Thou Shalt Not Kill; Smith Rocks State Park

11/29/16

                Packing up we got ready to hit the road from the hot spring to smith rocks state park.  The water from the water hydrant was hot, almost too hot to touch! It was coming straight from the mineral hot spring.   Alice took care of filling the tank with fresh water and I worked on emptying the tanks, and pulling the shore line from the power box.  James stood guard, groaning about the cold.  After we were filled up, emptied out, and ready to go I sprayed down the septic compartment with the pet odor remover that I bought from the South Sister trip when James got sick.  It may be formulated to combat dog piss and shit smell, but it works just as good for people excrement and urine.  No matter how careful you are, and no matter how much you wash out the septic hose, there’s always an odor. 

                We rolled down the highway just after 1100 towards smith rock state park, only a 2.5hr drive.  We arrived just after 1300, the park was almost empty accept for a few hard core climbers cars.  An ugly mostly black Honda Del Sol alarmed every few minutes, a lone car in a massive and vacant lot.  After buying a day pass, for $5, we headed down the trail with three liters of mineral water from the hot spring and some energy bars in the pack on my back.  Alice had a hard time making it up the hill, while James and I scrambled quickly up the crag.  The switchbacks of the misery ridge trail towered high above us clinging to the cliff side looking down on the slowly meandering river.  The ducks below slid like marbles on a glass table top zigzagging downstream from one side of the river to the other. 

                As we wound up the cliff side the sun sank below the three sisters, the mountain range to the east.  The story goes that the natives named the three mountains Hope, Faith, and Charity.  A beautiful myth made up by the settlers who now inhabit the land.  However, it is fairly well known in the native community that they were actually known as Big sister, ugly sister, and little sister. 

                The sport climbing routes which dotted the trail had specks of shining stainless steel adorning them, new bolts placed for sport routes.  I fantasized about having a belay partner who would be able to let me soar even higher above the valley below.  Free from the bonds of the trail system.  Alice fell far behind, and ran to catch up. 

Her breath coming almost as a pant as she ran up the trail after me.  I feel like my heart is beating so hard its going to go to the other side of my chest.  I'm light headed, she said.  We stopped and took a rest.  I guzzled half a Nalgene bottle of water, and encouraged Alice to drink the rest.  The mineral water tasted delicious as it slid down my throat. Alice panted as she struggled to get down 250ml of water.  

                The air was calm and crisp, the sun disappeared behind the east side of the cliff as the shadow covered the valley below.  We rounded the last set of switchbacks and started our way up a long staircase to the final scramble to the top. 

The waning sunlight showed a menagerie of colors on the walls opposite the canyon, reds, whites, greys, and even sand stone browns adorned the spires of stone that reached like fingers pointing from the earth to the sky. 

                As we crested the final scramble of grey basalt small shards of sand stone crunched and crumbled to sand beneath our feet. I felt my eyes begin to salivate over the remembrance of past summits on the ridge, none of which gave me the opportunity to view the sun extinguishing its self on the horizon.  Sunsets, are by far my favorite astrological occurrence. 

                I was not disappointed, as we stepped out on to the crest, a large flat topped rock, we headed towards a large outcrop on the edge of the table top of stone.  Our efforts were rewarded with a breathtaking sunset. 

We sat on a flat part of the outcrop watching the sun sink, as it had since people have existed to watch it, Alice thanked me for bringing her.  James eagerly slurped water from my cupped hand as I poured from one of the bottles from my pack, his entire body wagged in excitement.  This hike was a far cry from the 80 degree hike mom and I had taken him on last time he was here.  That time he became very sick and we had to take him to the emergency vet.  We had the summit to ourselves, and soaked up the view along with the heat of the sun exposed rock for a half hour.  As we rose and headed down the stone face, I smiled to myself, thinking of the time Kate and I had climbed the same ridge three seasons before in the summer heat.  Before the trim mom and I had taken.  Today it was just above freezing, and the air was calm.

                As we crossed the bridge over the river, and started back up the cliff side to the bus in the gathering dusk we passed several other hikers. 

In the parking lot several dogs off leash attempted to harass James. Each times a dog rushed at us Alice recoiled with fear, a childhood of being bitten by dogs in Kenya had left traumatic memories.  As we reached the parking lot one particularly aggressive dog came after James.  I chased it off by growling and yelling at it.  The owner who most people would consider an attractive female of breeding age, assured me that he would not bite.  I glared at her, and without raising my voice informed her that there is a law that all dogs must be on leash in this park.  “It is the law.  Not a suggestion.  If you can read, you should know that by the big signs in the parking lot.” I told her.  We continued to walk, and I ignored her false apologies and ridiculous excuses.

                We started up the bus and it warmed as we found our way up the west side highway of the park and to our resting place for the night.  We pulled in and I put down our levelers.  As I went to pull the pot to boil asparagus from under the stove I saw a soft, pudgy mass, trapped in the mouse trap below.  I felt a pang of guilt as I realized it was not dead, but only half of its body trapped with its head out.  The middle of its spine broken.  Anger welled up within me, anger over the fact that life ended, I knew what I had to do.  I had to kill it the rest of the way or it would suffer to death.  I retrieved some leather gloves from the cabinet above my couch, the incense smell of lavender poured out when I opened it. I slid the gloves on, and apologized to the terrified animal for what I was about to do.  I stepped out the door in to the crisp air, the smell of the two broiling T bone steaks that I had started moments earlier rolled out the door around me.  I looked at the fuzzy little grey mass, twisted his head with a snap, and dropped him on the ground stepping on his head.  It was over.  That was the second mouse I had found in my home after staying at that hot spring. 

We ate dinner, Alice forgave me for having to kill the mouse.  We munched on our steaks and had a lovely conversation to end the day.  After dinner we had tea, and watched the movie ‘invictus’.