Kieran had to lead Baloo up off of the trail and through some snowed in Willow to avoid the menace, who's parents didn't appear to have a clue about how to control a dog with that temperment. I prayed for the pomeranian being carried in the arms of a teenage boy that was headed back in the direction of the pittie but I'm gettting ahead of myself.

We did finally make it to the top of Silver Star Summit at 2:10 pm. only 3 hours after our departure from the trailhead. I know, they always say, "it's worth it" but this time it was. We could see all the mountains and valleys from Mt. Rainier, down past St. Helens, around to Adams, then Hood and finally past Broken Top to Mt. Jefferson. It was gorgeous. I took off my hikers and socks to let them dry out a little bit. Then mmmmmmm peanut butter and jelly- a daytripper's staple. And then back down we go. I'll spare you the details of our slightly getting lost but then quickly finding our way back. There are several crosspoint trails in the area and it is easy to loose your bearings in the trees. I'll spare you the gory details of my crossing back over "Leg Breaker" and falling through the snow/slush and into a boulder hole that was intent on keeping my shoe. I'll spare you my brief bout with tears as both of my knees decided to punish me for what I've done to them. We made it back to the truck, all was right with the world and Kieran and I accomplished one of our hardest, longest hikes to date. Without quitting, without too many tears. It was a real opening to Joy.
Mt. Hood
Mt. Adams
Mt. Rainier
St. Helens


They say (I don't know them, I just know they say it...) that this area is sacred to the indengenous people of this area and the mountain was used for "vision quests". I could see it...I could see coming here searching for something greater than myself. It was inspirational.

Now, I am sunburned like you wouldn't believe. SPF30 is not enough to ward off thin atmosphere, blazin' 85* heat, and shiny shiny snow. My right arm and the right side of my neck are fried. Next time, SPF 60+.