The Perfect Hike

(Photo taken by me: the very top of Rattlesnake Ledge; around 9:00am)











I love living in such a beautiful state. After a few months of wanting to check out this place recommended to me, the weather FINALLY decided to be agreeable enough for me to venture out and explore today. Someone I know who has been to Rattlesnake Ledge before suggested I leave around 6:00am so that I'd arrive there and start the hike early enough to get the morning sun, few people on the trail,etc. Just me and my small backpack filled with water, Chex Mix, and my Nikon camera. Off I went to North Bend, WA....Rattlesnake Ledge hiking trail in the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. The drive there was quiet and quick, as I left soon after sunrise....starting from Seattle, I drove about 40 miles. I-5 South to I-90 East, exit 32 (for 436th Ave SE), and continue on to Cedar Falls Rd. SE for a few miles. Very easy route.

I started the hike between 7:15-7:30am, a 1.8 mile to reach the top of the ledge (4 miles round trip). I was glad I got there when I did. This was the quietest, most peaceful hike I think I've ever been on in my life (thus far). From now on, I'm going on hikes this early in the morning! I don't despise people or anything, but there's just something extremely enjoyable and meditative about being able to be walk along a trail virtually all by yourself in the forest. I liked the fact that my phone had no reception. Technology felt blissfully out of this realm. The only sounds I heard were of birds chirping, leaves rustling, my sneakers making a crunchy sound into the soil, and a "hello" or "good morning" from the occasional hiker on the trail. Air so fresh that all I could smell was the welcoming slightly pungent earthy soil smell distinct to forests or remote areas in the wilderness.

There's something about walking in this kind of environment that makes it easy for me to put all my worries and "baggage" behind, no matter what's going on with my life at the time. The grand beauty and simplicity nature offers is a refreshing reminder not to sweat the small stuff. In fact, being on this perfect hike today had me even boldly contemplating what it would be like to live off the grid. The idea of living in a place of overwhelming beauty and no technology or noise secretly appeals to me (in the idealistic sense). A part of me would be happier living that way, I think. The hours I spent on this hike were the happiest moments I've had probably all month! It's funny too...as I was hiking, I thought about how my idea of "fun" has changed in the last 5 years. 5 years ago "fun" was staying up late at night, drinking with my friends in the big city. Now I would much rather get up early in the morning and go to a peaceful, gorgeous place where few people can be found; that is my fun. I never get bored exploring Mother Nature and photographing her unique features; she never disappoints.

As I reached the top of the ledge, two hikers who appeared in their 20's arrived right behind me. The guy (Jason) was quite an engaging conversationalist, perhaps the nicest hiker I've met on any hike. I was amazed by his bravery and fearlessness as I watched him hop from one steep rock ledge to the next....and then sit on the VERY edge, what could potentially be a deadly dropoff! I saw the cutest tiny chipmunk scurrying around the rock ledge, but he couldn't keep still long enough for me to snap a photo of him. Tiniest chipmunk I've ever seen! Within 5-10 minutes of hanging out at this spot and taking photos, it started to fill up with a dozen people. I was surprised, as it was only about 9am!

Slightly perturbed that my once peaceful and very quiet hike was starting to get crowded and noisy, I decided to start heading back down. Just then, Jason started talking to me. At first I thought he was talking to the girl who was with him (her name was Sandy, as I later learned), but then I realized he was talking to me. I heard him say "Where did our companion go?" (that would be me, haha). He pointed to one of the signs that showed a few other longer trails that were an extension of Rattlesnake Ledge. He said most people only go to the 'popular' spot (where we had just been) and that he knew of another ledge/lookout about a quarter mile into the East Peak trail going in the other direction. This interesting friendly guy got me curious, so I followed behind them up to the spot. We walked a bit off the beaten path through some little shrubs/a mini trail to get to the ledge he was talking about. I almost liked it more than the popular spot. I got a different view and an enjoyable conversation with Jason.

We talked a bit about photography (he had an old school Minolta camera, said he's a firm believer in film over using digital) and even more so about going different places in the wilderness. He talked about a friend of his that is an EMT and the hikes he's done with the friend that he wouldn't venture on alone. He also told me about "conditioning" (purposely putting heavy water bottles in his backpack to train his body for carrying a heavy load on the way up, then dumping the water out before hiking back down). At one point he apologized for "talking too much," though I don't think I ever gave him the impression I wanted him to stop talking. On the contrary, I found the unexpected conversation with this complete stranger refreshing and enjoyable!

As we started heading back down, I let them go ahead of me since he was a super fast hiker. His parting words: "Maybe we'll see you around sometime." I liked that guy, someone who seemed to know how to truly live in the moment and briefly enjoy nature with a stranger. :)

I started seeing people more frequently, every few minutes (They heading up as I headed down). I found myself saying "Hello" or "Good morning" more often and while most everyone was friendly that I passed, I couldn't help being secretly excited and grateful that I got to savor my experience mostly in peaceful, quiet solitude with a dash of conversation/friendly "companions."

The Perfect Hike.