Bronka's Birthday Today, August 15

Bronka’s birthday is today. Although it was her birthday, she had me, Ted, Bill and Pam over for breakfast. They had been working on rebuilding her deck this weekend and were planning to work on it again today. Pam’s birthday was also today, so we had two celebrations!

Bronka made her famous French toast, which was wonderful! We had a great time visiting with her and her hiking Monday friends stopped by, Carol, Ealane, and Pat. She also had many calls.

We are so blessed to have Bronka in our lives.

Camp Muir Climb On Tuesday, August 9, 2011

On, Tuesday, August 9, 2011, Ted, myself and Bronka made another trip to Camp Muir. When we drove up to Paradise it was very misty and cloudy, as we headed up the trail. Bronka had her red tights on with matching red gloves, very chic. She also showed us the GPS her friend Wally gave her and insisted that she wear. Bronka is learning how to use it and I think that is a good thing. As we continued on, we were able to break through the clouds. It was great to see the mountain and it was clear and beautiful behind a deep blue sky. We stopped quite a bit on our way to Pebble Creek to see Mt. Adams, Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens. Their tops started to peek through the clouds. The heather is also spreading through the ground as well as other beautiful flowers, paintbrush, lupine and others.

We stopped at Pebble Creek for a snack, rest and drink. It was getting warmer as the sun came out of the clouds.

As we headed toward Moon Rocks, Bronka ran into a friend/guide, Silvia. She was leading a group of climbers to Camp Muir. Bronka was so happy to see her that they stopped and chatted with one another. As we continued up, Bronka ran into another guide/friend of hers and they stopped and chatted a little.

When we reached Moon Rocks, we stopped for another break and food and drink. Then started up again. As we got closer to Camp Muir, there was a family coming down with their two kids. One looked as if he were 12 years old and the little girl, I asked how old she was and she said 9 years old! I was impressed and told her she was pretty tough. She gave us a big smile. I do not see kids that young going to Camp Muir.

It was great to finally get to Camp Muir. There were quite a few climbers coming up for the night. We sat on a big rock and ate and drank. Then we walked over to the castle shelter and Bronka sat on her bench. There were a couple guys preparing to climb to the summit. Bronka commented as to how brown and burnt they looked. Bronka chatted with them. One of them and he told her he had heard of her. He gave her a big hug and Bronka wished him well. I thought that was so nice.

Before we headed back down from Camp Muir, there was a guy there who was having his picture taken with some climbers. Apparently, he invented that talcum powder, called Monkey Butt. He had a container of it and was showing it off. Ted had purchased a container of it as a gag gift as it had a big picture of a monkey and its butt. So I took his picture.

It was still beautiful when we left Camp Muir. I kept stopping to look back because I knew we would be in the clouds below and would not be able to see the mountain any more and it was really beautiful. We finally did get into the clouds and almost whiteout conditions. Bronka also does not like going down the rock stairs as they are so large and hard for us short people to go down.

As we continued down, we noticed a guy hanging around us close by. I told Ted that I thought he might be close by because he may be afraid of getting lost in these conditions. He stuck pretty much with us for a while and then I spoke with him. His name is Bob and I found out he was from Seattle. He had been up to Camp Muir. Anyway, we all chatted with him and found out that he stuck close to us because he thought we might get lost and he was watching over us! I thought that was really nice. Even though we all had GPS’s and wands were pretty much all over, so there really was no worry about getting lost. You don’t find people like him around much. We all really liked Bob and Bronka and he hit it off and chatted with each other. When we got to the parking lot, Bob gave Bronka a big hug and told her he was happy he got to meet her and hoped he would see her again. We hope we see him again too!

Anyway, it was a great day, lot of sun, great views, great people and food. We left Bronka off at her home, until the next hike!!

Pictures of Climb to Camp Muir, August 3, 2011

Bronka's Camp Muir Climb on Wednesday, August 3

Bronka and I got an early start yesterday on our climb to Camp Muir. It was a fantastic day! We took our time and absorbed in all of the beauty that surrounded us. We had fun talking with the hikers on the trail as well as watching the Marmots play with one another. The flowers are trying to pop out of the snow as it melts and color is starting to appear.

We stopped at Pebble Creek and snacked, then at Moon Rocks for lunch and then finally to Camp Muir. Bronka was greeted by a guide that knew her and she chatted with him. We went over to the stone building. Bronka noticed that the inside had been improved. Bronka said that there was a bench in front of the building they named Bronka's bench because every time she climbed to Camp Muir that is where she would sit. She told me she hoped that when she died there would be a little plaque there that said Bronka's bench.

After chatting with some of the climbers there, it was time to go back. On the way down, Bronka ran into J.J. a guide friend of hers that was taking a group of climbers to Camp Muir. They chatted and he introduced her to his climbers. Then as we continued down, Bronka ran into another friend of hers, Jason. Jason was also leading climbers up to Camp Muir. He was the one who guided Bronka on her successful summit climb on Mt. Rainier several years ago. He proudly introduced her to his climbers. He told her he would stop and visit her on Saturday.

Bronka and I had a great time, we even stopped at the Jackson Center as there was a small name plaque with Ake's name on it. Bronka was very proud to see it there.

Wonderful day, with a wonderful person.

After taking Bronka home, I found out the next day that she watered her yard and garden. Then went to bed about 11:00 p.m. Like the little energizer that keeps on running!!

Pictures of hike on August 1, 2011

Hike at Paradise on August 1, 2011

Had a wonderful day with Bronka, Elaine and Carol on our hike at Paradise. I feel so blessed to have met so many of Bronka's wonderful friends and to go on hikes with them. Monday was such an exceptional day. The weather was so wonderful. We hiked up about a mile and decided just to sit and have lunch on some rocks and just visit. We visited with people who were hiking on the trail. There were many visitors from other countries, like Germany, Austria, as well as out of state.

Elaine volunteers for the park and she looked great in her uniform. It was fun visiting with her and Carol. They are fun to be with and all of us love Bronka's stories.

Bronka ran into her friends, Craig Van Hoy of Go Trek & Expeditions and Bonny. Craig was coming down with a group he had taken up on the mountain and summated. I think he said this was over his 200th summit climb. Wow!!! They guys Criag guided, looked a little tired and hungry, so that was what they were heading for, food! I remember every time we summated, we looked forward to a nice big meal.

Our day was great. After our hike we came back to Bronka's home. Her friend, Jim, had mowed her lawn and it looked great! Bronka's flowers are starting to bloom and her yard looks wonderful. She works so hard in it.

She has a bird house that swallows live in and it is so cute to see the two baby birds that live in it. They stick their little heads out waiting for mom and dad to bring them some food. Bronka said she loves to sit at her kitchen and watch them. She said that, that was their second family.