K was cleaning out her craft room when I heard her call my name. She held up a Tacoma News Tribune Sunday Magazine dated May 2, 1976 (two days before I was born) and asked if we should frame any of the photos printed inside. The cover story was titled, ‘Asahel Curtis photographed lady climbers.’ The subtitle at the beginning of the article was, maybe to date the fashion of the early 1900s, ‘The bloomered Belles of Mount Baker.’
As evident in Curtis’ photos, these ladies were badass. They climbed Mount Baker and Mount Rainier, after all, in full dresses and big hats. Also, bloomers.
At the end of the magazine, there was a poem by Fred Caprez of Tacoma I thought I’d share titled, ‘The climb.’
We fasten our crampons to our boots,
Shoulder the rucksack and skis,
Start up the mountain and
Every step closes the gap
between us and the top.
The mountain slope does not
seem to end;
A steep face challenges our
determination.
We crisscross up to ease the
strain but
Every step closes the gap
between us and the top.
The sun rises over the
horizon.
The steps feel lighter with the
awakening of nature.
The surrounding peaks drop
down and
Every step closes the gap
between us and the top.
The hours tick away as we
keep a steady pace.
The burden of our rucksack
seems to lighten
And we look toward the end of
our journey as
Every step closes the gap
between us and the top.
Reaching the top is
exhilarating!
The realization of the beauty
and greatness of nature
Makes one forget the
laborious long climb and
The gap has closed
between me and God!
Now that I’ve immortalized Fred’s poem, we don’t need to frame that. We will, though, display some of those old photographs. They’re pretty awesome.
