Due to road closure...I do get Labor Day off, kind of.

I have had the past four days to myself in camp.  The other guys went separate ways for the Labor Day weekend, and I was left to try and finish up the Western block of our work in the Cascades.  It was very peaceful waking up without hearing the other guys making coffee, and BS'ing about the day ahead.  It was also extremely relaxing coming back 'home' and just being by myself; popping some PBR's, making some eats,  reading my books, and strumming the guitar.  I was under the impression that working on my own I would slack off without motivation from the other guys...definitely not so.  I cranked out a lot of work, spending 8-9 hour days in the woods, and I got a lot of sleep.

This morning I woke up at about 8AM, took a Snow Creek bath, made some coffee(and packed extra because I knew it was going to be a long haul) and hit the road to get some work done.   I had to take a new route to access my work zone, and it was unbelievably beautiful:

After taking some photos, I drove about another mile where I thought I would be taking a left and heading to the stand.  I came upon a Tacoma Watershed Gate, and got out of the Jeep with my special key, and the key didn't work!  I drove over an hour along rocky roads to get to work this morning, just to be turned around!  I couldn't believe it.  I wasn't about to walk 3 miles more, and THEN walk 5 miles in the forest on tough terrain to get the job done, so I turned around, needing gas and headed to camp, and ultimately here,  a cafe in Cle Elum to write.  At least I was able to drive to an amazing spot to check out the mountain landscape.

In other news...I stopped by the 'ghost' town of Lester on my way home from work a couple of days ago.  There are a few houses still standing, littered with random pieces of furniture, paint cans, and light bulbs.  Not much else.  The place had a somber feeling to it:  obviously run down, everyone who lived in this gorgeous spot in the heart of the Cascades forced to move for the Tacoma Watershed, and the place is ultimately shut off from the outside world because virtually no body can access the whole area without a permit since 9/11.  The only people I have seen past the gate are men looking for their elusive bull elk, and they all ask 'How in the HELL did you get your car back here?!'.  All I tell them is that I'm privileged, and that they sure aren't looking in the right spot for elk, for they are hiding about 6 miles in the hills from here(which they are).

I did find one last hold out, however:

Lastly, I will leave you with what I see almost everyday up here.  You might find it hard to believe, and completely random, but I actually come across a lot of party balloons.  A LOT.  And every time I find one, I hold my own private dance party.  This party was pooped on by an elk shortly before I arrived.  I partied anyway: