As you may know, all our dogs and children are named after natural features. So of course there's a namesake for Tinkham out there somewhere. If you've driven toward Snoqualmie Pass, you might think it strange we named her for a road. We didn't. But since there's a namesake we go to visit frequently.
On this trip we started early to beat the bugs and heat, but failed on both account. It was already cooking as we made our way up the southeast ridge of Tinkham Peak. She didn't care and it didn't slow her down. She raced through the blooming beargrass and across the rocks that connect the east and west summits of the peak. Henry and I did our best to keep up. He did better than I.
Way down below was the other Tinkham, the tarns. We dropped back to the PCT and then climbed up to the tarns at the base of the peak. As I mentioned, it was stupid hot so we wasted no time wading into the snow-fed lakes too cool off. This always confuses Tinkham as she swims around and around without a place to come back to where we're standing on solid ground. It usually makes for entertaining pictures as we try to hold on to her and she says, NO.
Being fully soaked for the hike back to the car was lovely for all three of us. I was actually pretty close to dry by the time we'd covered the couple of miles so I didn't have to suffer the indignity of bug bites on my bare butt at the trailhead. (Not actually the real trailhead for this hike, but a decommed road with nobody around.)
I've frequently said I'd love to have more dogs just like Tinkham, but I think three of these Tinkhams is probably just right for now. (No, Mrs. Moosefish. You're not off the hook for a new puppy as soon as the kids leave.)
📍On the lands of the Wenatchi people.
