Rachel Lake Storm

5:35 PM – my goodness, but we are having a storm, complete with heavy-duty rain and now quite a bit of wind. The temperature has dropped considerably – I’m emitting frosty breath here inside the tent. I lit the candle lantern so as to prevent too much condensation forming.

It’s very dark – as dark as though it were 9:30 or 10 PM up at our other camp. (Bear in mind, it never got completely dark because of all the snow.)

I must say, this is really quite exciting! Mica Eiger is weathering her first major mountain storm quite well. Micki, the old pro, slumbers peacefully.

I hope this lets up a little bit – just long enough so I could have a hot dinner. But I guess I can live without it and the dogs can always be fed in the tent.

Now, of course, I am beginning to feel the terrible urge to pee. But I am not getting out of this warm sleeping bag and this dry tent just to pee; at least, not until the absolute last possible moment.

So far the dogs have been really good about staying in the tent.  Even Mica’s not stupid enough to want to go out into the storm.

I can just imagine what this high wind is doing to those kids in the Timberline tent. Having once owned one myself, I can picture them holding the rainfly on and praying.

I can also imagine what would it be like right now on some of those high passes and snow slopes where we spent so much time this last week. This storm would be wickedly outrageous up on Rampart Ridge!

If this continues, it most definitely will keep the casual weekenders at home, so that's a good thing.

Picture this moment, if you will: a fierce wind-swept rainstorm howls across Rampart Ridge, sweeping down to Lake Rachel and then into the canyon below; winds of up to 35 mph batter the gortex Light Dimension while Connie sits cross-legged in the tent, looking out the door (which is halfway open) calmly flossing her teeth. Mica chews contentedly on a rawhide dog bone while little Micki sleeps in her makeshift sleeping bag.  We’re a happy bunch.

It finally did stop raining and blowing long enough for me to boil water and eat. Now it's at it again. This is truly a good mountain storm. Yes indeed, a very good howler. Not as bad as the one we endured at Tank Lakes awhile back, but DEFINTELY acceptable as mountain storms go.

Let’s see … if my rescue party leaves Seattle at 9 AM and takes two hours to drive up to the trailhead, then another three hours to hike in, they could be here by 2 PM.  I'll start looking for them then.

Another party is now camped below me. They must have had fun hiking up in that weather and then setting up their tent in the wind!

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