High Mountain Escape

High Mountain Escape

The heat was horrendous in June and July. All-time records were broken for the hottest days and the most days over 95 degrees. It was time to escape to the high mountains. I packed the kids, their fishing poles, sleeping bags and headed to the high mountains for a backpacking trip.  

Hiking through meadows, tall green grass waved in a cool mountain breeze, dotted with purple, white, yellow and orange flowers. Butterflies float from flower to flower, while the bees are much more industrious, quickly gathering pollen before the flowers fade. The walk up the hill was long and the packs felt heavy but as we crested the top it was just a hop, skip and a jump to the lake. The kids anxiously scanned the scenery below so they could be the first to spot the lake. All of sudden the lake came into view, backpacks flew off and poles were assembled quickly, shirts and shoes were strewn about, and lures hit the water before I could even see the lake. The kids wanted to catch lots of fish for dinner instead of eating an astronaut meal.

The lake looked so beautiful in the afternoon sun; a gentle breeze rippled across the water. The surface glittered and shimmered, sending me into full relaxation mode. As the sun set the water stilled and became smooth as glass. The reflection of the landscape was a perfect mirror image. We feasted on fresh trout with a side of space food. Everything always tastes better in the mountains, even food that is packed and cooked in the same bag. As I readied for bed the last golden rays illuminated the tops of the mountains, the pine beetles quieted, and the birds finished their last song. I snuggled down in my sleeping bag listening to the soft sounds of the kids breathing and watching the stars come out and then drifted off to sleep.

I awoke in the morning to the soft gray light of the morning before the sun had risen and enjoyed a cup of hot coffee before the kids began to stir. We spent the day at a nearby lake fishing and swimming. Two nights and three days in the mountains was the best way to escape the heat. We returned tired, sun kissed, slightly itchy from pesky mosquitoes but mostly just refreshed and ready to tackle farming in the 100-degree heat.