Exploring the great state of Washington

October 10, 2022

Even with the “end” of Covid, we decided that it was too much hassle to travel internationally in 2022. Instead, it occurred to us that they were many parts of our own home state that we have never seen nor explored. We decided to take a few weeks to drive around to the remote corners of the state of Washington, where we’ve never been.

I’ve been thinking a lot about being a finite entity in a world of infinite choices and demands. Maybe it was turning 40. Or maybe it’s sitting out in the wilderness, in a bare-bones campsite, with no Internet, that makes me remember that life, at its essence, is pretty simple. You only exist in this moment, and it will all end at some point. Between now, and then, you only have so much energy to spend and fucks to give. Campervan life is once again, a reduction of daily living to finite resources. There is a limited water supply, and limited battery life. Showers need to be short, dishes sometimes get used twice before washing. Bedtime is when the sun goes down, and the day begins with the sunrise. Life is simple, and stress seems to melt off of me.

For a few days, we are meandering through the North Cascades National Park. Sometimes it is hard to tell whether we are on U.S. Forest Service land (USDA), or National Park Service land (Department of the Interior). Either way, these public lands are fantastic.

From Bellingham, we crossed the Cascades on Highway 20, and the first night was spent at Gorge Lake Campground (spot #6). The smoke from the wildfires hung heavy in the air, which gave the Skagit River an apocalyptic feel. There is a tiny town of Diablo nearby, on the river near the Diablo Dam. Its Wikipedia site mentions that it was a company town founded by Seattle City Lights. It seems deserted now, with empty homes, and an abandoned indoor pool house.

We hiked the ever popular Maple Pass. The parking lot filled up by 8 AM on a Monday morning. We were able to snag a spot, and had a leisurely morning coffee and routine before setting out on the hike. The entire loop is just under 8 miles long, and by hiking it clockwise (the less traveled direction), we had the entire trail to ourselves until the summit. The fall colors are spectacular, the smoke had cleared, and the view from the Pass is a stunning as ever.

We got to the next campground, Klipchuck, early, and spent the afternoon like old people, sitting in side-by-side camp chairs, reading a book. Spot #11.

The simple, ordinary life is a good life, indeed.

October 12, 2022