I’ve been returning to Port Orchard to empty out my house every time I get days off. This Wednesday and Thursday I chose to stay on the mountain and enjoy it’s beauty. I selected the trail I was going to take as there was a good chance of seeing mountain goats from the “Fremont Lookout” The trail is a five mile trip and and a 900 ft climb in elevation. I knew it might be difficult for me but I was up for the challenge. After .5 of a mile straight up I knew I was going to have difficulties as I was gasping for air and having some second thoughts. Then nature threw me a curve, well maybe it was a life line, But my body said you need a rest room now, I mean RIGHT-NOW, and of course on these fragile meadows you just can’t duck behind a tree as you are not to be off the trail EVER! Of course I didn’t want to embarrass my self and be shunned by every hiking coming up. And there are lots of hikers, truly no privacy. So I almost ran back down the trail to the rest rooms in the parking lot, just making it in time.
I was determine to go hiking so I picked a short 1 mile trail, only 150 ft in elevation to deal with and hiked thru beautiful early wildflowers. Of course by this time it was noon and very hot, well into the 80’s and not much shade. So I have learned some very valuable lessons. If I am to do a “strenuous for me” climb. I need to start at daybreak, no later than 5 AM. I should have remembered this from the walk from Zihuatanejo to Ixtapa which is 6 miles, where we started at 6AM. And it’s OK to turn back if you are not comfortable, anytime you feel you have bit off more than you can chew, stop and go back
I love the wildflowers, they are abundant here and in a week or two should be at their peak. So many are tiny and delicate that it is hard for me to photograph with my cell phone. There are flowers everywhere you look. I am so fortunate to have this experience. Signing off KO
Zihuathyme 