The Coming Long Darkness

Sigh-this is the toughest time of year for me. The heavy rains have arrived here in the Northwest and the backcountry is beginning to wear its winter coat. I can handle the rain just fine-and the cold too-it's the darkness that works on me. With a sunset at 4:45 now and losing another minute a day until mid-December, the darkness is tough to deal with. Sure, it means I just need to spend more time in front of my computer working on my two manuscripts due next summer. I need to catch up-this has been a record year on the trail-and a record amount of time away from the home office! I'll need to take my daily runs earlier now and shorten my hiking trips. And--most importantly-cut my calories back. I'm not training for a marathon right now nor hiking 20 miles in a day. With Thanksgiving, Christmas, Boxing Day, New Years, and Orthodox Christmas coming up-I can see a lot of food in my immediate future. Okay, better plan on signing up for a spring marathon. Embrace the darkness-stay well-and cherish the light when it returns.

(photo-evening approaches at the Clearwater Lookout, Umatilla National Forest, Garfield County, WA)

Washington's Canyon Country

The view from 6,379-foot Diamond Peak, the highest summit in Garfield County, Washington's least populated county ( population 2,060) is unlike any other in the state. It's a view of deep canyons and barren hillsides and huge gorges cuts by snaking rivers. Here in the extreme corner of southeastern Washington is the Evergreen State's Canyon Country. And aside from deeply-cut canyons, you'll also be granted views of snow-capped jagged peaks in Oregon (the Wallowas with summits reaching nearly 10,000 feet) and cloud-piercing peaks across Hells Canyon in Idaho. The Blue Mountains along with the Kettle River Range in northeastern Washington are perhaps the loneliest and least explored mountain ranges in Washington. They're two of my favorite places and I have lined up four fantastic adventurous hikes in my upcoming Backpacking Book to help entice you to make the long trip to explore these peaks. And while a good portion of the Blues are protected within wilderness, the Kettle River Range still remains unprotected. This guidebook author would love to someday write about a Kettle Crest Wilderness when describing the area. Perhaps the reality of an expansive Eastern Washington wilderness system may come soon--but only if you are willing to let your elected representatives know that it is something that you want to see happen-something that you believe in-and something that you are committed to achieving.

Flour Power!

If you find yourself heading out to the Blue Mountains sometime soon, you absolutely have to check out the Pataha Flour Mill just east of Pomeroy. The mill operated from the 1880s to the 1940s supplying flour for various staples, among them macaroni for my paesoni in San Francisco! There's not much else in Pataha these days, even though it was briefly the county seat of Garfield County. The US Congress helped the seat go to Pomeroy. Never before or since has the US Congress declared a county seat. Damn Arthur administration meddling with state's rights! Anyhow Garfield county is a fascinating place. Washington's least populated county-only 2,350 residents-1,500 of them in Pomeroy-I love this place. In 1910 the county had over 4,500 residents. Now, if only King County could shrug 50% of its populations it too would be fun to visit!