Shabbat Shalom—Back from the High Cascade Mountains

Shabbat shalom everyone!

I’ve said this many times, and I’ll say it again. In this crazy, mixed up world full of hate and manmade ugliness, there is still beauty to be found if we get away and look for it. I find shalom, sanity and Yehovah Elohim in nature—especially in the mountains. I’m not the only one to discover this. The Gospels record that from time to time Yeshua got away from the crowds and city and went to the mountains to be alone with his Father.

My kids and I just returned from six days camping and hiking in the High Cascade Mountains of the Northern Washington State in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the area between Mount Baker and Mount Shuksin.

We hiked seven to eleven miles every day with elevation gains of about 1400 to 2000 feet on each trail. Our highest point was more than 6,500 feet above sea level.

Mount Shuksin from near Picture Lake

Mount Baker

Another shot of Mount Baker

Table Top Mountain from the Chain Lakes Trail

The stream coming out of Bagely Lake

Glacier Lake and Mount Baker

Mount Shuksin from near Artists’ Point

A mountain stream along the trail to Ann Lake

Snow and ice covered Ann Lake

Mount Shuksin from Ann Lake

View from the top of 6,531 foot tall Winchester Mountain

Looking down on one of the Twin Lakes atop Winchester Mountain

A 1,250 year old western red cedar tree (center) at Silver Fir Campground in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest

I’m 6 foot 2 inches tall. This cedar tree is nine foot, one inches wide at breast height!

Kaeli inside the tree. Four of us crawled into the tree and fit comfortably inside with room to spare!

Here I am inside of an old growth cedar stump that was probably cut in the early 1900s.

“The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.” Song of Solomon 2:8–10

 

5 thoughts on “Shabbat Shalom—Back from the High Cascade Mountains

  1. The only thing more amazing than the scenes in your pictures is your stamina to hike such distances and to do so, so many days in a row! All esteem to YHVH, but way to go, Natan! More power to you!

    My favorite photo is “Looking down on one of the Twin Lakes atop Winchester Mountain”, followed by “Mount Baker”, and then “Mount Shuksin from near Picture Lake”. I did laugh at the one of you being “stumped”. LOL. The last one. though, says it all!

    Rejoicing with you about the blessing of the opportunity and privilege, and to do it all with you kids! AWESOME! You deserve it!

    • Natan being stumped…! I like that. I’m going to save that pic and put it in my clip art collection under “Stumped, Being.” Thanks for the idea.

      I’m age 58. My oldest kid is 25. Dad felt pretty happy being able to keeping up with all the youngsters. Didn’t slow them down either. Funny thing, after the first couple days, their legs and hips were sore——mine weren’t. No soreness on me anywhere. All praise and glory to Yah that this oldster is still alive and kicking. Been climbing trees and dragging brush and logs in my tree service for 33 years and have been trimming trees and doing horticulture for money since age 12. Hard work, but good for the health. Praise Yah again!

      • Natan, Kennedy and I celebrate your physical and spiritual expertise! Your partnership with Yahweh has indeed brought good health to you. We are grateful for your example.

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