Iron Goats

 

Still so much like the teenage boy I met. 



An Iron Goat is a train that climbs the switch-backs of steep mountain passes like mountain goats do.  There is an amazing history and tragic story that goes along with the Iron Goats and the treacherous passes of the Cascade Mountains.  Check it out here. 

I am discovering that I am tougher than I thought I was.  The Lord has been putting me through a refiners fire, mentally, physically, and emotionally over the last several years and teaching me that I can handle whatever comes my way.  I am now grateful for the challenges because it has taught me that I AM as tough as nails.  And I am testing the limits of my toughness physically.  I am finding myself weaving into more treacherous terrain (theoretically speaking) that I once avoided because of fear.  Camping is one thing I have avoided because I was afraid that I was not tough enough to handle the various discomforts it presents.  But this last weekend I did it!  Just me and Dave.  And LIKED it.  But no, that wasn't enough.  The next day we headed up the Iron Goat Trail.  This was no trail for beginners.  Parts of the trail were very tough hiking.  As in steep uphill hiking.  And not just for a little way.  Steep uphill for a long way!  We hiked 8 miles that day.  And we LOVED every minute of it.  We would do it all again the next day if we could. 

Bucket list: 

1. Try camping one more time...CHECK. 
2. Next on my list, hike the camping gear in (no car camping this time).  Can't wait! 

Our tent was not 25 feet from the Skykomish River's edge. 
We slept to the sound of the rushing water.



We are at the top and the edge!
One more step back and we would've taken the fast route back down.



Yes, we are standing on snow...an avalanche actually. 
We climbed over the remnants of 4 avalanches on our hike.

This was one of the train sheds. 
More like a tunnel and I DID go in it.  Brrrr!



Another shed, different design. 
The outer edges were crumbling. 
I can't believe they actually let people go in, but they do and we did.



I am as tough as an Iron Goat, so to speak.