As befits a post with "At Last!" in the title, I'm actually writing about a hike I did last November. Yay

Back when I was discussing where to go backpacking with mom, the trail to Annette Lake was a real contender. The problem was, the trail closed for renovations/reconstruction a few days before we planned to go backpacking. And, it didn't re-open until late November...

When I returned to Washington State from my journey to Suriname, I was surprised to find that the skies were clear. There was an unusual, week long stretch of no rain. It was so uncharacteristic of the wet, foggy Washington winter I was expecting. Naturally, I wanted to go for a hike. Seeing as the trail to Annette Lake had recently reopened it seemed like a fun choice.

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Brace yourself, reader.

Since last December, I've been quite busy, and it's time for me to share a bit of what I've been up to. This post is extra long, because I'm also sharing my reflection on the year 2022, which I probably should have posted at the beginning of the month, but whatever.

We've also got four weekly photography challenges, some tunes that I like, and a plethora of links for other things that you can read elsewhere.

After a memorable morning walk, and a visit to Masset and Old Masset, I returned to my campsite. I was looking at the number of days I had ahead of myself, and thought about the possible things I could do.

I had recently realized that the Haida Gwaii Museum was closed on Sunday, and so my goal of visiting it was unlikely to work out. Perhaps this wasn't the time to visit Dajing Giids after all.

Something in the Agate Beach Campground didn't speak to me, and something in my soul, in my intuition, or a voice from somewhere just told me that I ought to leave and go elsewhere. I wasn't sure where the elsewhere was yet, but there were a number of other camping spots on Graham Island or Moresby Island, and I figured it would be better to drive down towards one of them now, then to get up early, pack my stuff, and have to drive in the morning.

I wanted to get up early and visit Rose Spit. I wanted to be there alone. I wanted to feel like I was in the place where the Haida were created.

Destiny was on my side. I had somehow misplaced the pump to my air mattress, and slept somewhat uncomfortably. I woke uncomfortably early, gave myself a charlie horse, and decided it was a sign that it was time for me to get moving.

I would see how far along the shore my four wheel drive station wagon could take me...

I left Port Clements behind me, heading for the Delkata Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Agate Beach Campground in the northern section of Naikoon Provincial Park. There I had a nice little hike ahead of me. And, some rain.

Let's get into it.

I didn't get to do all that much after I arrived on Graham Island, Haida Gwaii. Ferry delays made sure of that.

So, when I awoke in Misty Meadows Campground the following morning, I wanted to seize the opportunity to go do something. Do what, exactly?

I knew I wanted to explore Née Kún (Naikoon) Provincial Park. I knew I wanted to stretch my legs and experience some of the islands' famed natural beauty.

I also knew that the nearest, popular hiking trail led to a shipwreck.

Would it be worth my while?

I've told you that I'm finally going to pick back up my series of posts about traveling around British Columbia and Haida Gwaii in May and June of 2022.

Well, I am going to do exactly that. But before I get started, I thought it would be a nice idea to write a little something about Haida culture and history, and how things came to be in the modern era. Instead of covering these topics directly, I'm going to do so by reviewing three books about different facets of Haida culture and history.

Specifically, I cover:

• Raven's Cry by Christine Harris, Young Adult-oriented fiction covering 175 generations of Haida history.
• Potlatch as Pedagogy: Learning Through Ceremony by Sarah Flourence Davidson and Robert Davidson, a book on indigenous pedagogy, filled with memories of cultural reawakening.
• Athlii Gwaii: Upholding Haida Law on Lyell Island, a collection of memories and photographs that provide primary source accounts of the successful grassroots effort to stop logging and get the Canadian government to recognize Gwaii Haanas.

I finished each of these books during June of 2022. Each of the three is extraordinary, and well worth reading.