Pictures from around Holden



Marmot



Fall ferns



Curious Mule Deer on trail





Abandoned mine skelton

 



Autumn  colors

 
   

Full moon in motion

Role of community along the trail

Holden Village Dining Hall

Mule Deer grazing at Holden

While I enjoyed a full day out on the trail, mostly hiking by myself, I also loved being able to come back into the village to savor a meal of homemade pizza with the rest of the villagers. Then I was able to share the tales of my hike with others and relax in the supportive community of Holden Village. How much differently I would have felt after that long hike if I had to make my own dinner, pitch a tent, and keep the joy of my journey inside.

Many of us don’t have the benefit of having a long standing home base and supportive community. The United States is a country made primarily of immigrants, many of whom are now on trails a long way from home. Modern transportation and job opportunities/requirements have lead many families to become scattered across the country and globe. It is important for us to be welcoming of strangers, fellow sojourners, just as we would want to be welcomed into a new community.

Welcoming hug

Trail questions…

Where do you go to find your community support?

How might you be welcoming to the stranger in your midst?

If you have a faith community, how is it working to be welcoming to people from other nationalities and traditions?

Holden Village birds eye view

Trail development and maintenance

Aspen leaves

The first few miles of the trail to Upper Lyman Lake were fairly flat, on the soft soil developed by the deciduous forest. Brightly colored yellow aspen leaves lit up the woods.

Trail before Hart Lake

Then the trail turned increasingly rocky and climbed steeply as it neared Hart Lake and the forest became coniferous and much less wooded. It traversed rock slides and went over mountain streams. I began to notice how well maintained it was. Just as predicted, I could clearly find my way and was able to travel without worry of getting lost.

I later learned that the Washington Trails Association (WTA) works with volunteers to maintain the multitude of trails across the state. Following my hike I was pleased to dedicate a day working with them on the trail to Honeymoon Heights. It was a great group of people who clearly enjoyed maintaining the hiking trails for the benefit of themselves and others.

WTA volunteer Gary at work

Trail Questions…

Who helped pave the trail for you? E.g. teachers, parents, grandparents, coaches, or neighbors?

What are you doing to help pave the trail for others? E.g. mentoring, teaching, coaching, parenting?

Do you know someone on a rough trail that might need a little support and word of encouragement?



Trails volunteers by Honeymoon Heights



A trail, a trail, what a beautiful thing!

During my 20 plus mile round trip walk to Upper Layman Lake from Holden Village I reflected on the value of trails in our lives. The most important benefit being a clear route to a desirable destination. Without a trail or map one could wonder aimlessly, bush whacking though life, and perhaps miss many of the worthwhile destinations that could have been reached via a trail.

Misty morning trail

At Holden Village, in the midst of Wenatchee National Forest, there are a plethora of hiking trails from which to choose. At the Hike House maps are available which indicate the length and difficulty of the trails, some leading to lakes, others waterfalls or scenic overlooks. I was told about a challenging trail leading to Upper Lyman Lake. Not only was the lake beautiful, but there were mountain meadows in route and a glacier at the far end of the lake. It wasn’t an easy trail, but I was assured it was well worth the long hike. Best yet, I was told I couldn’t get lost. That was comforting, since I’m one of those directionally challenged individuals, who sometimes even has to guess about which way is up.

So, after packing up a bag lunch and without a map or compass, I headed out on the trail, bright and early at 7:30 am on Saturday, September 25th. My hope was to be back in time for supper, which started at 5 pm. Pizza was on the menu!  Being something over 20 miles in mountainous terrain, I knew this would be no cake walk.

Railroad Creek

I headed out alone, though I knew there were two small groups of hikers planning to travel in the same direction on this glorious fall day. Having come 1,500 miles to Holden for rest and reflection I was looking forward to time on my own, and going at my own pace, allowing time to stop and take pictures.

Trail Questions….
What valuable trails have you experienced?

When have you been lead down the wrong trail that ended up in a dead-end, or perhaps worse?

What trail(s) are you currently on?
How did you get on your current trail(s)?
What might be your dream trail and or location?
What do you need to do to prepare for this jouney?

Signs around Holden



Yep, there's bears in them there woods!



Lucurne landing at Lake Chelan



Sign from active mining years.... interesting priorities!



Always a good idea, right?





Don't worry, the water is now well filtered

My favorite sign!





Holden: The Lutheran Meca of the Cascade Mountains



Class with Susan Briehl

While it isn't required of Lutherans to visit Holden before they die, I would strongly recommend it. I'm guesing that the belated Martin Luther would have loved it there, save for the lack of a beer vendor. Holden is also a welcoming place for Methodists, Catholics, and spiritual seekers of all sorts to visit.

In addition to a tranquil setting in the mountains, they still use on occassion the Holden Evening Prayer service, that is simple and uplifting.  The church that I attend has been using this service for over 20 years during the lenten season.



Evening vespers service

 The library is filled with many interesting books of social and spiritual nature.  Additionally there is an extensive collection of tapes and cds of presentations done at Holden over the years.

This is a place that feeds the mind, body and soul.  A multitude of interesting classes are provided throughout the summer months and into the fall.  Morning matins and evening vespers are shared by the entire community.

Choir being lead by Mary Preus

Music is done well at Holden.  During my visit Mary Preus and Tom Witt lead a choir with music from around the world.  They also brought a huge map of the world, and during one evening worship service all were offered candles to place on countries on the map for which they would like to pray. 

While it is a spiritual place, there is also an underpinning of "holy hilarity" that keeps it from becoming too serious.  When I greeted the village pastor, Scott Kershner, with a "Hello Reverend"... he jokingly suggested a better title might be "Irreverend".

Talent show skit on beer making

It was fun to be at the village for Scott's installation service "Now the Feast and Installation". After going through the formalities of the service the staff took part in something of a good natured roast.  They played off the word installation and first "installed" a stage on which for Scott to sit. They went on to include in the skit insulation, germination, irrigation, alternation, constipation, interrogation, inspiration, proclamation and even constellation.  It was a hoot.  I could get used to more "holy hillarity" in my life.

Surpassed agendas at Holden Village

We've all got agendas, right?  Even when we're on vacation there are usually things we want to accomplish.  I had five agenda items for my visit to Holden Village that were all met or surpassed.

Rainbow trout at Holden Lake

1.  Relax and recharge.  I finished up 27 years working with the Kinship mentoring program recently, 21 as the executive director of Kinship of Greater Minneapolis.  I was needing to charge the batteries.  At Holden I was able to read, relax (including a hot tub with view of the mountains), enjoy wholesome food (yummy fresh baked bread), and even get in some successful trout fishing in a mountain lake. . Just being a part of the Holden community was inspiring.

Harvest moon via blind contour

2.    Renew.  I was looking to nurish the soul. This was acheived from attending  interesting classes while at Holden, including studies with Diane Jacobson, from Luther Seminary and Susan Briehl, an inspiring Lutheran pastor.  Daily evening vespers and morning matins were also part of the village experience. Much to my surprise, my favorite class was lead by a wildlife biologist, artist and nature writer, Heather Wallis-Murphy.  She diminished our inhibitions of drawing and painting by teaching us to draw blind contours.  This requires quickly sketching by only looking at the subject and not the paper. It was a great way to get the artistic juices flowing.  I translated this exercise with my camera by doing a freehand picture of the full moon.  I simply spelled out love in cursive while my camera's exposure of the moon was still open.

10 Mile Creek

3.  Take Pictures.  As evidenced in this blog, I was having a blast taking pictures.  Thanks be to God for digital photography.  I snapped 785 shots while at Holden and another 50 or so on the train ride home.  In days to come I'll be posting pictures from the trail.  There were times the beauty literally just about took my breath away.  The weather was mostly ideal, with highs in the 60's. The fall colors were in full regalia.  I was pleased to meet a new friend, Chip Mays, who also wanted to take pictures. We experimented with camera settings and had fun taking pictures of some of the mountains and the many waterfalls around the village. 

Well worn boots

4.  Breaking in boots.   I had a new pair of boots that had been sitting looking rather forlorn for years in my basement.  I was eager to get them finally broken in. It seems they weren't to be broken easily.  I had a couple of toe nails that ended up bruised, but I was able to avoid blisters.  My biggest hike, to Upper Lyman Glacier, I used my running shoes.  These worked well, save for the long trek on some rather sharp rocks. While fishing at Holden Lake I walked in the water with my boots to retrieve a lure.  Hiking back to the village with wet boots added the final touch to their breaking in ;-) 

Renewed trail to Honeymoon Heights

5.  Hiking.  I did a lot of hiking.  Some of the trails I went on included Monkey Falls, 10 Mile Creek, Copper Falls, Holden Lake (3xs), Honeymoon Heights, Hart Lake, and the granddaddy of them all, Upper Lyman Lake.  In addition to hiking I was pleased to work with volunteers from the Washington Trails Association on the trail to Honeymoon Heights (pictured right).  This was a fun group of volunteers that works hard to maintain trails throughout the state for others to enjoy.  I would highly recommend volunteering time with them.  It was a blast.

Travel to Holden Village

Train conductor

I'll be putting up a series of posts in the days ahead on my two week trip to Holden Village, located down lake and up the mountain from the town of Chelan, Washington.  Holden occupies a evacuated mining village.  Many millions of tons of copper were extracted from the mine between 1896 - 1957.  Holden is now an eccumentical retreat center rooted in the Lutheran tradition. 

There is no easy way to get to Holden.  My journey began by car, which took me to the Amtak train station in St. Paul, Minnesota.  From there is was something over 30 hours on the Empire Builder train to the town of Winatchee, Washington.  An hour bus ride c/o the Link Transit Bus (#22) then brought me to the Chelan Boat Company, in the town of Chelan, where I boarded The Lady of the Lake for a four hour ride across much of Lake Chelan to the port of Lucurne.  Lake Chelan is surrounded my mountains and is over 1,500 feet deep. 

Once at Lucurne a Holden bus transported me and the other visitors 10 miles up the mountain, which part of the Cascade Range, in the Wenatchee National Forest.  Upon arrival a host of folks from the village were on hand to cheer for newly arrived guests.  A similar departure ritual occurs when villagers wave to those departing on the bus.

The departure home went smoothly, with the one exception, that being a four hour train delay.  An accident occurred in Washington that then further delayed the train as it made its way back east.  While the train was considerably slower than airplane travel, it more than made up for it by comfortable seating, ability to carry on plenty of baggage, food and beverage and great scenery all along the way.  It was a much more relaxed atmosphere than the considerably more stressful airline travel.

New traveling friends

Horse coral outside of Shelby, MT

Montana fields

Signs of the past

Harvesting wheat

Palomino

Moving fall landscape from train

Pronghorn antelope

Columbia River

Shadow of trestle over Cut Bank Creek

Whitefish Lake

Early morning view of Columbia River

Moon along side train during stop

Bus between Wenatchee and Chelan

Lady of the Lake on Chelan

Lake Chelan... duh ;-)

 

Lucerne Landing for Holden Village

 
 

Farewell for bus passangers leaving Holden Village