Going Aloft at Crystal Mountain

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Our family recently enjoyed a delightful afternoon at Crystal Mountain where we rode the Mt. Rainier Gondola. Crystal Mountain is located in western Washington’s Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. Our party of eight rode together in one gondola as we soared with the eagles up 2,000 vertical feet in twelve-minutes to the summit of Crystal Mountain. At the top we marveled at the unparalleled view of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade Range. From interpretive signs visitors can identify other well-known mountains such as Mount. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and Mt. Baker, all visible from the summit.

We lounged in sling-back chairs and contemplated the spectacular views. Dogs are allowed on leash in the gondola and also on trails. The gondola is wheelchair accessible.

While at the top we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the Summit House, the highest elevation restaurant in Washington State.

Interpretive guided walks are also offered on select days when visitors can learn about the local history, geology, wildlife and more. During the summer months several moderate to strenuous hiking trails are available for close-up views of wildflowers, wildlife and lakes. For hiking and other specific information, visit https://www.crystalmountainresort.com/summer/summer-activities/

Within a thirty-minute drive from Crystal Mountain is Silver Springs Campground, situated on the banks of scenic White River, just outside Mt. Rainier National Park’s North Arch entrance. The campground has 56 campsites, all with picnic tables and fire rings. The campground makes lovely headquarters to enjoy the park and its opportunities for fishing, hiking and picnicking, as well as access to surrounding areas. Camping reservations may be made through
www.recreation.gov or phone 877-444-6777.

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Book Review — How to Live to 100: Secrets from the World’s Happiest Centenarians

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Elizabeth Lopez, a psychologist who emphasizes human strengths and how we can use positive traits to improve quality of life, joined a group of international scientists to study an usually large group of centenarians in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula. The purpose was to determine if the area is a true “Blue Zone,” a study which identifies localities that have a higher percentage of centenarians than other places in the world. A section of the Nicoya Peninsula was determined to be a true Blue Zone, second only to the Italian island of Sardinia.

The fascinating interviews that Dr. Lopez conducts studies people who have led positive, useful lives, sometimes not under ideal conditions. Most of the people lived ordinary lives, worked hard, ate simple foods, loved their family and friends, and their favorite activity, dancing.

Among the traits common in all nine interviews was having a purpose in life, feeling needed, being deeply religious, and having a strong support system among family and friends. Learning the particulars in How to Live to 100 from the centenarians themselves make for a fascinating read and a positive learning experience. Of particular interest to me was the general feeling of striving for what’s good for the group, be it family or community, and not for oneself.

In her interviews, Dr. Lopez has done an outstanding job of gleaning activities, recipes, and habits that create zest for life, and how those practices produce a healthy, calm body. I highly recommend this enlightening book. The wisdom it shares provides guidelines to personal longevity by learning how to make life-enhancing changes. You might even live to 100.

 

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Book Review: We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves

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We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler is a memorable, deeply moving novel about a loving family that abruptly breaks its close ties when one of the members is suddenly missing.

The story begins in 1966 when Rosemary Cooke is 22 years old and a college student in Davis, California. Ten years have passed since she last saw her beloved brother, and seventeen years since she last saw her sister, Fern. Rosemary rarely speaks to her parents, and she only goes home to Bloomington, Indiana on Thanksgiving.

Rosemary was five years old when her adopted sister suddenly disappeared, resulting in the family becoming profoundly dysfunctional. The sudden change in family dynamics affects every member. As the story develops, we learn through twists and turns what triggered the upset.

An intricate part of the story involves the concerns of animal experimentation by scientists and laboratories. The author goes into shattering, gruesome detail about the
handling of test animals.

Karen Joy Fowler’s voice in this first-person novel is superb. Her wit and depth of characterization and plot is remarkable. I highly recommend We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves.

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Book Review: Goin’ South

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When Dusty Rose and his girlfriend, Cassie Martin, decide to take a month-long horseback riding vacation to Arizona, they anticipate leisurely rides in sunny bright weather. They drive Dusty’s living-quarter horse trailer, leaving Enumclaw, Washington in October, thankful to be leaving Northwest’s fall drizzle to bask in Arizona sunshine.

They stay at various campgrounds along the way. At one of the campsites, they meet a fellow camper who drives what appears to be a furniture truck. He speaks with a Spanish accent and mentions he lives in Mexico, but is in the United States on business. He casts leering eyes at Cassie, and Dusty and Cassie are immediately suspicious of the fellow and make every attempt to avoid him.

One morning, Dusty wakes to find Cassie already up and out of the trailer. He figures she is feeding their horses. But when he finds the horses without her, he becomes alarmed. With a sinking heart, he sees that the furniture truck is also gone.

Goin’ South is a suspenseful read that delves into the horrific business of human trafficking. Author Susie Drougas has done her research on this topic and tells a good story. Drougas is also an accomplished backcountry trail rider which adds authenticity to her stories.

Goin’ South is Book 5 of the Dusty Rose series.

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Book Review: Before the Wind

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Before the Wind by Jim Lynch is a captivating, often hilarious novel about a sailing family, the Johannssens.

The story is narrated by the most seemingly normal member of the family, Josh, now thirty-one, who is the middle of three siblings. Josh’s father is a fanatical sailor and expects the family to live and breathe sailing. Growing up, the family’s every spare moment was spent practicing sailing maneuvers, always with the goal of winning races, especially the famous northwest Swiftsure. Josh’s father and grandfather build and design highly desired boats, though their business is currently on the brink of disaster. Josh’s brilliant though eccentric mother is deep into solving mathematical theories. Bernard, Josh’s older brother has his own version of what he’d like his life to be, and his plan doesn’t necessarily include the family. The youngest child, Ruby, is a sailing genius, but she too, must find her own way.

When the family reunites for one last Swiftsure race, they learn surprising things about one another, truths that will bind them forever.

I loved Before the Wind. Since I have sailed in both Puget Sound and the Pacific, I could appreciate much of the nautical jargon, though the author describes the art of sailing and maintaining a boat with far more intricacy than I will ever know. I especially loved the family dynamics, and the author’s humor in describing life in a marina. Sailors will love this book, but you don’t have to be nautical to appreciate the author’s skill in telling a good story.

Mary E. Trimble
Author: SAILING WITH IMPUNITY

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Book Review – Mothering Sunday: A Romance

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Graham Swift has written a compelling short novel, Mothering Sunday, that takes place in Berkshire, England, 1924. The story centers on the life of Jane, a maid in her early twenties, employed by an upper-class family. It is a rare, beautiful March day on Mothering Sunday, when servants are free to spend the day visiting their parents. An orphan, Jane instead has been bidden to spend time with her lover Paul Sheringham, the son of a neighboring family who is about to be married. His parents are away from home attending a luncheon in honor of his impending marriage. The Sheringham servants, too, were not at home, visiting their parents.

Jane and Paul have been meeting for seven years, but this is the first time they have met in his parents’ home, and likely will be the last time they will be together due to his coming marriage.

I enjoyed the novel’s leisurely pace and its sensuous treatment of an affair between a wealthy young man and a woman with whom he could have no outward or lasting relationship. The novel takes place in the aftermath of the First World War when so many of England’s young men perished in battle. Paul’s marriage, therefore, has special importance as he is the sole surviving son, having lost his two older brothers in war.

Graham Swift’s lean writing style is packed with strong images of sumptuous
scenes, of English homes, lush countryside, and the privileged mannerisms of bygone days. Tragedy and hope mingle as the main characters play out their respective roles. I enjoyed this short novel and vicariously visiting England during the quaintness of this soon-to-be vanished lifestyle.

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Orcas Island: The Gem of the San Juans

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We recently enjoyed a few days on Orcas Island, the largest island in the San Juans. Accessible only by air or sea, we took a ferry from Anacortes, north of Seattle for a scenic 1¼ hour sail to Orcas Island.

Orcas is slightly larger, but less populated than neighboring San Juan Island. Orcas is shaped like a pair of saddlebags, separated by fjord-like Eastsound, with Massacre Bay on the south side, and tiny Skull Island just off the coast. We drove through the hamlet of Eastsound, the island’s commercial center and the largest populated village on the Island. Smaller hamlets include Orcas (where the ferry lands), West Sound, Deer Harbor, Rosario, Olga and Doe Bay.

The main beauty of this hilly island is its lush forests and sweeping green farmland. Our destination, 5,252-acre Moran State Park, is one of the most beautiful spots in the Pacific Northwest. Here hikers can enjoy 38 miles of trails ranging from gentle forest paths to challenging ascents. For those looking for a demanding hike, Mount Constitution fills the bill with a 2,409-foot summit—the highest point in the San Juan Islands. A castle-like tower stands at the summit. Stairs leading to the top will reward the ambitious climber views that include the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges, Mount Baker and Mount Rainier. Spread below are the green forested San Juan Islands, Canadian Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.

Wildlife and plants are abundant on Orcas. Blacktail deer, river otters, mink and raccoons are common in the park. Bald eagles, kingfishers and great blue herons can be seen year round. In the winter, trumpeter swans and a variety of ducks are found on Cascade Lake.

We found the campsite spacious and moderately private. The park is quite hilly which might be restrictive for some people. Space for large rigs is limited. I suggest always making reservations, both for the ferry and for camping.

Orcas Island is a Northwest treasure whether you want to camp, or stay at one of its several bed and breakfasts or resorts. It’s a magical mix of arts and culture, lush forests, placid lakes and endless outdoor possibilities. Come see for yourself what the locals call “The gem of the San Juans.”

To make reservations:

Washington State Ferries https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Reservations/Vehicle/default.aspx

Washington State Parks:
https://parks.state.wa.us/223/Reservations

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Book Review: H is for Hawk

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H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald is both a memoir and an extraordinary experience with one of nature’s most vicious predators, a goshawk.

As a child in England, Macdonald was fascinated by nature and spent hours observing wildlife, particularly birds. She fulfills a life-long dream of becoming a falconer when she acquires a goshawk whom she names Mabel. She begins to train the goshawk, taking tiny steps toward the day she can let the bird fly free to hunt, yet trust it to return to her.

The goshawk, a medium-large raptor, is bigger, fiercer and wilder than most hawks and is often considered the “true” hawk. Historically, goshawks have had relationships with humans, often as hunting partners.

Like any special-interest subject, falconry has its own vocabulary: wings are sails, claws are pounces, tail a train, when they wipe their beaks, they feak, when they frantically flap their wings, they bate, to mention only a few of the many terms of precision used by falconers.

When Macdonald’s father, a press photographer, suddenly dies, she is thrown into despair. In her writing she recalls the profound lessons she has learned from this patient man as she struggles with the pain of loss and the challenges of working with her hawk.

In parallel, the author frequently refers to the unpublished journal of T. H. White, a well-known English writer who was also a falconer, albeit an unsuccessful one.

H is for Hawk is a beautiful book on so many levels. Helen Macdonald fearlessly exposes her emotionally raw grief as she immerses herself in the complexities and challenges of falconry. I highly recommend H is for Hawk.

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Book Review — Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project

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Author Jack Mayer has written a gripping true story about courage, hope and determination that shines light on a dark period of history.

When three girls from a rural Kansas high school researched a project for 1999’s National History Day, they started something bigger than anyone would have imagined. Under the guidance of their teacher, Norman Conrad, students Liz Chambers, Megan Stewart, and Sabrina Coons began what would be life-changing for all involved. From a tiny reference in a news magazine, they researched the story of Irena Sendler, a Polish Catholic who organized a network of social workers to save hundreds of Jewish children during World War II. This remarkable feat was suppressed by communist Poland and remained virtually unknown for 60 years.

As the students delved into their Holocaust history project, they fashioned their research into a 15-minute play they called “Life in a Jar.” The play was first seen in Kansas, then the Midwest, then New York, Los Angeles, Montreal and finally Poland where they elevated Irena Sendler to a national hero.

Under German occupation, all Polish Jews in Warsaw were rounded up and forced to live in a ghetto. They could only take what they could carry. Conditions worsened by the day as Jews were deprived of even everyday necessities. The 400,000 Jews sealed behind brick walls lived in unbelievably crowded conditions–sometimes more than 20 people in a two-bedroom apartment. People were starving and dying from untreated sickness, starvation and absolute poverty.

When it became apparent that Jews were systematically being taken away and murdered, Irena Sendler approached the condemned parents to convince them to give up their children so that they could be placed with non-Jewish families, or in Catholic orphanages. Sendler felt it important to keep some sort of record of the rescued children’s names, their new Christian name, and where they were taken. Lists were made and hidden in milk jars, then buried under an old apple tree. In all, 2,500 children were saved. Most were never reunited with their families.

Life in a Jar is an extraordinary story of exceptional people. The students’ individual stories are an integral part of the strength of the project. Irena Sendler’s story of tolerance and respect of all people is inspirational. I highly recommend this story of Kansas teens who “rescued the rescuer.”

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Book Review: Where’d You Go, Bernadette

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I loved this hilarious and touching novel by Maria Semple. Where’d You Go, Bernadette is filled with charm, intelligence and rare wisdom.

Fifteen year old Bee lives in Seattle with her parents in their 12,000 square-foot home, a former Catholic school for wayward girls. The building is in deplorable condition with blackberry vines growing through the floorboards, a roof that leaks, and an overpowering musty odor.

However, the family’s obnoxious living style has nothing to do with their intelligence.
The entire family is brilliant. Bee, with a straight-A average, has been accepted at a prestigious boarding school. Her mother, Bernadette, is an award-winning architect, and Bee’s father, Elgin, is a high-level executive at Microsoft. The family moved to Seattle when Microsoft bought Elgin’s facial-recognition program and offered him a job.

As a reward for Bee’s perfect grades, the family plans to celebrate by taking a cruise to Antarctica. Bee’s highly intelligent but agoraphobic mother, throws herself into preparations for the trip, ordering equipment on-line at terrifying speed. All the while Bernadette is nearing a meltdown trying to cope with living in Seattle, a place she never wanted to be.

The book rapidly moves forward through Bee’s first-person accounts, emails between Bernadette and her personal secretary who supposedly lives in India, and gossipy emails between two mothers whose children also go to Bee’s school.

Situations occur that build on one another, complicating their lives. And then Bernadette disappears.

Wit and imagination make this novel special. Irreverent, keen observations about Seattle traffic, Canadians, family relationships, human nature, and Antarctica are hilarious. At times I laughed right out loud. For a refreshing look at our world, read Where’d You Go, Bernadette.

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