Sunday, August 22, 2004
Wild Morning, Crash Bang Noon, and Descent Afternoon
08/22/04
Light rain had me up a couple of times during the night. Each time, I'd see stars in the sky and conclude that it wouldn't be raining much. I'm sure pushing my luck.
Daylight revealed many amazing things. Looking around my site, I saw that I was not on just any hill. I was on a moraine, and moraines are always cool.
Next, Spur and Apple Pie came walking by. They'd camped at the end of my moraine, maybe 100 yards away. They got in as I was going to sleep, so I didn't hear them. As we were exchanging details, I heard Oshi call out. They were camped on the next little hill/moraine over and didn't know about either of us. Amazing.
Before I reached Gunsite Pass (WY13), I saw a moose cow with calf running from me into the forest. A bit later, lone coyote had very little fear of me as I passed by. I think it was hunting calves, which were with their cow mothers up the hill. I watched this canine a bit when I first saw it, then was able to watch it as I crossed a stream, climbed and moved away. I saw a snake too, but it wasn't until afternoon. I didn't scream.
I'd been walking through wilderness, on a trail, so I was a a little put out to see a truck sitting on the ridge above Gunsite Pass. Luckily from the pass, I could not see the hunters/loggers/ATVers.
My resources described a new route leaving Gunsite Pass, but I could see what looked like the old route. I scouted around a bit, but came up with nothing new. I decided to take the old route, which, in short order, led to the new route, a needlessly long giant switchback that went up and down and through horrible mucky areas.
In my mind, leaving Gunsite Pass was entering the Winds, a range of mountains and area of noted beauty and remoteness.
On the way down, the clouds began bellowing thunder and spitting rain. It wasn't much to deal with and when it got a little heavier just at noon, I took that as my cue to stop for lunch. I found a large tree with dry duff underneath it and called it my dining room. Toward the end of lunch the sky let forth with a bright flash and an undelayed, unnerving, ripping boom. It was so loud and so close, I winced and pulled my hands over my ears like a little kid.
At the bottom, I had a river to cross. I assumed there would be no bridge, and, even though I didn't know exactly where the trail crossed, when I saw a log jam, I decided I would use the jumble of logs to get across. The single big log reaching from the log mass to the near bank did not touch the ground until I put my weight on it. It teetered so I could totter my way up the wet, sloping log.
I made it to the log mass, but as I was climbing up it, one of my poles slipped from my hand, falling into the rushing river. It did not go far and the red duct tape helped me keep an eye on it. I tried to fish it out with my other pole, but succeeded in making it drop from site. My efforts to keep my shoes dry were gone in an instant as I hopped in and grabbed my pole.
I usually have my poles locked into the hand holders, but on this hike I've been carrying the poles. I'm not sure why. Since my feet were wet, it didn't matter where I crossed, so I walked back to the trail, abandoning the log jam as my crossing point. The trail offered a sturdy, high bridge.
I made my way to the Green River (WY14) and the Green River Lakes. The afternoon was relatively warm, I was a dirty hiker, and there was a lovely lake.
What else did I need? I went for a quick dip and enjoyed it immensely.
At the end of the first large lake, Jonathan's maps suggested a short side trail to catch a view. These bonus miles were entirely optional and the steps had to be retraced since I was not taking the purple alternate route associated with this route, but I wanted a nice place to have dinner. So I made my way up Clear Creek toward Natural Bridge (WY14). I crossed the creek swollen from recent rains and sat where I'd have a view of the peaks. I was not overly impressed, but it was a nice dinner. Plus, it didn't rain during dinner.
Crossing back to return to the CDT, I dropped my pole again. It was an easy retrieval, but twice in one day when I've never done it before? What's up with that?
I ran into Spur and Apple Pie having dinner at the junction to the side trail I took. I continued hiking up the quickly steepening canyon until I was afraid I wouldn't find many more good sleeping spots and until the light really began to leave the valley. I hung my food and set up under some trees on the other side of the trail from my food.
A little later I heard Spur call out my name when he saw my expert bear hang.
Apple Pie was along before too long, and soon we were camped together.
It's beginning to rain as I'm journaling.
