SoTac Sermons: Days 26-28: For Pete's Lake

June 1-3

I love backpacking. Erin and I got out on the trails frequently back in the day...the day before our kids came along. As our kids have gotten older we've started taking them on day hikes to great benefit. Our clan can be in the grumpiest moods all but impervious to any efforts to change their attitudes but by thirty minutes into a hike every thing has changed. Things went so well hiking that I thought it worth taking things to the next level: backpacking. Before taking the kids, I thought it wise to dust of the camp stove and thermarests and see for myself if even I had still had what it took for a couple of nights on the trail. It's a good thing I did for by the end of my three days in the woods I had discovered that my boots were too small, I needed a camp stove and Cooper Lake wasn't worth a night's stay.

Two intrepid explorers about to embark.

Several of these creek crossings needed traversing on the trail

Tallulah and I set off on Wednesday, June 1 from Salmon La Sac campground on the trail to Cooper Lake where I planned to camp. Five minutes into a hike up the hill in which I was realizing fifty pounds was probably too much for a guy who hadn't backpacked in ten years, I passed a mountain biker who asked my destination. "Cooper Lake?" he replied, "don't you know you can drive there?" Yes, I did know that, but his saying so didn't help. Five miles later I arrived at Cooper Lake and realized the campsites were all pay to sleep.

This wasn't what I was looking for. So I decided to keep hiking another four miles to the more remote Pete's Lake. Other than the damage on my toes, this proved to be a good decision. I ended up seeing fewer people on the trail than I can count on one hand and there were even fewer staying at the lake.

Pete's Lake from my campsite

I could not have been more satisfied with my campsite which I'm convinced was the best on the lake. It had access to water, a great view, was near the inlet of the Cooper River and free of any neighbors. Well there were some neighbors nesting adjacent to my camp but they were there first. While searching for wood I came across the tightly woven hummingbird nest you see in the picture below. Those are eggs inside the size of which are just amazing. They really look like those tiny candy eggs you get at Easter. I resisted the temptation to taste them.

The next day I was admittedly disappointed when I heard voices and the jingle of a dog's collar. Tallulah began her protective barking at a smallish black lab. An older couple followed behind the dog. They introduced themselves but as I often do quickly forgot their names. I thought they'd said Peggy and Stu. "Nah," that couldn't be right, that was just me with a Buddy Holly song stuck in my head. "Peggy Sue, Peggy Sue, oh how Peggy I love you..." Of course that was the song that I feel asleep to.

The next day the couple stopped by to say hello and a little conversation. By this point I'd been alone long enough to thirst for a conversation with someone who didn't bark. As it turns out, Buddy Holly was right and their names were Peggy and Stu. They were a retired couple who lives in Duvall where he works at a used book store. They try to get on the trail as often as possible while their bodies still allow it. If forced to guess, I'd put their ages in the late 60's. They gave me hope for more trips in my twilight hears. We had a wonderful conversation in which I learned that Stu builds Mandolins. I told him about my recent dive into bluegrass music and wondered out loud if he might consider building a mandolin I could purchase. "Well," he said thoughtfully, "I don't know if I could sell you one. I'd rather make a few dozen before doing that." This kind of perfection, of course made me want one his mandolins even more.

The next morning I left camp around noon after making myself a mug of tea. Loaded up with bruised toes and a lighter pack it dawned on me that I had gone to the woods to enjoy the hospitality of creation - a goal that was undoubtedly attained. What I hadn't expected was to also enjoy the hospitality of strangers. Thank you Peggy and Stu for your kindness and conversation.