Not the greatest image - captured with my cell phone - but you get the idea.
I hadn't done the Beacon in ages and the last time it didn't seem so easy...I remember walking that ridgeline was quite a tease. Just when you think you are on the last hump - just about to reach what you think is the tippy top....NOPE, another hump comes into view after a grueling steep section.
It wasn't easy last Saturday but it didn't take nearly as long as I recalled. I felt like time flew by quickly, then all of a sudden the beacon was in view. I was feeling so empowered and on top of the world once at the top. I wanted to jump out of my gravity bound body and fly. It's the on top of the world feeling that I'm always seeking... and sweating in the outdoors always gets me there. This is the reason we all do it, right?
Saturday, usually the easiest part for me ended up being the toughest part ~ the downhill section! Some friends and I were talking last week about the downhills - some are cautious and some fly like the wind. I was saying that it might be my saving grace, my only shot at gaining some time for my lack of training so close to this race. I'm not usually timid on the downhills. I kind of float (well, I almost feel like I'm floating if it weren't for the sound of my feet hitting the ground) my way to the bottom. Not Saturday morning. My guts suffered miserably. I felt like there was a knife in my side that just kept turning and turning with the landing of each foot. I knew what was causing it. Well, I know what would have prevented it. Some of you may think I'm crazy but a banana is always the magic trick for me. If I had just had a banana in the house that morning!
The green tunnel on the way down the Smokejumpers Trail.
The only thing that was missing on the trail was a black labrador named Skagit. I didn't want to push her too far too fast after her injury.
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Our family headed to the lake this weekend to plant some Ponderosa Pine tree seedlings that the Seeley Lake Ranger District was giving away.
Helping Dad start the fire.
First boat ride of the year.
Jeff was the workhorse of the group. He made the holes and put water in most of them... and as you can see he planted quite a few of the trees, too.
Astrid did her very best to help with the work, but she kept getting distracted by fun stuff like the hose and dumping dirty "du-ti" water from cup to pail, back to cup, etc.
But she was perfectly helpful handing Mama the next tree to be planted.
Balancing a soaking wet and tired Astrid, a pail of trees, and a bucket of water hole after hole was exhausting after a while.
We've had quite a lot of beetle kill near and on our property so it felt good to be replacing some of the trees that died. All in all we planted roughly 35 Ponderosa seedlings around our place. I feel like we planted 35 promises, and we're hoping they all survive!
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