Pre - Mountaineering WA Adventures

   It all started in the dead of winter when John Abbott, director of UVM outdoor programs, mentioned a mountaineering trip out to WA state.  Seven months later my friend and climbing partner, Chris Cullaz and I, Alex Gemme, found ourselves on an early Thursday morning flight out to Seattle, WA.  With constantly changing plans over the last few months, changing dates, people dropping and job interference, we still couldn't believe the trip was actually happening.

Mt.Rainier from the sky

   Loaded down with 60 pound packs, we landed in Seattle that afternoon.  Thanks to a last minute call the night before we had a couch to crash on at our friend Niall Motson's house.  After navigating the public transit, we were warmly welcomed by New Englanders, finding a little piece of the east coast right there in Seattle.  The first housemate we met was Bronson Shonk, a fellow UVM alum and aspiring climber.  Super excited to find another climber, we made plans to explore the local crags over the next few days.

   Before we headed out to Exit 38 for some sport climbing, we were given the opportunity to try floating in a sensory deprivation tank, thanks to Niall's housemate Aaron Harris who works for Float Seattle.  Floating isn't very popular on the east coast, but is steadily growing in the west and was the reason Aaron moved to Seattle.  Floating is exactly as it sounds, you lie in a tank of water filled with 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt so that your face is just above the surface, put in ear plugs and close the door, therefore taking away your sense of sight, sound and space.  A very interesting experience indeed and the only way I can describe it is go try it yourself.

   After a day of floating and sport climbing we headed to Goldbar for some bouldering.  The hike into the forest was longer than expected, but the payoff was well worth it.  Having never been in a forest in the North West I was blown away!  Moss was everywhere, the forest floor was soft and moist and the understory was pretty much nonexistent.  This made for perfect shade, a light breeze and not a mosquito to speak of!  Taking advantage of the ideal bouldering weather, we spent just under eight hours climbing problem after problem.  Tired and sore and with the sun beginning to set we head back down the mountain for some cold beer and good food.

Hiking into Goldbar

Alex coming across a log in Goldbar

Viani and Chris in Goldbar forests

    By now we could not believe how things had just been working out and falling into place for us.  Having arrived with no plans, we also had no expectations and often found ourselves laughing and smiling at the good fortune that continued to come our way.

Chris on a difficult traverse with trees for spotters

   As we settled in for the night we began thinking ahead to the next day.  Our time in Seattle was dwindling and the next day we were heading north to Bellingham and then into the mountains.  Falling asleep I reflected on the last few days and couldn't help feeling an overwhelming surge of gratitude for all the amazing people that we had met so far and the opportunities they had provided for us.

    We just catch the bus the next morning and arrive outside Bellingham a day before our scheduled meet up with our guide Kel Rossiter from Adventure Spirit Guides.  We find ourselves walking down the road towards Bellingham center, with heavy packs, the sun beating down and dreams of swiming floating across our minds.  We don't know where we are headed, but we do know the less we walk on the road the better.  Its hot and my feet were hurting in the heavy soled mountaineering boots.  We stuck out our thumbs and by good karma or magic, our luck continues and a car with Colorado plates pulled over!  A beautiful girl named Alexandra jumped out and immediately started moving things around in her car so she can fit our packs.  We hop in and continued on our way.  After a few minutes of getting to know each other, she asks if we want to head over to the ocean to meet up with her friend and go swimming!  She read our mind!  "Hell yes!" we reply and off we headed on a new adventure.

  We arrived in the boat yard where her friend River is living on and repairing a 1964 wooden sail boat.  He had spent the last four years hitch hiking around the country and somehow ended up getting his sailboat for free.  We spent the day with our new found friends swimming, boating, exploring Bellingham and listening to music - they turned out to be incredible musicians!  By the end of the night we even scored a couch to sleep on at Alexandra's house. As we were are on our way to her house, Chris and I looked at each other and laughed; laughed for the randomness of life, the spontaneity of carelessness that traveling brings about and for all the incredible people with open hearts, open minds, and open arms.


   As I drifted off to sleep that night my mind was going in so many directions.  I thought about how we had had one of the most incredible and spontaneous days, how we had ended up where we were, and wondering what the next week in the mountains would bring, our true purpose for our journey west.