KHANG & NARET "EVER AFTER"

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will    be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, inpenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable."

C.S. Lewis (The Four Loves) 

My sister, Jaime, and I attended a fellow coworker’s wedding reception on August 27, 2011. It was a joyous occasion not just for the COUPLE, but those WHO shared it with them. I was honored that Khang was glad that I made it, because I was gone for 6 weeks on a trip as he tried to get a hold of me through my sister. Fortunately, my sister inquired the very same night of the reception if I was going. Unaware of the event that was to take place, I decided to go without hesitation.

David, Hoa, Chuong, Me

Me, Lil' Sis

Naret, Khang, Dolores

Me, Jayson, Eric, Walter. Los Al Bball Crew

At the reception, an oil-painted canvas of the couple greeted the guest as they arrived. Their pictures were taken with the couple as a party 
favour as they received a card afterwards. As everyone was seated, the celebration commenced. It was one filled with laughter, happiness, and tears of joy. What was an Asian party without karaoke? Two of our pharmacists came up on stage and sang a song addressed to the couple. After that, there were more singing and dancing as everyone had a good time. Most of my coworkers were in attendance, and that made it even more special for Khang.

As the couple made their way through each table, a microphone was handed to any one person who wanted to say a few words. When it came to our table, I said “Khang, words alone cannot express how happy and how much joy we have for the both of you. As you put your spouse’s needs before your own, you are confirming your commitment to each other” or something like that.

Pharmacy Advantage Crew

CONGRATULATIONS KHANG AND NARET!

Dege's Peak > Mount Rainier National Park

Day 13, August 4

Things not do before a big hike:

1. Do not eat a large meal just before the big climb, especially if you suffer from altitude sickness (more on this later).

2. Do not load up on water just before the hike, you should have been well hydrated before then.

3. When you need to take a rest, it does not mean push on.

4. When you need to call it quits, it does not mean man up.

Our day started like this...

Could you have guessed that we had another late start. Well, it was not that late. Patrick offered to drive and treated me out for lunch, so we went back to Jackson Visitor Center. At the center, we passed by Michael Punches, the park ranger and asked him about the trail that offered a 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape. He told us that it was Dege's Peak. It was doable since the snow had melted away. It was set then, Patrick and I was headed for Dege's Peak right after lunch. At the lunch area, I met up with Katie and her four lovely daughters and I talked with them for a little while. Patrick and I had hot dogs for lunch with chips and a dessert. 

The drive to Dege's Peak was brutal along a 50-mile winding road. The scenery was spectacular as I observed nature at its best. The mountain formations, landscape, trees and plants were something of a national geographic special. I was concerned about Patrick's one-handed driving style, a newly acquired habit that he picked up from me. I told him that in conditions such as windy roads, two hands on the steering wheel offered more stability. The only reason that I had been driving one-handed was because I had been driving a manual stick-shift since I started driving as a teenager. Patrick did not like the criticisms I gave and we butted heads for a bit. Nevertheless, we got to our destination safe and sound. 

The aesthetic beauty of the surrounding area amazed us. Next, we got our gear ready with the essentials and extra water. My brother complained as to why we had to bring extra water bottles since we had hydro-packs. I told him because I said so. My word was ABSOLUTE. Well, that was partly true. Off we went to our hike! I had only walked for 600 meters and my knees and quads started to hurt. My right knee started to ache since that incident in Port Angeles, Washington when my brother "accidentally" kicked my knee out of anger. Anyway, we both pushed on. I sipped water every 200 meters as I tried to catch my breath. Starting elevation was 6000 feet and trail had a gain of 1000 feet. I was nervous because the trail width was less than 18 inches. This proved more difficult as the trail progressed. 

At the halfway point, we enjoyed the northern view of the Cascade Mountains. I chatted with a fellow hiker and asked if they were doing the Dege's Peak hike. She uttered a resounding no. So, my brother and I were off. After we hiked about 100 meters further, we stumbled upon a path covered with hard ice and threatened our advancement. The path was no longer visible because ice covered it. Hard compact ice with ice melt in its bottom was tough to get across of. I told my brother that we might not be able to continue and being the younger and risk-taker that he was, he encouraged me to press on. He said "we can do it, You could do it!" with great confidence. So, what did I do? I pressed on. Since we had inadequate equipment, especially our shoes that were not meant for trekking ice, I took hold of every step and crawled on all fours. It was nerve racking because if you fell on either side meant serious injury or DEATH!!! Eventually, we crossed over and continued on but another patch of ice hindered our advancement. 

Along the hike, my brother and I heard an eerie cry for help. Since I had a legit whistle, I blew on it one short blast and waited for a response. I heard a screech back, so I blew two short blasts. This time I heard no reply and I looked at me brother with a weird look on my face asking "what do we do?"


Standard Whistle Signals
1 whistle - Where are you?
2 whistles - Come to me!
3 Whistles - EMERGENCY!!!
SOS - three short blasts, three long blasts, three short blasts

After about 100 meters of a sharp, z-like horizontal pattern ascent, we reached our destination. I was awestruck by the view, but found myself having to take a sit on the peak's floor because of anxiety. Who knew that I suffered from a fear of heights, no pun intended but I am sitting on top of a 7000 feet high peak. I was at the point of crying. What made matters worst was my brother's lack of prudent thinking or common sense as he tried to procure a view of the bottom floor by standing on the peak's edge. I was agitated and my anger got the best of me for I yelled curses at him. Last thing on my mind was to trek down solo. After a few minutes, I gathered my wits and strength and enjoyed the view and took some panoramic pictures. The view was something like the Lord of the Rings movie as the fellowship of the ring made their way across middle earth. As I looked north, I saw Mount Baker and the Canadian mountains. To the west, I saw a crisp and clean view of Mount Rainier's Winthrop and Emmons glaciers. To the East, I saw more mountain ranges with its tips covered with white snow. To the the south, I saw Mount Hood in Oregon, and on a good day, one could see Mount Saint Helen as well. That day, Mount Saint Helen was not visible. Before we began our descent, my brother and I ate some snacks and drank water. We took in the scenery a bit more as we took deep breathes and absorbed the surrounding aesthetic beauty of the landscape. 

When the time came for our descent, I felt nauseated and tightness in my left trapezious muscle along my neck. I took some of my migraine medicine, but my efforts were in vain. I was experiencing high altitude sickness. What made matters worst was the 1000 feet descent and the 50-mile winding road back to camp, but I was just trying to make it back down for starters. I was miserable and even grabbed snow melt and placed it over my head to create shock and numbness because of its coldness. I stopped two or three times down the trail, but was convinced to man up because night fall was upon us. Eventually, my brother and I made it down the trail and proceeded to our vehicle. I was not a happy person and now came the drive back to camp, in which I was not expecting.

I have never been at the mercy of my brother's driving. I told him to drive super slow and obey the 25 mile per hour sign, but he drove beyond the speed limit. I vomited two times and normally that would make a person feel better, but I felt worst and my head was throbbing. I was like a baby crying out for help, but to no avail. I was on my brother to drive very slowly since I felt every motion of the vehicle as it rode the road. I was highly sensitive and in some ways tried to laugh about my predicament through groans and an occasional tear. It was nightfall and we were still on the road. About 15 miles from our destination, we were flagged down by a motorists and asked us how to get out of the national park. Still somewhat drowsy, I gave them directions and they went about their way. Eventually, my brother and I caught up behind them down the winding roads with the speed limit he was driving at. The driver in front of us was not adept to the dark and unfamiliar roads marked by her excessive braking. I told my brother to flash the high-beam lights twice and turn on the vehicle's right-turn signal to have them pull-over the side. Eventually, we got them to pull over and I asked my brother to find out if they needed further help. He came back not really telling me anything, so I got my map and head lamp and asked the ladies if they needed help. They were not really interested in checking my map and assured me that they knew where they were heading, so I let them go. When I got back on the vehicle, I asked my brother if he stuttered when he offered his assistance to the ladies because of his social awkwardness. He laughed and I did too! As you could tell, I was feeling a lot better compared to my earlier state. It was an adventure nevertheless with its highs and lows.

Nisqually Vista Trail > Mount Rainier National Park

Day 12, August 3

We had another late start, so that was nothing new. When we got up, my brother made some breakfast for the both of us with some hearty oatmeal topped with bananas. We left camp for the Nisqually Vista Trail after our breakfast/lunch. On the way there, we stopped at a vista lookout point. The view was that of the Nisqually glacier and it was vast!

Once we reached Jackson Visitor Center, we got our gear ready of the basic essentials such as water, food, sun protection, illumination, insulation, first-aid, and a fire starter. I was bummed that the trail was snowed in. All I had was my Salomon XT-Wings trail runner shoes for the whole trip and it had no gore-tex lining. My brother had gore-tex lined trail shoes, so that was good news for him. Basically, I just had to be careful. The trail was a fun one because there was no distinguished trail. Park Rangers made impromptu trails marked by markers. I slipped and fell a couple of times, but there was something relaxing and funny about it. It brought back the child in me.

Along the trail, we spotted what I believed to be a Black-tailed Deer. It was a doe. It was relaxing on a patch of dried sage brush. My brother attempted to get closer, but I made him think twice. I told him that he had to respect the animal in its natural environment. The last thing I wanted was for him to be injured. We took some shots and video-taped the doe and went about our way. A few moments later, we arrived at the Nisqually Glacier viewpoint and the view was simply breath taking. We finished the trail with a few more slips and falls.

 

 

We had dinner at the Jackson Visitor Center. We each had salad, a fruit, a sliced pizza, and a sundae for a grand total of a little over twenty-eight dollars. The price was steep! When we got back to camp, Chuck, a person I met earlier informed us about a 9pm presentation made by a park ranger on the campground's amphitheatre. We told him that we would be there. After the conversation, my brother and I killed time by messing around until I saw a young girl fell into the ground and got scrapped up. I told my brother to approach the mother and his daughter to see if they needed some antiseptic. He was reluctant, but I told him that he needed to practice his social skills. Someone might need help, so I told him to lend it. Long story short, we made new friends aside from Chuck and Jeannie, we met Katie and her four wonderful daughters Maria Gabriella, Leticia Marisol, Elena Teresa and Sofia Paz. I learned that Katie was a professor and taught child development, a course of study that I undertook at a community college before I majored in psychology.    

At 9pm, we met up with Chuck and Jeannie. Park Ranger Mike Punches gave a talk on "Happy Trails!" a one, two, and three knockout presentation! Of all the trails he mentioned, I was sold on Dege's Peak and of the four lookouts within the vicinity of Mount Rainier National Park. My brother and I had a game plan for Day 13 of our trip. When we got back to our campsite, we got ready for our first ever campfire!!! It was a successful one, but I had to use some spruce that kept the flame going because the fire wood was to thick to burn completely. Where was the axe when you needed it?

Destination > Cougar Rock Campground > Mount Rainier

Day 11, August 2
 

We stayed the night at Travelodge in Everett, Washington. We had another late start. We thought we would stop and check out Seattle, but changed our minds because the cost of downtown parking was steep and traffic was bad. If you were ever in town, I heard Pike's place was a nice place to visit. Other areas of attraction were EMP Museum of Music, Underground tour, and the Seattle Space Needle.

Our next option was to head straight for Mount Rainier. My brother drove because I was tired. We stopped at Eatonville, Washington and bought some groceries. We made camp at Cougar Rock situated about 20-25 miles from the base of Mount Rainier. Camp elevation was about 6000 feet (1828.8 meters). We called it a night early and went to bed to have an early start in the morning.