I couldn't help but relive Brandy and my hike to Chimney Rock back in the summer of 2002. Some of the details are sketchy, like where exactly it is, but I can look it up for anyone venturing out to North Idaho who wants to tackle this mountain.
Brandy and I were avid hikers of the north Idaho terrain, we were on year two of living and working in the mountains there and had become more than just the beginner in hiking. We were by no means expert but we knew more than the average tourist. Well, we woke up one fine morning and decided to head out on our most adventurous hike yet. It was a difficult 5 mile hike straight up to an outcropping of rocks that - you guessed it - looked like a chimney, of sorts. We were excited and loaded up our two dogs and packs.
The road at the base of the mountain was very well maintained. These are rural back roads in the outback of the Rocky Mountains I'm talking about so to the city dweller standards it was a rocky hell but Brandy and I were very pleased. We have to consider such things because we were driving a Honda Accord not a four wheeling mud thrower. Higher and higher we climbed bouncing all the way up until finally we reached a point where we could not go any further. Brandy was keeping track of the mileage and said with confidence that the trail head was less than a mile ahead. I trust my husband with my life so I agreed to park and hike to the trail head.
The beautiful outback of north Idaho, even in my thoughts, takes my breath away. I have never in my life been so in love and felt so in touch with nature and it's beauty. The energy is so alive, everything feels so new, even standing among one hundred or more year old forest growth that shines and vibrates. Hours could melt into days and I wouldn't have cared.
We walked on over the washed out road that fell before us and looked up the road. One little road block wasn't gonna stop us from our destination. We walked and walked and walked. We walked some more.
Well, the trail head wasn't just a mile or less up the road but we had made it and we weren't at all tired and there was plenty of day light left. We began our climb with energy and excitement. I couldn't wait to get there and see the sights from the top. So much to see along the way it was a visual paradise. Streams, waterfalls and pools of water all along the trail. It was wonderful. I'll never forget and honestly it's the only hike Brandy and I did in Idaho that I can recall fully the scenery without having to look at pictures. I was in heaven. The dogs were in heaven too. We were all pretty darn happy. We hiked and we hiked and we hiked. We hiked some more.
We never made it to the summit. We came close I know because we could see it. Turning around was our only option. We just weren't prepared to hike in the dark and we had already hiked 10 miles and we had to turn around and hike 10 back. We stopped and ate and let the dogs play in a pool of water all the while starring at good ol chimney rock.
It was mocking us now. Laughing at our tired bodies that had come so far and didn't make it. The trail was laughing at us too and for a moment I considered trekking further up the mountain. Brandy was the voice of reason and stated there was no way we could go any further. He was right. We had no idea how much trail was left and we had to turn back now if were going to make it to the car in daylight. With heavy hearts we turned around and headed back to the car.
The hike back down was easy. Downhill hiking is always the easy part and takes less time too. You've already oohed and awed over every detail of the forest and it's accessories so less stopping and more moving happens. Yea, there is always that detail you missed but it's all downhill. My body starts to wake back up and adjust to the new position of looking down instead of up. It's nice and relaxing like the rub down after a workout - that's how I see it anyway.
Half way down the mountain we lose one of the dogs. It's Wally, poor guy has given up and just plopped himself down on the trail. He is letting us know that it is nap time and he's taking it now. We know he is not needing water, there is water all along the trail. Brandy urges him onward. We keep on moving.
Finally, we make it to the trail head, only a couple more miles to the car! Oh, we lose Wally again. He's found a camper and his dog who has set up camp while we've been on the mountain. Wally decides it's playtime but the campers dog isn't about playing with Wally and puts up a fight. Brandy has to wrestle Wally from the angry dog and we keep moving, relieved we will be home bound shortly.
Before it is all said and done Wally lays down on the road and this time will not budge. We can see the car just ahead - come on Wally it's less than a half mile, come on man. He won't budge. We all sit down. There is no way we can drive the car to Wally. We sit some more, maybe he's rested enough to walk to the car. Nope. Brandy picks up Wally. Let me just tell you about Wally for a moment. He is bigger than me and weighs as much as I do. He is HUGE and he looked like complete dead weight in Brandy's arms. No boos or hisses - the dog was fine. He is a stubborn beast you guys and he got his way. He was carried the last half mile to the car.
Needless to say we survived and we loved every minute of it. We still want to go back and conquer that mountain and we will someday. We even saw a huge papa moose on the road back home - just a little farewell I'm sure. We learned not to trust books or maps on trail length, calling the ranger station in our case would have paid off. The trail had been washed out (like the road) and it's course had changed and as a result made the hike longer. We could have been more prepared and planned on an overnight hike. All is well, however, we had an awesome adventure.
