Oct 26 2009
Recent Trip to Carne Mnt and The Larch Scene
Since I don’t write often, I might as let the momentum carry me one more tonight.
Just came back from a day hike to the Carne Mountain near Leavenworth. It was a pleasant surprise (I admit I am at the same time pursuing and abusing the sense of “surprise”). Larch trees are at their peak and, just like my last trip to the Enchantments, all the larch trees seemed to hide in a high mountain basin. This means we traveled for hours with nothing to see, but once we stepped across a threshold—the rim of the basin, suddenly we were in a different realm.
The color was so vibrant as if gold was lit on fire. Unlike the New England foliage, which I could never get enough of, the larch color is much more light dependent. Without light, it is darkish gray. As the light changes, gray changes into yellow, than an orange glow.
We thought we got what we were here for in the middle of the basin and were almost ready to turn around. Another couple coming down from the nearby summit told us enough to keep going. Thanks to them, we got much more than what we expected.
The peak of Carne was one of the high points along a mountain spine sandwiched between two huge glacier-carved valleys. Where we stood, lights from a setting sun piercing through thick clouds cast stage lights over the near end of the valley to our west. When we look out along the valley to the other end, the rolling clouds thickened and darkened, as if the valley is a gigantic pathway leading to a different world. Turning around, we saw in the shadows of clouds and ridge light, cluster of larch trees’ tip glowing like budding golden flowers. It is a scene worth the lost of sleep now, to say the least.
As I soaked myself in the view, Rachmaninoff’s second symphony got in my head, and I just couldn’t shake it off. However I think about Rachmaninoff, his music does conjure an expansive imagery. And a sense of unreserved devotion. That is how I felt at that moment – I was as naked in front of nature as it is to me. It was a wonderful feeling.
Do you wanna post it as a trail report? It really worths mentioning.