To the Bat Cave!

So my buddy Myles seems to be convinced that there are no truly good hikes in Southern Washington like there are in Northern Washington. An argument I'm not convinced of but am open to. I'm pretty darn sure the argument is done...for now. Now that he showed me the bat caves!

Officially the trail is called the Oyster Dome (a major beauty herself - you'll see soon) but at the base of the dome are these bat caves Myles has been telling me about. The trail is very moderate and pretty. It had the perfect amount of fog and mist leaving me wondering which tree Edward was watching us from.

I'm a sucker for tree pictures - what is it about trees? I like to lay on my back and look at clouds and stars but I like looking up at trees even more. Call me Nell (ten points if you got that reference).

I'm sorry tree, I'm not doing you justice here. This tree looked radiant standing alone with it's branches covered with snow. The sun was hitting it just right. Look slightly to the left...

A typical tree convention here. I sat in on the meeting momentarily....

I'll get off my back now....

I can only think of the word "enchanting" once we reached the point of elevation where fluffy snow was coming down like fairy dust. I love how you can literally see the soft snow line here. *sigh* Can you tell I want to go back? I'm feeling quite mystical. Moving on....

Again - my camera does this view absolutely NO JUSTICE. This is the base of Osyter Dome in all her glory. The snow covered trees on top had me stinking envious. This is what the world looked like before The Nothing came in The Neverending Story - don't ya think?

So I REALLY should of taken a picture of the caves before we hopped down. For some reason in my head I was thinking of simple Point A to Point B caves where light was somewhat of a constant. I was wrong. And somehow Myles convinced me to follow him down. Looking up was the view.

This is me after hopping down. This is my "I'm scared yet smiling" smile. There is a crevice to the left of me that Myles told me we could go down. "Really? You're kidding...no way! People cant go down there! That's where dead bodies go!"

But Myles took it in stride. Look at him. Completely calm and smiling. And it took 5 seconds from there to twist my rubber arm and follow him deeper down...

Quick picture of Myles deep down in the rock! It's pitch-black, wet, disorienting, full of numerous tunnels and I suddenly realize "This is effing awesome!" If I'm claustrophic then I don't know it because my curosity and excitement were in overdrive at this point.

And now I leave my scared smile behind - this is my "H*ll to the yeah this is effing awesome" smile!

So despite me being 45 minutes...60 minutes...or just really late for the hike, we still made it out for the sunset. This little tree has the best view in the world...

This may be just the back of my head, but it's the back of my head feeling completely alive and satisified.

And Myles: you are stinking awesome. Best host ever. No one can challenge you and if they consider it they shouldn't. Instead they should just all bow down. Thanks for showing me around and convincing me of your argument that Northern Washington may be a little better than my neck of the woods.

I said "may" be a little better. I didn't say better. Just so you know...

Oh, and my lovers Ann Taylor and Lululemon - I will see you next weekend. I know I seemed to have just disregarded you as I drove by but please know you have my heart. I love you dearly and can't wait to see you!