G.A.S.P.

Regarding yesterday’s story about Prince Rainier and the casino, if you believed any of it (except the fact that Al Gore did recently climb it), extend your arm in front of your face (palm up), say Ikan Fulsomaya (I-kan Ful-som-a-ya) three times and smack yourself in the forehead. The mountain has been known as Mt. Rainier since British Sea Captain George Vancouver "discovered" it in 1792 and named it after his friend Rear Admiral Peter Rainier (who sadly never got to see his namesake). All other parts of the story were fabricated by a fun-filled "sick" mind.

I left Cougar Rock Campground the next morning and headed toward Mt. St. Helens, passing through the towns of Ashford, Elbe, Morton and Randle. At Elbe, I had to wait at the crossing for a steam excursion train, so I pulled out my camera and took its photo. It was coming slightly uphill and puffing a lot of black smoke.

I arrived at my campground (Iron Creek – a National Forest Service Campground) the same time as another couple in a small RV, and was asking questions of the host as they patiently waited. Do you have hot showers? "No." Is there any other campground nearby that does? "Well maybe, but the bridge is out and you would have to ride way around to get there." Your fee of $12.50 is pretty steep, do you have a Hiker/Biker rate? "No." At that point, the other couple spoke up and said they wouldn’t mind if I pitched my tent behind their RV. I took them up on their offer. It turned out to be a beautiful campground – well-maintained and full of majestic 200’ + evergreens. The couple, Dale and Cheryl Gladden from Salem, Oregon, later invited me to share their dinner, which sounded (and turned out to be) a whole lot better than what I had planned, so I gratefully accepted. I also shared their campfire and good conversation about my travels and their dam trip (Dale said they had visited a half-dozen dams on their current vacation). Thanks, Dale and Cheryl.