hot and cold in trout lake

Hello everyone! I had a really wonderful weekend up in Trout Lake, Washington. It was abnormally cold here (over 20 degrees below normal) so we decided if it was going to be freezing we might as well be on the side of a mountain. We each got off work early and headed into the Gorge with Dave driving me, Elaine, Gina & Daisy, the best black lab ever! We arrived at Wampler's house around 4:30. There were a few feet of snow on the ground but it was hard and icy on the top so you could walk across it without sinking in. Inside Wampler had a fire going in the wood stove so it was wonderfully cozy and warm. We sprawled out on the sofas and the floor. Gina ate tangerines and put the peels on top of the wood stove where they dried into the shape of perfect f-holes on a violin. Elaine & Gina made hot toddies which were yummy and hot. Elaine, Dave & I decided to go check out the mountain so we drove up the road to a big clearing with the mountain looming in the distance. I took tons of pictures and Elaine ran across the frozen fields of snow. We were just a bit late for the alpenglow but it was still beautiful. We headed back to Wampler's then and started preparing dinner, a huge spaghetti meal using yummy sauce Gina had prepared at home and brought up with us. Jason and Tom and some other Trout Lakers showed up and we had a huge salad, spaghetti and bread with garlic butter.

After dinner we decided to go up to the Inn to watch some of the Olympics on the huge tv there. It was rather chilly inside as there weren't many people there and the very cold temperatures made the huge open spaces difficult to heat up. We gathered round the wood burning stoves and watched crazy skiing athletes and the far less exciting ice dancing. Too cold to take off our coats we decided Wampler's warm, warm house was much better and we headed back there to hole up for the evening. Gina warmed up some milk and added a little Kahlua which made us sleepy and happy. Wampler arrived home a few minutes after us to announce that the new batch of Americorps stewards, the leaders at the Service Academy in Trout Lake, were going to be coming over. The small house quickly filled with many people. We watched the Women's snowboard cross event and all screamed and yelled when the American blew her huge lead by showing off and ended up with the silver instead. She got quite the dose of humility. It was getting late and suddenly there was a party happening on the sofa I was supposed to be sleeping on. Gina, Elaine & I each grumpily went upstairs to try and sleep then finally convinced (using our fine bitching techniques) Dave & Wampler to call it a night so we could sleep knowing that Saturday night would be late night. The house emptied quickly and I was able to claim the sofa and sleep like a baby.

Saturday morning we woke up and Dave made us coffee. We each have our own huge coffee mug with it's own personal french press inside the cup. This is amazingly handy when you're camping or traveling. Wampler played some podcasts from the BBC: The Ricky Gervais Show (the hilarious man from The Office). Then from NPR Julia Sweeney, a Saturday Night Live alum, talking about religion and the Bible ("did you READ that book?"). I finished my Edward Abbey book (excellent and very funny) while the house filled with the amazing smell of maple sausages sizzling on the stove. Elaine made a wonderful breakfast of french toast, bacon & sausage. We ate and were infinitely satified with our warm coffee in the warm, warm house. Outside it was sunny and beautiful but very, very cold. We opted to spend the day at Wampler's cozy house rather than brave the frozen outdoors on snowshoes. I started reading a new book, A Walk in the Woods, by Bill Bryson which is about hiking the Appalachian Trail. We watched some Olympics. The men's biathalon is a rather strange event that involved skiing, then shooting, then more skiing & more shooting. We napped and read more and did some sudoku puzzles (many of us are addicted) and drank hot chocolate with Rumpleminz. mmmm minty chocolate goodness! Gina drove down to Hood River to pick up a few items at the store and to buy some lottery tickets as we all threw in for the huge jackpot (Nebraska has a new richest person).

Later in the afternoon Erin & Terry arrived from Portland. We made reuben sandwiches, melty corned beef heaven. We played some cards for a while until we noticed the light was getting low. Dave, Wampler, Terry & I were determined to catch the alpenglow on the mountain. We drove up the road again to Trout Lake, the actual body of water, with Mt Adams' beautiful reflection glowing on the water. We had to duck under a massive tree that had fallen across the road and was partially submerged in the lake. There were lots of geese around and they would take flight and dramatically honk and swoop across the mountain in front of us. The light turned more and more pink until the snowy mountain was ablaze in a bright pink glow with the foothills fading into denim blue. I feel so lucky each time I see such a scene. Alpenglow is truly one of my favorite things in the world. My life is full of daily treasures!

We were all feeling the effects of being outside for so long and even with my gloves on my hands were quite stiff and cold. We piled back in the car and went home to Wampler's house. Another musician from Portland, Michael Sean Cummins, had showed up with his friends in tow to play at the Inn with Dave and Wampler. I had some more hot chocolate this time with orange liqueur which was very tasty. We decided to motivate and get over to the Inn. I brought a stockpile of more photo cards to replenish the ones already sold. We ordered beers and gathered round the wood burning stove to warm up. Gina and I split an order of nachos and then the music started with Dave and Michael each on acoustic guitar and trading songs while Wampler played his accordion. They sounded great and it was tons of fun to see how Dave & Michael worked together on stage. We played some cards, danced to some songs and of course I took lots of pictures. There was a pretty good crowd there with all the Americorps kids showing up and making pyramids of PBR cans. ahhhh kids! Eventually the guys got off stage and moved to the front room of the Inn for a more intimate (and warmer) jam session. Dave passed his guitar around and some other people played. It was tons of fun and great to see the new batch of kids in Trout Lake having fun at the Inn. I have no idea what time we left but I was happy to sleep in Wampler's warm house.

Sunday we woke up and had coffee before packing up and hitting the road by 11 AM. We stopped at a Dalton Point in the Gorge for a bathroom break and I ran to the river's edge and took some photos of the crazy ice that's been building up. Back in Portland we unloaded the car and I got all my pictures of the camera. Elaine baked some Papa Murphy's pizza for lunch and then I headed home. I spent the evening unpacking, watching some Netflix (Freaks & Geeks) and finishing my book about the Appalachian Trail. Up next One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I peeled the huge "Oprah's book selection" sticker off the cover before reading the first chapter. I was disappointed since this revealed that the college didn't purchase a copy of this book until after it made the Oprah Book Club. It's the best known novel from a man that won the Nobel Prize for Literature. I would think the college would have such books in their collection before Oprah recommends them. but I digress... I had a wonderful weekend in Trout Lake, braving the cold gorgeousness to gaze at the mountain and relishing the sweet warmth of a fire and a warm drinks with my friends who I love so much. I can't wait to go back.

Please let me know how you are and what you've been up to! I hope all is well!

xoxo,
carolyn