MEMOIR
When Sadness Is Beyond Getting By
When my heart overflowed, my mind stood still
We were hiking up Chain Lakes between Mount Baker and Mount Shuksan, in the Northern Cascades region of Washington State, USA, feeling rested after two days of real breathing and not answering email. Feeling rested after two nights of feeling cooled air in a tent.
Even with a miserable pad trying to replace a mattress, night air in a tent restores. Especially with the fly-leaf left open to the stars.
We had our usual hiker lunch at the Lakes—chocolate snack bars, pecans, and a fresh orange. It’s always worth carrying that weight. Then we headed back down with a lighter step.
Passing other hikers
There are unwritten rules to passing and being passed: step into the side of the mountain if you’re on the up-side. Stand still, and let the others go by with as much room as you can give. Wish someone well.
I try to be aware of body language. Does someone want to speak, stop and talk, or be at peace with their thoughts? A typical mode for hiking and nourishment.
On our way, we passed a man and a woman, followed by two boys, probably early teens. The man and woman looked too young to be their parents, but everyone looks…
