Growing up as the daughter of a Vietnamese mother and an American War Veteran/OSS-CIA/Civil Engineer father, my early years were quite the adventure, but not the hiking kind. Living in war-torn Vietnam and doing whatever the CIA does abroad, my mother and father were no hikers. Later, moving to Central Texas, my outdoor experiences were limited to fishing and swimming at local lakes. Spoiler alert: The 70’s and 80’s in central Texas was not a hiking and mountain climbing paradise.
In 1986, my life took a dramatic turn when we moved to the Pacific Northwest. My father stayed in Texas to care for my grandmother, while my mother worked as a housekeeper, and my brother went off to college. Here, I discovered the joy of hiking, climbing, and camping. My weekends were spent in the Columbia Gorge with friends, hiking trails like Multnomah Falls, Eagle Creek, and Cape Horn. Little did I know, I was about to become the ultimate hiking enthusiast.
One unforgettable hike happened when I was sixteen. My best friend and I joined my godfather and his wife on the 4th of July for a 25.5-mile trek from Eagle Creek to Wahtum Lake, boasting a grueling 5100 feet of elevation gain. Armed with two 16oz water bottles, a peanut butter sandwich, and wearing Tevas (because, why not?), we naively thought we were prepared. My godfather’s wife, an experienced mountain climber, warned us about our inadequate supplies, but we shrugged it off thinking we knew better because we’ve done parts of this hike many times (Punch Bowl Falls, High Bridge, Tunnel Falls). Ah, teenage hubris.
Our confidence quickly evaporated as we struggled up the rocky, muddy trail.
At Tunnel Falls, my godfather and his wife turned around to be able to prepare for the 4th of July Party and said we could shower at their house before the party and they will see us in 8-10 hours. We laughed and said we’ll be there in 4-5 hours. By the time we reached the lake, we were exhausted, grumpy, and out of water/food. The descent was a blur of aching feet and knees and intense gratitude for the extra water and power bars my godfather had hid for us at Tunnel Falls. We returned to the car 8.5 hours later, completely spent and hardly able to walk. We did not make it to the party and barely made it home. Lesson learned: always listen to those with more experience (and bring more than a peanut butter sandwich).
Since then, I’ve invested in good hiking shoes and took the time to go to the library to research hikes with guidebooks (no cellphones or internet or All Trails back then). I’ve become somewhat of an expert in researching hikes and investing in proper gear. This experience ignited my passion for challenging hikes, and I’ve now hiked thousands of miles of trails across all 50 states and many countries. Moving to Sandpoint four years ago, I’ve continued to explore the beautiful Selkirks, Cabinets, and Rocky Mountains with friends and Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness. I look forward to joining a few guided hikes in the coming year. Some of my favorite hikes include Scotchman Peak, Spar Peak, and Star Peak, as well as numerous stunning mountain lakes.
Two pieces of advice I’ve gleaned from my hiking adventures:
- Bring Extra: Always carry extra food and water. If you come across someone struggling or unprepared, take the time to check in and offer help. While some might roll their eyes at your advice, you could be making a crucial difference. Plus, you’ll look like a hero with those extra granola bars.
- Research Your Hike: Before embarking on a new trail, use resources like AllTrails to understand what to expect. Knowing the trail’s difficulty, terrain, and weather conditions can make all the difference. Avoiding surprises is the key—unless you enjoy unexpected mud baths.
Happy hiking, and always stay prepared!
Rane Stempson is an avid hiker, biker, xc skier and just about anything outdoors. When she isn’t outdoors playing, Rane spends her free time helping small businesses/non-profits, mentoring young women, exciting kids to computer science and volunteering for POP, SNC, KLT and FSPW.
