Refreshment

The Cloud Peak Wilderness is an area within the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming that is wilder, higher, plus more restrictive to preserve its pristine quality. You must register to enter and abide by the rules governing its land.
You might think this would scare off visitors, but parts of it are actually high-use areas for day hiking. One of these is Sherd Lake.
Getting to the parking lot is rather easy and doesn’t require a special vehicle, although we noticed SUVs and trucks far outnumbered two-wheel-drive cars. Basically, a pudge like me can make it into the wilderness without extreme effort.
However, once you hit the first lake, all bets are off.
My husband and I made it to 9,000 feet before our puffs became huffs, which then became us sitting on rocks guzzling water and snarfing trail mix.
Gazing at blooming water lilies
and underwater plants offered respite from trickling sweat.
Our break allowed us to refocus on the beauty, clean air and marvels of creation, like wild penstemon.
Once refreshed by drinking in both physical and spiritual nourishment, we were ready to hike back.
Was it easier going because it was downhill, or because we felt spiritually satisfied?
I’d like to think it was a bit of both.

Photos © Sondra Sula.

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions.

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you.

The Upside of a Sack Lunch

For one, you can eat your sack lunch anywhere, even along a refreshing snow-melt stream in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming.
Of course, you have to hike up there first. “Up there” is about 8,000 feet, which is no small feat when you are living day to day at 500 feet above sea level.
I’m not saying I wasn’t up for the challenge, even in my slightly older, slightly pudgy state. It helps to have a husband who carries the actual lunches, water and miscellaneous gewgaws on his back.
As a person who lives for shade, the open meadows were beautiful, but sweltering. When I checked the temperatures before I left, the prediction was 90 degrees every day wherever we were headed.
So I simply braced myself and wore a cooling scarf — a neat doodad with swelling beads that you can dip in a freezing cold stream — which helped keep my body temperature in check.
When we reached an enticingly shady spot, we sat on a rock and ate our sack lunches. I’m quite sure the glorious view enhanced the tuna salad and made it taste that much better.
My husband cajoled me onto a rickety bridge with promises of a better view. Naturally I succumbed, and he was correct.
Hiking back to the trailhead I felt God winking at us through snow-capped peaks,
dramatic clouds,
charming flora
and enchanting fauna.
As with all remote hiking and lunching, we tried not to leave our mark. But a mark was definitely left on us.

Photos © Sondra Sula.

Take a walk with me by reading my daily devotional book, Meditations on Mendocino by Sondra Sula. Available on Amazon in paperback or Kindle versions.

If you’d prefer a daily river walk, Reflections on the Fox River and Beyond by Sondra Sula, might just be the book for you.