tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42927111446584739192024-02-20T22:45:54.646-07:00FRETWATERTrue stories from 20 years of rangerin' and ramblin'mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-5962695579361474992017-02-03T09:49:00.000-07:002017-06-05T15:50:48.399-06:002 months in Baja<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Lisa and I made it to Los Barriles a couple days ago. About 1400 miles in Mexico so far. Lots of slow days, including a big 45 miler! Blazer ran without any problems. No rip offs, or any close calls. Biggest problem was the weather for the first 10 days or so. Pretty rainy, cold and windy, so we stayed on the move trying to get south, reminding ourselves that it wasn't as bad as north. I saw just yesterday that SLC had the worst air quality in the nation....that is why we get lost during winter. Camping has been amazing! Super remote, big views like Nevada, pristine desert that looks like somebody's nature garden, big mountain views, all by the ocean. </div>
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Just a few pics from the trip south for now. I'll add more of a narrative soon. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night 1: SW of Ensenada</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punta San Jose</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night 2: P. San Jose</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a shit with a view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a baja Nomad</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anniversary dinner... destoyed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mama Espinosa's: Baja 1000 shrine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 3 near Punta Baja</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">rainy night 4 in the amazing Boojum's</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 5: Bahia de Los Angeles</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 6: San Rafael</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">colder than rat shit deep in the baja outback</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 8: near Bahia Ascunsion</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">$4, including the beer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">even the gas station has a rad view, Santa Rosalia</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Loreto</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 12 and 13: Punta Conejo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7aRXAIZlxOTYPFKfEk2aeMZFuacTvrqCpZAFnF0Ub9dQQ-D0eV_YDHLisHClcA3nPgoyMAfs12-J-3tImhdwANd2JzjBzEg4eIK04-dvQP5EZerItcHMMlCNfoQdxcL3yQhu1kO3Bjo/s1600/IMG_20170127_174907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7aRXAIZlxOTYPFKfEk2aeMZFuacTvrqCpZAFnF0Ub9dQQ-D0eV_YDHLisHClcA3nPgoyMAfs12-J-3tImhdwANd2JzjBzEg4eIK04-dvQP5EZerItcHMMlCNfoQdxcL3yQhu1kO3Bjo/s320/IMG_20170127_174907.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">contemplating where to go next</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf1-0bcOedQ/WJKRqqYLc9I/AAAAAAAALF4/40yVfSUsBoARMellAxKwFeqJIod4f7f7ACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170129_131916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf1-0bcOedQ/WJKRqqYLc9I/AAAAAAAALF4/40yVfSUsBoARMellAxKwFeqJIod4f7f7ACPcB/s320/IMG_20170129_131916.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">street tacos in La Paz</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KyP0zwrFh2I/WJKRqlKxXRI/AAAAAAAALF4/SE6-5zr-3C8XSoTescd4-G61OpG5845iACPcB/s1600/IMG_20170129_161833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KyP0zwrFh2I/WJKRqlKxXRI/AAAAAAAALF4/SE6-5zr-3C8XSoTescd4-G61OpG5845iACPcB/s320/IMG_20170129_161833.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">nights 14/15: a bit of fancy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxso0Ys42ws/WJShcZf2l8I/AAAAAAAALNo/CB24SrzadLUrsD9yrAsv3GY9k1mkW9lvwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170131_144431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mxso0Ys42ws/WJShcZf2l8I/AAAAAAAALNo/CB24SrzadLUrsD9yrAsv3GY9k1mkW9lvwCPcB/s320/IMG_20170131_144431.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">they love bananas and the map</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 16: Los Frailes, saw the whales jump</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uORrbx5w5g0/WJKRqls5OgI/AAAAAAAALJE/MBvzEreJhx4kepGwOtBZgVLtDuTVJSfzgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20170201_071701.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uORrbx5w5g0/WJKRqls5OgI/AAAAAAAALJE/MBvzEreJhx4kepGwOtBZgVLtDuTVJSfzgCPcB/s320/IMG_20170201_071701.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">whaa choo wanna do??</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">post up here is fine...i guess</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view for the next month</td></tr>
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We had a good stay in Los Barriles, but decided we stayed too long. Would've rather spent time traveling with idle days between travel days. We did a side trip to Todos Santos and nearly bought a house there.<br />
The first blazer fail came on main street in L.B. when the tire carrier swing arm hinge broke off the bumper. I tried getting it fixed at a local shop, but as hard as they tried, those guys didn't really know what their doing. I paid for their time and loaded the pieces up, planning on fixing it at home.<br />
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We also did a hike to an oasis in the mountains, but at only 20 minutes it wasn't really our style. Did a Valentines dinner date to La Casita in LB which was amazing. So good we also went to the second location in Todos Santos. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNZXwGc7CnNYu1YcOp5bhzM5_5ault-GgrV3fmYbK0TPhl8issve9cN9xPQ0TYdcgxzurtK6hHfbreyNmkz_c2QGaApKgu2xfy2CAXVVzAoch8NN4qPDp-TvHk_hQN1QBhYyQkEBopes/s1600/IMG_20170213_080257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNZXwGc7CnNYu1YcOp5bhzM5_5ault-GgrV3fmYbK0TPhl8issve9cN9xPQ0TYdcgxzurtK6hHfbreyNmkz_c2QGaApKgu2xfy2CAXVVzAoch8NN4qPDp-TvHk_hQN1QBhYyQkEBopes/s320/IMG_20170213_080257.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">broken by the endless vibrations of Baja</td></tr>
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<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuXENvacoUvXzuwp19Bjz2oIj4hrbJmgA_0pMuoKX8gAN30JbVwTTlmmzZU_SiXSfUWZR9B1y-K0tZgePaRX5Doc0Duvv63lCWPLYzLZTopEPIn3kjujNnNxi59Xk2z4Qez6OR_WOye8/s1600/IMG_20170217_162220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuXENvacoUvXzuwp19Bjz2oIj4hrbJmgA_0pMuoKX8gAN30JbVwTTlmmzZU_SiXSfUWZR9B1y-K0tZgePaRX5Doc0Duvv63lCWPLYzLZTopEPIn3kjujNnNxi59Xk2z4Qez6OR_WOye8/s320/IMG_20170217_162220.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOF0y3RJM6r_qlz-YOgxk8TNPJCsUnuoWXo-2vJAlKljYoCpGi6tHZvsFg_2w5PUtPdvbxePTyMIbPukAVVT4PRv_4FlHZg_n3uK25LD_6PB7UDGbiVWtj3gg4ip-qUwDDO1iu9T0QGns/s1600/IMG_20170314_151720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOF0y3RJM6r_qlz-YOgxk8TNPJCsUnuoWXo-2vJAlKljYoCpGi6tHZvsFg_2w5PUtPdvbxePTyMIbPukAVVT4PRv_4FlHZg_n3uK25LD_6PB7UDGbiVWtj3gg4ip-qUwDDO1iu9T0QGns/s320/IMG_20170314_151720.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: old and broken Right: new and burly</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABypTCi8TkJv3DzSn8flUOR1zBQrFjUpoIpws4fm4z4bYk0PXvrq5RphJ-2U5oxGQ9tpDzlGMNcljr15AWsVfzATUfBbBeyesd-ecA9Mu4FiMdAnRUMlTUMjfZBgJUOYXWtMmZFZpTKw/s1600/IMG_20170314_140854.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABypTCi8TkJv3DzSn8flUOR1zBQrFjUpoIpws4fm4z4bYk0PXvrq5RphJ-2U5oxGQ9tpDzlGMNcljr15AWsVfzATUfBbBeyesd-ecA9Mu4FiMdAnRUMlTUMjfZBgJUOYXWtMmZFZpTKw/s320/IMG_20170314_140854.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting some fix (at home)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDh9LASw2Gtp20pV93USnkOYTMNqtk6A-QAzP-h7gpznj_p52PZGRFT-uqHoIqQSW4vZVMViE7zRq_wKRSwkq4p5_XtQ5WlMkRu6FTj51f1T7V-m_iQLIr0po7wOIlUHrJW5tVKi53lk/s1600/IMG_20170316_095412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDh9LASw2Gtp20pV93USnkOYTMNqtk6A-QAzP-h7gpznj_p52PZGRFT-uqHoIqQSW4vZVMViE7zRq_wKRSwkq4p5_XtQ5WlMkRu6FTj51f1T7V-m_iQLIr0po7wOIlUHrJW5tVKi53lk/s320/IMG_20170316_095412.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fixed (at home)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTwKUvUrpa1_wOaDfdoUxX7tX7I5n4FG4V0F86tv4AAgk9s0Z8HiSc8g_3MH1IMzMURtBdVmByiC_6yuGA0xkkDqtov1576kGPrUYPakCFGazxe3iW6JtvTyMGi2eXL25Z3imIDjxZqg/s1600/IMG_20170214_182912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTwKUvUrpa1_wOaDfdoUxX7tX7I5n4FG4V0F86tv4AAgk9s0Z8HiSc8g_3MH1IMzMURtBdVmByiC_6yuGA0xkkDqtov1576kGPrUYPakCFGazxe3iW6JtvTyMGi2eXL25Z3imIDjxZqg/s320/IMG_20170214_182912.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my Valentine</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC61leQt6xB_JO45hwPtgGSvvJW54T_pUEgewXUZm0Ic7-z5gWEyR2sanm1UjfkonTMzld0NWCP8eEdwfQiuhXQ4m-SVpgzGX0B2fEMzWFV7wAA0qavKMZDU-0PS-hKcnCv8mfGjbsgY4/s1600/IMG_20170222_161127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC61leQt6xB_JO45hwPtgGSvvJW54T_pUEgewXUZm0Ic7-z5gWEyR2sanm1UjfkonTMzld0NWCP8eEdwfQiuhXQ4m-SVpgzGX0B2fEMzWFV7wAA0qavKMZDU-0PS-hKcnCv8mfGjbsgY4/s320/IMG_20170222_161127.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Todos Santos beach</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyiqE7TlBiwfXBRCQG50rf_-_mGge9KsmyUlnQA0xUo9axIpdjkLgTjg9iZRuCphWgCKFuXr3m-71IXrYFB48nXCtAYzo-i2Tk2sJhyRiVuVZarkTKbBbBeDiwVp6vg8CeVBwL_eOde0/s1600/IMG_20170223_135402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyiqE7TlBiwfXBRCQG50rf_-_mGge9KsmyUlnQA0xUo9axIpdjkLgTjg9iZRuCphWgCKFuXr3m-71IXrYFB48nXCtAYzo-i2Tk2sJhyRiVuVZarkTKbBbBeDiwVp6vg8CeVBwL_eOde0/s320/IMG_20170223_135402.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyl44mPuxCuNM9ghSzyIjecGEXLDe4WwkjcS9rNwCI8_OUXghQVHFgY4UsSeVrmGcyqBwmEPReiZWQX7PHvKglMlgQOEQQvYQjk9Z4VkrzfENlGppaRPJhmI-UpX1N3_pv52cV_Pk5YHw/s1600/IMG_20170301_125230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyl44mPuxCuNM9ghSzyIjecGEXLDe4WwkjcS9rNwCI8_OUXghQVHFgY4UsSeVrmGcyqBwmEPReiZWQX7PHvKglMlgQOEQQvYQjk9Z4VkrzfENlGppaRPJhmI-UpX1N3_pv52cV_Pk5YHw/s320/IMG_20170301_125230.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First tacos after starting home - N. of La Paz</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvDQZCF_Q5ywYVt_eAeJCbjC8tbDYNOJDgTiHdt8ACWOu6AzLXra9pxBILolet8W4y7gQLn13F8Gn1r8izu6tqQAQRiOm0FSkxpN7ZKZeHlq6A2NGCAYC6_wwbeT-pU07xixOxD87PyA/s1600/IMG_20170301_181238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXvDQZCF_Q5ywYVt_eAeJCbjC8tbDYNOJDgTiHdt8ACWOu6AzLXra9pxBILolet8W4y7gQLn13F8Gn1r8izu6tqQAQRiOm0FSkxpN7ZKZeHlq6A2NGCAYC6_wwbeT-pU07xixOxD87PyA/s320/IMG_20170301_181238.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Miguel Comondo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6jg1cWgVPnp70KRQOOh8-CL8By84oQaw4B0CnBEkEsRhY7o59sZ8lOpYNF4GB2PhT5VO9uzBou9K8D5zikYw6DHYJ9CykrnI5ISFVh_InDpDfJSFSgHt-dacMCScEvGIHBCwV1AboJA/s1600/IMG_20170301_184342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf6jg1cWgVPnp70KRQOOh8-CL8By84oQaw4B0CnBEkEsRhY7o59sZ8lOpYNF4GB2PhT5VO9uzBou9K8D5zikYw6DHYJ9CykrnI5ISFVh_InDpDfJSFSgHt-dacMCScEvGIHBCwV1AboJA/s320/IMG_20170301_184342.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Jose Comondo: wish we'd have spent more time here</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJo1pa1JRrMVIqYYk5Ab97kaxakLOK0nouskesrITR0b1OA2Ud1Pp_p3VAHwTTG-Ewj5uZkXeAjHGfC_eV8otHYJu26JAt4bWZpdGNQTQcd65KEX7sIr0sSqGJ4xeM8rdAVQ-m-JnQwc/s1600/IMG_20170301_182406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpJo1pa1JRrMVIqYYk5Ab97kaxakLOK0nouskesrITR0b1OA2Ud1Pp_p3VAHwTTG-Ewj5uZkXeAjHGfC_eV8otHYJu26JAt4bWZpdGNQTQcd65KEX7sIr0sSqGJ4xeM8rdAVQ-m-JnQwc/s320/IMG_20170301_182406.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesuit aquaduct</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u01yP-WDf6E1D127oZ1viQ7L_TikY5FEPYY9hz01ERH9N0T1veX2nWw9mTmCb9bVt3obmaXzz0ieKiF_7XbE6k6Lx6avp2t10S8f4rbEIJroLKFyTiPKKfpHg4uvPPpV84Eg2P6Jh04/s1600/IMG_20170301_181621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9u01yP-WDf6E1D127oZ1viQ7L_TikY5FEPYY9hz01ERH9N0T1veX2nWw9mTmCb9bVt3obmaXzz0ieKiF_7XbE6k6Lx6avp2t10S8f4rbEIJroLKFyTiPKKfpHg4uvPPpV84Eg2P6Jh04/s320/IMG_20170301_181621.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kinda weird to drive on 400 year old streets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ_e7oRRy8vNXQzxcL4bWXI4mDhmutDjsvboCL_Wr1Fvpfm-h60A5IjCHqUQ530jXNPKCfygU05Tm4NsM91nFgVLFqNnGxwCbo7lHOGWrH6PdQITH7qOYT6Eh9ZQCxyTBHFpyIN2yLrY/s1600/IMG_20170302_070303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZ_e7oRRy8vNXQzxcL4bWXI4mDhmutDjsvboCL_Wr1Fvpfm-h60A5IjCHqUQ530jXNPKCfygU05Tm4NsM91nFgVLFqNnGxwCbo7lHOGWrH6PdQITH7qOYT6Eh9ZQCxyTBHFpyIN2yLrY/s400/IMG_20170302_070303.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night 1: not a camp camp: somewhere in the baja outback</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr2cy5JcBhE8400Wt5Wfjofppdiwru40u3Oh9ll4q7Gut9Ts5R9TVAYqfK-Q29XovH6WbQhiuhFd01yVrP5sVZ0A0PvuJC7EBbVWyWPPWvFOO8sSRfKK-U3mko-RF4_xi6VaXclwK6_Y/s1600/IMG_20170302_121107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzr2cy5JcBhE8400Wt5Wfjofppdiwru40u3Oh9ll4q7Gut9Ts5R9TVAYqfK-Q29XovH6WbQhiuhFd01yVrP5sVZ0A0PvuJC7EBbVWyWPPWvFOO8sSRfKK-U3mko-RF4_xi6VaXclwK6_Y/s320/IMG_20170302_121107.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbPQ6lU7FmUSpCcK54LfaDjL7gHhKJohgg7yBeg8FADArj-PBauLldN3dq0sk9qPbrvgvImIGqrNb9M6GxJ_BdBKNrnPV38QRf6olysZViCGNAWS07i_YnvXuUxQOFRm0H8dcBZfR2e0/s1600/IMG_20170302_120803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbPQ6lU7FmUSpCcK54LfaDjL7gHhKJohgg7yBeg8FADArj-PBauLldN3dq0sk9qPbrvgvImIGqrNb9M6GxJ_BdBKNrnPV38QRf6olysZViCGNAWS07i_YnvXuUxQOFRm0H8dcBZfR2e0/s320/IMG_20170302_120803.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93x6tLry1n0AOZNFo9cE8DQoCG0Scy6y5z5WzS7XuC_a92ZIhj9QsF8Ynn7d52xXFbVRVHAfYa8ncqth8SzqKYN3PAnfYGCYiyL0cak4FmsBwS-pHLRqwo7lqnxMElig6JHcIF2b8NZg/s1600/IMG_20170302_122235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93x6tLry1n0AOZNFo9cE8DQoCG0Scy6y5z5WzS7XuC_a92ZIhj9QsF8Ynn7d52xXFbVRVHAfYa8ncqth8SzqKYN3PAnfYGCYiyL0cak4FmsBwS-pHLRqwo7lqnxMElig6JHcIF2b8NZg/s400/IMG_20170302_122235.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Javier, our favorite mission in Baja</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2yu-emtuivQQbb0FbV45xsS_BIEbmpOJ3kFc0r484YfyRzFgSitCjDvuiia5-5gYk6XbHsULrV6SUC87kMOgQG8pAf3wzlnFkuoc6VKmLXaf6sfH18E1sa29_tUXDYU6BtpZ_yKLEfg/s1600/IMG_20170302_121520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN2yu-emtuivQQbb0FbV45xsS_BIEbmpOJ3kFc0r484YfyRzFgSitCjDvuiia5-5gYk6XbHsULrV6SUC87kMOgQG8pAf3wzlnFkuoc6VKmLXaf6sfH18E1sa29_tUXDYU6BtpZ_yKLEfg/s320/IMG_20170302_121520.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesuit olive tree</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kOsmk9DL9WSqgikxtkdDrOf6X3usn3ms7fJEiMyCkJ3B45VoAANj0XLXbJF6Kt9_6ESfDJV9gm5PSxG43YJEdkbbRn629KEdKnvJWMhIklDq4Ku5KNcFvrg6xHkvNeCa_fv_eAUP2g4/s1600/IMG_20170303_070112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1kOsmk9DL9WSqgikxtkdDrOf6X3usn3ms7fJEiMyCkJ3B45VoAANj0XLXbJF6Kt9_6ESfDJV9gm5PSxG43YJEdkbbRn629KEdKnvJWMhIklDq4Ku5KNcFvrg6xHkvNeCa_fv_eAUP2g4/s320/IMG_20170303_070112.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5m2sVpovo0zNmtQvRacMmqE24xQuqa6gb_oLMs8S7uUGb_qNj1-0bA8KIzGuMNikYY5C8jGhBdsac8DBvzKC8p-0YqWb4-1A_UXXdznddok13z_medZT52zp26-D9ReXvfrfuiQXf0M/s1600/IMG_20170303_071336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf5m2sVpovo0zNmtQvRacMmqE24xQuqa6gb_oLMs8S7uUGb_qNj1-0bA8KIzGuMNikYY5C8jGhBdsac8DBvzKC8p-0YqWb4-1A_UXXdznddok13z_medZT52zp26-D9ReXvfrfuiQXf0M/s320/IMG_20170303_071336.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night 3: $30 cabin with amazing view</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnw1d3T5Blzs1ItpdQ0jbyhGh-0YCoQQvJNNmlEYN9TqLdBBTKUwP0mVU5mTliFFQLzt4DraowGAnGzkwglkLSvDCsg_fcZ2MFhFQtpHIM8hyphenhyphenEMdhdSLrmKdEBd7StCwdLsddkiDFkMg/s1600/IMG_20170303_071902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnw1d3T5Blzs1ItpdQ0jbyhGh-0YCoQQvJNNmlEYN9TqLdBBTKUwP0mVU5mTliFFQLzt4DraowGAnGzkwglkLSvDCsg_fcZ2MFhFQtpHIM8hyphenhyphenEMdhdSLrmKdEBd7StCwdLsddkiDFkMg/s400/IMG_20170303_071902.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tres Virgines Volcano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn8rbH44JLEEEFR5179KszLU8t2ILFtK7ZhePtGVWQBfHFxFSMhCc0p9P5Yq7kh2bqoHkdzeK2gKHlLitohfaPfoSVdya8Y7EzIcJ6PjSBZXm0G4V0JXa1znr5GnsQfQfE2uBbLIpEvU/s1600/IMG_20170303_082507.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwn8rbH44JLEEEFR5179KszLU8t2ILFtK7ZhePtGVWQBfHFxFSMhCc0p9P5Yq7kh2bqoHkdzeK2gKHlLitohfaPfoSVdya8Y7EzIcJ6PjSBZXm0G4V0JXa1znr5GnsQfQfE2uBbLIpEvU/s320/IMG_20170303_082507.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a rental kitty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pee2H6PNViJxO0AUmdGNsN3ezfSo9BuJEs7CGcqbYteeOe59Wn4D-RpUEn2U31Zx8PPvoIgbHBEFHSqXJGkUFiB68zm_Uzua7PlIoS3iQxYiDU3tQqkdEpv8ZsNex_XS6QyW7GuyY24/s1600/IMG_20170303_125904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Pee2H6PNViJxO0AUmdGNsN3ezfSo9BuJEs7CGcqbYteeOe59Wn4D-RpUEn2U31Zx8PPvoIgbHBEFHSqXJGkUFiB68zm_Uzua7PlIoS3iQxYiDU3tQqkdEpv8ZsNex_XS6QyW7GuyY24/s320/IMG_20170303_125904.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more tacos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-pA1mvOgaSKC126K5oZ_dyc57w3yXL7roUjAQg1BRq8O_0RB4LE9RiIQBxvymSLCAm31-lvXizPqDq-vDvaLcg7rmePLztEzbEYaAmKZ6kDJvBi4EMtmDVq33ht581njA3UhbmgxLG0/s1600/IMG_20170303_160750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-pA1mvOgaSKC126K5oZ_dyc57w3yXL7roUjAQg1BRq8O_0RB4LE9RiIQBxvymSLCAm31-lvXizPqDq-vDvaLcg7rmePLztEzbEYaAmKZ6kDJvBi4EMtmDVq33ht581njA3UhbmgxLG0/s320/IMG_20170303_160750.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">gas in catavina</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2NUeB8adr2SuE5sBg-BGZTIxjgdqjrOzv5IAp-iyxsiMad0f5VIBq-tkws-yKuCmyMmhdC4dJWzaufwYshC7pUs21Z48CPMBKYER784LYR9BrmVY2IxMmUs33tdjcWb55UibWvfd538/s1600/IMG_20170303_164627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR2NUeB8adr2SuE5sBg-BGZTIxjgdqjrOzv5IAp-iyxsiMad0f5VIBq-tkws-yKuCmyMmhdC4dJWzaufwYshC7pUs21Z48CPMBKYER784LYR9BrmVY2IxMmUs33tdjcWb55UibWvfd538/s320/IMG_20170303_164627.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">airing down to cross the hinterlands to the pacific</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEEbfo0lc4ivuEOmAOyG4nqPv78cEuUtPCSDQfqKLoKYHEh9gE3973NPezGUDh_P4p-NgJ5KVv-8kPVFMJQcWLmmM1IruxetbFEev5leGbZclikzPFO9lnA0FM7m0oeCAiVcHXNb9FyE/s1600/IMG_20170303_182815.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEEbfo0lc4ivuEOmAOyG4nqPv78cEuUtPCSDQfqKLoKYHEh9gE3973NPezGUDh_P4p-NgJ5KVv-8kPVFMJQcWLmmM1IruxetbFEev5leGbZclikzPFO9lnA0FM7m0oeCAiVcHXNb9FyE/s400/IMG_20170303_182815.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night 4: on the way to Punta Canoas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOt5d3iJX0esgh9sXeWP2WuiM2OFbXDhbXMmB1robffDLLRNmH4qUyPiQpIihEGXbvfk9Nvvl7JPwLEgL_1Sxry60NzxyZ7cAR0JrStz0QpKrGycLCAuRd5n5AU23Zfb8quB83HTufjM/s1600/IMG_20170304_122952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDOt5d3iJX0esgh9sXeWP2WuiM2OFbXDhbXMmB1robffDLLRNmH4qUyPiQpIihEGXbvfk9Nvvl7JPwLEgL_1Sxry60NzxyZ7cAR0JrStz0QpKrGycLCAuRd5n5AU23Zfb8quB83HTufjM/s320/IMG_20170304_122952.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canoas in view.....and fog?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPZMwguGZAKSG_7_tEw4-Bxm-JXNETzLaYIM_cnE7gx-3Abw4jUvNLbIhyytP5isFFLiaIjQQQOeLse3gqm243L19TV66L79DQHuttPsHW7_tJ_n0KlYu9giuR8uaMa_OrQtyqRt01R4/s1600/IMG_20170304_145550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPZMwguGZAKSG_7_tEw4-Bxm-JXNETzLaYIM_cnE7gx-3Abw4jUvNLbIhyytP5isFFLiaIjQQQOeLse3gqm243L19TV66L79DQHuttPsHW7_tJ_n0KlYu9giuR8uaMa_OrQtyqRt01R4/s320/IMG_20170304_145550.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flower season was going strong</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFloOJoSJRolEEK1_DSPWgXpzKFNDggz9S8Hmrh3arxbAbsxaTRgCvr-H_4d2BZ1-ibakwK5hNDruT3SMw0fwFLy3G6adTcPU_mDsBT_XsnlVLyt8tdl57Ey0gwBN2donuv-cGeCOtd78/s1600/IMG_20170304_145427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFloOJoSJRolEEK1_DSPWgXpzKFNDggz9S8Hmrh3arxbAbsxaTRgCvr-H_4d2BZ1-ibakwK5hNDruT3SMw0fwFLy3G6adTcPU_mDsBT_XsnlVLyt8tdl57Ey0gwBN2donuv-cGeCOtd78/s320/IMG_20170304_145427.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lunchtime at foggy Canoas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpq3AnkTFiIouEi8bSIp0qSfgsUqqFLLqG43ME-712ckGAsHkVKP9yA040qyU1p44XjhgXxGD1s-wwu_5hZC9SjlxCLOCAlrVyREVcz7GdBNKDa-FminUhMBpVqC_S7zwqJrpX41r_bg/s1600/IMG_20170304_151001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghpq3AnkTFiIouEi8bSIp0qSfgsUqqFLLqG43ME-712ckGAsHkVKP9yA040qyU1p44XjhgXxGD1s-wwu_5hZC9SjlxCLOCAlrVyREVcz7GdBNKDa-FminUhMBpVqC_S7zwqJrpX41r_bg/s320/IMG_20170304_151001.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw7TltSApmYG_21_dZSDwcAjY37mkyaiz5B-yp58J2SfVLOIkFuSeNmqMcEPySW92m_C-bl6zjKcQ7I4bQCVhJ9QEj6hyVKNP-bg2mmUAt4b89jiRqa-p2IiGstK2yrc9NR0ObyfLkwQ/s1600/IMG_20170304_145314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRw7TltSApmYG_21_dZSDwcAjY37mkyaiz5B-yp58J2SfVLOIkFuSeNmqMcEPySW92m_C-bl6zjKcQ7I4bQCVhJ9QEj6hyVKNP-bg2mmUAt4b89jiRqa-p2IiGstK2yrc9NR0ObyfLkwQ/s320/IMG_20170304_145314.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still have no idea what Canoas looks like</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_cvAbdmik2DhB7BmCZwJ0eoDDRoowmOez4aieMHnUFZauTXuICOELotNfzgdeEv36YCSyyGi8pzmA6RsV0ss42jOmK8-rx3TVr1ZueCnE9HGLK3CMfibIv-079K3mX0FUfxz6lBi_XQ/s1600/IMG_20170304_145309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_cvAbdmik2DhB7BmCZwJ0eoDDRoowmOez4aieMHnUFZauTXuICOELotNfzgdeEv36YCSyyGi8pzmA6RsV0ss42jOmK8-rx3TVr1ZueCnE9HGLK3CMfibIv-079K3mX0FUfxz6lBi_XQ/s320/IMG_20170304_145309.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">freaky! especially with the fog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYGGMix8WsImnLZ-ddQwSLblfOVkMkHJti4w7l0OuO0mSn03_jBfTcqNBKFlBlMgO7dJ38LMR6A-f3yeHpsBwYSIAZ6kA9Y52mGxUc2kYenPvzphS6xl-x4GAWGR76jUETdbSDaJETXk/s1600/IMG_20170304_115444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgYGGMix8WsImnLZ-ddQwSLblfOVkMkHJti4w7l0OuO0mSn03_jBfTcqNBKFlBlMgO7dJ38LMR6A-f3yeHpsBwYSIAZ6kA9Y52mGxUc2kYenPvzphS6xl-x4GAWGR76jUETdbSDaJETXk/s320/IMG_20170304_115444.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baja Champions: 3000 miles of Baja and no flats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRA7wizd4sMcmcV4gju_ZW-bGvoM2juRwrl_fIBdZl5o1_VQH5U_hEQ3JfjCbTGkwuWaq-BmD_-Q-k7pOPmZfOGTE5Eo6BH_0l3sqg4htbB8FHMbApMa-TBgts7rVeHVONtS8on4r5fk/s1600/IMG_20170304_150847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRA7wizd4sMcmcV4gju_ZW-bGvoM2juRwrl_fIBdZl5o1_VQH5U_hEQ3JfjCbTGkwuWaq-BmD_-Q-k7pOPmZfOGTE5Eo6BH_0l3sqg4htbB8FHMbApMa-TBgts7rVeHVONtS8on4r5fk/s320/IMG_20170304_150847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s3BIJunIa8gFaHEk2dwpa46BOe8cficWrpLHsRv7eiKqm6pFSG9Pn5p-t5AQXbZab9oVg8t5xGB0ujsO3G9tH6Q1FanArjYA_dJGoythq4PFfyWX909S5LKc6y61F4Po0nicAg80mns/s1600/IMG_20170304_184101.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2s3BIJunIa8gFaHEk2dwpa46BOe8cficWrpLHsRv7eiKqm6pFSG9Pn5p-t5AQXbZab9oVg8t5xGB0ujsO3G9tH6Q1FanArjYA_dJGoythq4PFfyWX909S5LKc6y61F4Po0nicAg80mns/s400/IMG_20170304_184101.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night 5: Catavina desert silly Boojums</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uBzthyphenhyphenwNpuqWlg_Uc6DjdYLYBnu9h-VlE3vtAL_NbXbRG_c7tlpB1VvHSztAQQVBa7Vg6DXPyKg06UymCtq6HN6L0mNGKFIu3UX4xswBO7IFYkyKHoIo-WnzL7mtI38TVQtkFWZ8z7U/s1600/IMG_20170304_183953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uBzthyphenhyphenwNpuqWlg_Uc6DjdYLYBnu9h-VlE3vtAL_NbXbRG_c7tlpB1VvHSztAQQVBa7Vg6DXPyKg06UymCtq6HN6L0mNGKFIu3UX4xswBO7IFYkyKHoIo-WnzL7mtI38TVQtkFWZ8z7U/s320/IMG_20170304_183953.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wonderful Baja seclusion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdbIPRjk9wIebcjh0VBJhDf17wGCs74DzXYiHTNB0lhYJIcIjJkYgAA2JnL7ciz82SfgO1Gy-_Ewr_fwUDeYGIvXaa80JVN_woTRQRlqPrxvp9XCLNXUlLHABNZj1NqjVYai3K9BXJJg/s1600/IMG_20170305_184521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzdbIPRjk9wIebcjh0VBJhDf17wGCs74DzXYiHTNB0lhYJIcIjJkYgAA2JnL7ciz82SfgO1Gy-_Ewr_fwUDeYGIvXaa80JVN_woTRQRlqPrxvp9XCLNXUlLHABNZj1NqjVYai3K9BXJJg/s320/IMG_20170305_184521.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">night 6: Gonzaga Bay: too many jellyfish to swim</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkALg-_2IWxJHfIW_i0_ody0u_VtIkU718EnohE2LyTOVvqE6aVlnkb9nlh_11E6f3WoIh4jWV8HS95uGwQRX-JFUCvlVCVGcmNeykiGr0qbOHq3vaKhE_-FY4ySjlcuZrWbgI1Moz-Y/s1600/IMG_20170305_185019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvkALg-_2IWxJHfIW_i0_ody0u_VtIkU718EnohE2LyTOVvqE6aVlnkb9nlh_11E6f3WoIh4jWV8HS95uGwQRX-JFUCvlVCVGcmNeykiGr0qbOHq3vaKhE_-FY4ySjlcuZrWbgI1Moz-Y/s400/IMG_20170305_185019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFzGMPJjUMnjoQQOVIdGQ63HJyvMb4CIUBvNmF_uIv4I7miHcQz9p040xJd44ELoBancqklhKZ7qGsc-f4eDT_qSA2mYsOrXAcZsdN9YTs1hmsGp0JeTLCDaBjPmMirI6inzSpusNsd8/s1600/IMG_20170306_070354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFzGMPJjUMnjoQQOVIdGQ63HJyvMb4CIUBvNmF_uIv4I7miHcQz9p040xJd44ELoBancqklhKZ7qGsc-f4eDT_qSA2mYsOrXAcZsdN9YTs1hmsGp0JeTLCDaBjPmMirI6inzSpusNsd8/s400/IMG_20170306_070354.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last sunrise in Baja at Gonzaga Bay</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qTlds7D8qTVTSg60o5Tv9chOO7_YSrKxc7AXplx8ARK_sEJF7Kh9RYph_gZLJwtDrKdHnB1ymYY0bTZN1FOpARqJyDGMnQuUXCwv8ybrsrpKNFXjLz4-mqHNwHFhfXEQC1Svuw2PG_E/s1600/IMG_20170307_080718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qTlds7D8qTVTSg60o5Tv9chOO7_YSrKxc7AXplx8ARK_sEJF7Kh9RYph_gZLJwtDrKdHnB1ymYY0bTZN1FOpARqJyDGMnQuUXCwv8ybrsrpKNFXjLz4-mqHNwHFhfXEQC1Svuw2PG_E/s320/IMG_20170307_080718.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">last night in Baja: San Felipe</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a wash in Mexicali before crossing the border</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">lining up for the border in Mexicali</td></tr>
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ddd<br />
<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-22721407203105829692016-11-01T14:31:00.000-06:002016-11-12T17:34:18.768-07:00into the MazeI've always heard that Maze overlook is one of the best overlooks in Utah, but I've seen some pretty nice overlooks in Utah.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maze Overlook Campsite #1</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a> Maybe it's just that it's so hard to get to that once the weary traveler arrives he or she is so thrilled to be out of the vehicle that the view wouldn't matter. But, this isn't so. I've been known to go to great extremes for a big view and this one is certainly one of the best in Utah.<br />
October was busy, Lisa had just returned from a field session down south, and I from Oregon. The '77 was running good and needed nothing but some grease after a 2,000 mile round trip through the hinterlands of eastern Oregon and Nevada. With less than 12 hours at home we loaded supplies and rolled out again. We figured it'd be a prudent exercise in the preservation of sanity to get a head start on the infamous Flint trail and the road to Maze Overlook. The plan would be to get close to the park boundary the first night, camping on BLM land. The next day we'd check in with the ranger station at Hans Flat, and have the entire day to make it out to Maze overlook. The National Park Service purposefully leaves the road really bad. They call it "primitive". Ok, I guess, but it's not the kind of thing that's very enjoyable. Not really a 4x4 challenge, but not the kind of thing to take lightly either. Just annoying as hell, grinding away in first gear all day, but I suppose that's what's keeps all the ne'er do wells out, and I suppose that's the reason we're here.<br />
Our experience getting to Maze overlook wasn't quite the 6 hours that the book said, nor the 3 hours that the ranger said. It took us 4.5 hours from Hans Flat to the campground. That's including a lunch stop along the way. Ranger Station said Flint trail was worse than usual. It was 2wd low range going down and 4wd low range coming out. The rest wasn't too bad, but definitely put my transmission and transfer case <a href="http://www.fretwater.net/2016/09/the-77-behind-scenes.html" target="_blank">rebuild</a> to the test. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 1: BLM near Hans Flat RS</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 2: Dinner a la tailgate</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dropping into the Maze</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">down more</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlFiO_l0HWAgIxzN9U79rl02gWnpwutz_Eb5qT1REwEjle8kYEFkoN6mCB1ZD0GFCDVXbqtRUNtcCgYZp8awK8M2t-054__4UZAzcuxnamJRKEimeZlDrNFXy6o1uDwD-SbuTPK5aHPE/s1600/IMG_20161031_122326.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlFiO_l0HWAgIxzN9U79rl02gWnpwutz_Eb5qT1REwEjle8kYEFkoN6mCB1ZD0GFCDVXbqtRUNtcCgYZp8awK8M2t-054__4UZAzcuxnamJRKEimeZlDrNFXy6o1uDwD-SbuTPK5aHPE/s400/IMG_20161031_122326.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">down more</td></tr>
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We didn't take the time to take photos at the really sketch-ball place, or the 3 places we lowered packs on a rope.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFkJNq2o9PM/WBk4yGwz4AI/AAAAAAAAKNA/lEjupFjGWhcN3BXxzNu9xGP3uI2I1TVkACPcB/s1600/IMG_20161030_112301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RFkJNq2o9PM/WBk4yGwz4AI/AAAAAAAAKNA/lEjupFjGWhcN3BXxzNu9xGP3uI2I1TVkACPcB/s320/IMG_20161030_112301.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the bottom</td></tr>
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Once we were in the bottom the plan was to drop our packs and do a long day hike out of Pictograph Fork to the last Chocolate Drop, follow CD trail to the Standing Rocks road then drop into the head of Pictograph Fork back to our packs. About a 14 mile day then spend the night. We cut it super close to being stuck in the dark, and with the new moon it would've sucked.<br />
The trail out of Pictograph Fork isn't on the trails illustrated map, but is on my 7.5" quad. Not sure why, it's a lot less technical than the trail coming down from Maze overlook, and makes a rad dayhike out of the Choc Drops and Pictograph Fork, two of the highlights of The Maze.<br />
Pictograph Fork was one of the most beautiful canyons in Utah. Big open parks of grasses, nicely spaced cottonwood trees. It is quintessential Utah hiking.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chocolate drops</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chocolate drops from a couple miles away on CD trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">harvest scene</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 3 under the chocolate drops</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pictograph fork</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nR6qS_gZm_Q/WBk4yJJzNbI/AAAAAAAAKNA/Pf2UNZPgTMo7pA9y68xt5NaDQ6qG-P4fACPcB/s1600/IMG_20161031_183722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nR6qS_gZm_Q/WBk4yJJzNbI/AAAAAAAAKNA/Pf2UNZPgTMo7pA9y68xt5NaDQ6qG-P4fACPcB/s320/IMG_20161031_183722.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 4 sunset</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">back to the pavement after 160 miles of dirt</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-732068956152719692016-10-15T15:37:00.000-06:002016-11-13T15:36:45.631-07:00dont fence me inLisa had the GBAC conference to go to this year in Reno. Thankfully she's always a good sport about taking backroad adventures in the '77. I suggested we leave a mere 5 days early and spend the time crossing Nevada on the backroads. So we did. We hurried to the Nevada border then south to near Ely where we turned west at Cherry Creek. <br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVjoVNDIqk0/WA1wKOXxO2I/AAAAAAAAKEU/HiwtwLU6pdw3Syea6ra8IQOj1V6RkEXJQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161020_095734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fVjoVNDIqk0/WA1wKOXxO2I/AAAAAAAAKEU/HiwtwLU6pdw3Syea6ra8IQOj1V6RkEXJQCPcB/s400/IMG_20161020_095734.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 1: Butte Valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">bed time reading about adventures yet unseen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Shoes Nation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tailgate dinner - Nevada style</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad7CRCFpwVu7n_2lmVCIuDQPEIkk_SYwWCj8pYz1ITIDMhG92nuXt1gaNK1HAzite_Zs3qM2_ojQrrAFSPImeZwHvb04_VG5Lpo1FeKfI9tMeOKH0I1PWSMWVMC6kSBX95owwi1806-Y/s1600/IMG_20161001_192302.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgad7CRCFpwVu7n_2lmVCIuDQPEIkk_SYwWCj8pYz1ITIDMhG92nuXt1gaNK1HAzite_Zs3qM2_ojQrrAFSPImeZwHvb04_VG5Lpo1FeKfI9tMeOKH0I1PWSMWVMC6kSBX95owwi1806-Y/s320/IMG_20161001_192302.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...to the coyotes</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 2:</h2>
We planned on spending the night at Potts hotsprings, but the land owner had a no camping sign there. It was early so we headed to Toquima Cave pictographs, then Spencer hotsprings for the night. Spencer has sure turned into a shit sow of people camping and driving all over the place. I hope BLM does something to manage this place a bit better in the near future.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKcF0OlHwtHDfXswD-bvCe81j9Yx200jBIpeWVWWX4XuhGflOBph-8PK90q6IBTZ4AyVwyvf7yOt-o0ATAwl8QKgQMzjwtidHHH4k0dmk-gyFcQToyfw9z-ShKmg2ug84iF_-7vOZld4/s1600/IMG_20161002_162654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyKcF0OlHwtHDfXswD-bvCe81j9Yx200jBIpeWVWWX4XuhGflOBph-8PK90q6IBTZ4AyVwyvf7yOt-o0ATAwl8QKgQMzjwtidHHH4k0dmk-gyFcQToyfw9z-ShKmg2ug84iF_-7vOZld4/s400/IMG_20161002_162654.jpg" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potts Ranch Hotsprings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvwXxyXZ7us/V_WIONBrf3I/AAAAAAAAIm4/nlz-6GsuQTs8A1uUfT1WjPseKsSFEkk0QCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161002_181024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DvwXxyXZ7us/V_WIONBrf3I/AAAAAAAAIm4/nlz-6GsuQTs8A1uUfT1WjPseKsSFEkk0QCPcB/s320/IMG_20161002_181024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toquima Cave</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 3:</h2>
Today was a test for the '77. During pre-trip online research I only found two accounts of people crossing Ophir Pass. One was some motorcyclists going east to west, and one was a guy with a camper who came the other way. I knew the east slope was the worst, but thought we'd be ok because if a stock truck with a camper in the back can do it??? I mean...<br />
Before the trip I knew the one thing that would make things way more difficult was a bit of snow. The two days previous were pretty overcast, but the sky looked a little better the morning we woke at Spencer and the day just continued to get better. Before we left Spencer the High Toiyabes were cleared off.<br />
The route up was steep, and narrow between the trees, especially near the tree line. Ruts were deep in places too. The newly fallen aspen leaves combined with a skiff of snow made for some challenging 4x4 low range adventure. We stopped at the last creek crossing and topped off a water jug to use later for cooking and dishes. Then stopped for lunch at the pass, with a view to the west clear to the HIgh Sierra in California. It was too damn cold to do any exploring. I mean it was damn cold! Mostly because the wind was fixin to rip somebodys face off. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HK9bNdB-0X0/V_WION6cUXI/AAAAAAAAIm4/BtsM5wol2L407kkbiMVIzzeT-pPaaJ9fwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_102344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HK9bNdB-0X0/V_WION6cUXI/AAAAAAAAIm4/BtsM5wol2L407kkbiMVIzzeT-pPaaJ9fwCPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_102344.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the warning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2_5E6-_nWN2AYQI_YC2XBpO2-3GKgdlbDhDVK7VWRzeU3Fn2o8orDeuxZvQM0s5LMMvRqvFDo1jcRJ7v7encGiWmtpO4_STkRB_uSvic7sA0oYLCxylxblYeLxr8TLhc_cJ-txLscjE/s1600/IMG_20161003_105707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu2_5E6-_nWN2AYQI_YC2XBpO2-3GKgdlbDhDVK7VWRzeU3Fn2o8orDeuxZvQM0s5LMMvRqvFDo1jcRJ7v7encGiWmtpO4_STkRB_uSvic7sA0oYLCxylxblYeLxr8TLhc_cJ-txLscjE/s320/IMG_20161003_105707.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ophir ghost town</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LNE-RcBHyk/V_WIOKAAYhI/AAAAAAAAIm4/-2s5zsUreWYOstv2z6L40C28o7Cgiba_gCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_112715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--LNE-RcBHyk/V_WIOKAAYhI/AAAAAAAAIm4/-2s5zsUreWYOstv2z6L40C28o7Cgiba_gCPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_112715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grinding away - above the tree line</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vUdPvirxsU/V_WIODC00II/AAAAAAAAIm4/owfJgNSEvSoEyUXvnwxB_HhT66TQh6UcwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_115847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vUdPvirxsU/V_WIODC00II/AAAAAAAAIm4/owfJgNSEvSoEyUXvnwxB_HhT66TQh6UcwCPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_115847.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wind ripped it in half</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gV5hkX08S10/V_WIOGzLGnI/AAAAAAAAIm4/cFJikH5VAE4JQFD-pO6EZjHDpLoJ63OYACPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_120008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gV5hkX08S10/V_WIOGzLGnI/AAAAAAAAIm4/cFJikH5VAE4JQFD-pO6EZjHDpLoJ63OYACPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_120008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ophir summit looking west</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BM7ZfDsUioY/V_WIOI5sHZI/AAAAAAAAIm4/IfRCuKVk5_cxA2VSpuaSoTa0QYV_NSXCwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_115953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BM7ZfDsUioY/V_WIOI5sHZI/AAAAAAAAIm4/IfRCuKVk5_cxA2VSpuaSoTa0QYV_NSXCwCPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_115953.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ophir summit looking east</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPpni_xftzc/V_WIOJu4isI/AAAAAAAAIm4/54Mf-Gszhr4lx_t-QBAeYFUAtmEj_rtnwCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_115946.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dPpni_xftzc/V_WIOJu4isI/AAAAAAAAIm4/54Mf-Gszhr4lx_t-QBAeYFUAtmEj_rtnwCPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_115946.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the loyal steed</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 4</h2>
We made it down from Ophir and next stop was the ghost town of Beryl, and to see the Icky dinosaur. Beryl was cool and it was interesting to think about the profound desire that must have motivated those people back in the day to come here to try to pound a living out of this hill, or any hill next to an old mining camp. The Icky site was closed, but we peered in the windows, which still gave a pretty good view. The campground was one of the nicest I've seen in Nevada, but we didn't have the cash so we headed for Smith Valley Hotsprings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcvMpT_WDpLzLn-Ay-q9KIDep7Nk8dL5Rxt6FQexvucEcdGdEkZagX-Ckp10tnVLAhGeYy7QShoO7cDAMWu2BzgixxW2EQicqLN8zDxCMd59sXiPc5xbRF33Ef7ZgW9GQIRUnXQ2So9I/s1600/IMG_20161003_142348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcvMpT_WDpLzLn-Ay-q9KIDep7Nk8dL5Rxt6FQexvucEcdGdEkZagX-Ckp10tnVLAhGeYy7QShoO7cDAMWu2BzgixxW2EQicqLN8zDxCMd59sXiPc5xbRF33Ef7ZgW9GQIRUnXQ2So9I/s320/IMG_20161003_142348.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Icky, but not the real one</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IbyD97KHE_g/V_WIOCFq0AI/AAAAAAAAIm4/1Rwe_uFLjbkcUzp4MhumsnLKf4umUs1lgCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161003_144603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IbyD97KHE_g/V_WIOCFq0AI/AAAAAAAAIm4/1Rwe_uFLjbkcUzp4MhumsnLKf4umUs1lgCPcB/s320/IMG_20161003_144603.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another '77?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49ZXm9RzLHKn51hvJduNbBVspKZsVP2aPw0nZtbcGjO2maRIjg4xF3HOPNKkYFM6eB38ATdmEuW2MTlt41BOgGawPUBdX-ZDoqN6ITax0xv6jzVAbh2htWqdhYUpKAzQV4ae3lys-Uhc/s1600/IMG_20161003_145130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg49ZXm9RzLHKn51hvJduNbBVspKZsVP2aPw0nZtbcGjO2maRIjg4xF3HOPNKkYFM6eB38ATdmEuW2MTlt41BOgGawPUBdX-ZDoqN6ITax0xv6jzVAbh2htWqdhYUpKAzQV4ae3lys-Uhc/s320/IMG_20161003_145130.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beryl, Nevada</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1d9R0lKjqSrn3J4M2iSG83ykX7l7AgatE-Gq0805sHHUvFAn_A2ShOpEYpHlr8FOziGikoQZgsAzYrrX0TbY7zwvyGDQInz494fLPbip7G0OP7zEldhBZCxB-qCI05dw2xokMea42dk/s1600/IMG_20161003_144724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1d9R0lKjqSrn3J4M2iSG83ykX7l7AgatE-Gq0805sHHUvFAn_A2ShOpEYpHlr8FOziGikoQZgsAzYrrX0TbY7zwvyGDQInz494fLPbip7G0OP7zEldhBZCxB-qCI05dw2xokMea42dk/s320/IMG_20161003_144724.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cocktail hour - out of the wind</td></tr>
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Not sure what was going on with the hotsprings, but it was running super
slow. Slow enough that it was cooling off faster than it was running
into the tub. Maybe has a dead mouse stuck in the pipe or something. We
didn't mess with, but got to higher ground to camp in case it rained good
during the night we wouldn't be mudded in. The road near the springs was littered with boards, and a shredded tire chain; somebody's hardship having been stuck in the mud. A chilling reminder to stay diligent while traveling alone in the great expanses. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">near Smith Creek Valley Hotsprings</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">good coffee drinking country</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 5:</h2>
Today we'd cover some pavement miles towards Reno so we could be there on day 6. We planned on going through Virginia City, but weren't sure where we'd stay that night. Maybe a room in Virginia City, maybe another piece of dirt, we didn't know. We passed by Grimes Point Archaeological Site, which neither of us had heard of. Between Grimes Point and Fallon some lady in a Ford Humongous, or whatever, pulled out in front of us, which gave my new brake system a good test. We made Virginia City in time for some sight seeing and beverages. It's always more fun to watch the tourists in tourist places that anything. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middlegate, Nevada for gas</td></tr>
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Before leaving Virginia City we took a closer look at the map and decided on a route over the mountains and down into Carson City, on what we came to know as The Jumbo Grade, figuring we'd find a spot along the way to camp. We found a place right on top of the pass near some antennas. Also, right under the flight path of airliners leaving Reno. We fixed up an order of tailgate mexi-slop, but had to scoot inside a bit to escape the cold of the wind at 7,000'. As we ate the airliners passed over, turning east to points unknown. I thought about the alternative way to get from SLC to Reno, but to gaze from the window of an airliner at the immensity of Nevada would fill me with an unbearable sense of wonder. I was glad we did not make that choice.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NNAX46MHifiohCPyEpbPx3RoxI2q-8WFmmSZ8ia5K2f5EQlXyKtk_CQ3FxpYJ1Umypy0bBQh4FbVk37zbD-fDXrgZUvUs-oMhtwVhGGWVX8w_STIGq-S_rVNnEsafdBS6HwUwfSaMP8/s1600/IMG_20161004_175723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NNAX46MHifiohCPyEpbPx3RoxI2q-8WFmmSZ8ia5K2f5EQlXyKtk_CQ3FxpYJ1Umypy0bBQh4FbVk37zbD-fDXrgZUvUs-oMhtwVhGGWVX8w_STIGq-S_rVNnEsafdBS6HwUwfSaMP8/s320/IMG_20161004_175723.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mexi-slop, big view, whiskey</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 6:</h2>
Down into Carson City in time for a tour of the Nevada State Museum. We also stopped by the Nevada Travel Council where I got the window sticker that this blog post is named after, and signed up for a subscription to Nevada Magazine.<br />
Later on we drove into Reno to the Silver Legacy where Lisa's conference was being held. As we circled the block the '77 got a compliment from an African-American man on the curb. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big wheel well to fit a 35!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa's job at work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5zzXB0MzM4/V_gLyjv6XoI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/QtK8ExBhx3s0sd6ONxp8wCJfCdNbtM5FQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161007_115754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-j5zzXB0MzM4/V_gLyjv6XoI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/QtK8ExBhx3s0sd6ONxp8wCJfCdNbtM5FQCPcB/s320/IMG_20161007_115754.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my job by the pool</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGShE69iG7w/V_gLyjngGcI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/zmf-JqHBsFs9fhXBeenqCCCENXHntirBQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161007_132240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HGShE69iG7w/V_gLyjngGcI/AAAAAAAAIwQ/zmf-JqHBsFs9fhXBeenqCCCENXHntirBQCPcB/s320/IMG_20161007_132240.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just in case you didn't know</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbnd0hDAQ10/V__uFy3hrzI/AAAAAAAAIy8/X_JSpcMjhoEKhUz8SDGwQ3S3tUfvmQ8wQCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161008_130822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bbnd0hDAQ10/V__uFy3hrzI/AAAAAAAAIy8/X_JSpcMjhoEKhUz8SDGwQ3S3tUfvmQ8wQCPcB/s320/IMG_20161008_130822.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Italian festival the day we left</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6c4O-qtDYY/WCUHO_-VMnI/AAAAAAAAKWs/XJrAZvRlPwkRv5n-gZtpgy4Uj9GcIjn2wCPcB/s1600/IMG_20161110_163918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6c4O-qtDYY/WCUHO_-VMnI/AAAAAAAAKWs/XJrAZvRlPwkRv5n-gZtpgy4Uj9GcIjn2wCPcB/s320/IMG_20161110_163918.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">even the map is weary</td></tr>
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...until the next time. mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-89332551243609915912016-07-20T21:48:00.000-06:002016-11-14T17:30:22.079-07:00The Selway Bitterroot - A Crossing...since the first time I drove Montana's Bitterroot Valley, I wondered at what lay behind that tremendous curtain of mountains.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCmZkLyb22FJt1aPOPG2WI-K9RmdzZkG5RoT20pJqXBW2J0KKBx3SkSWM8d4A2h2o6iF3ivEw4fNHKeQAUSK68URMXM8Qk0cbCTw8t34mxdbpMPat9iX4931_PYg5mLlIuWNHKXH1D4o/s1600/2016-07-20+21.42.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTCmZkLyb22FJt1aPOPG2WI-K9RmdzZkG5RoT20pJqXBW2J0KKBx3SkSWM8d4A2h2o6iF3ivEw4fNHKeQAUSK68URMXM8Qk0cbCTw8t34mxdbpMPat9iX4931_PYg5mLlIuWNHKXH1D4o/s400/2016-07-20+21.42.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Creek lake from near Packbox Pass</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
<h2>
Pre-trip:</h2>
A couple of years ago when Lisa and I hiked the Highline Trail in Utah we talked of doing a trip that was big and different, without the confusion of a crowd. <br />
The Selway Bitterroot Crossing was an old idea of mine that I've had since the first time I drove Montana's Bitterroot Valley, wondering at what lay behind that tremendous curtain of mountains. I proposed it to Lisa after our lottery application to hike the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier was denied. She immediately agreed, and it became the endeavor of our 2016 backpacking season.<br />
The plan was to cross the third largest wilderness area in
the contiguous United States. Starting in Montana's Bitterroot valley, emerging along
the Lochsa River in Idaho. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesoACgCY5xQwayz5mBrEu8AvPl-mYPGjAyrsCLFpTdqODq2Nja_wcvT5Ondapb0etYZgqh58rW73o-Rn_psRfbzAPLqTykFasJOdu49V9o5_axIzcwZf1vUVvHx3sw5NNuJkl4tNGYj4/s1600/20160707_142455.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesoACgCY5xQwayz5mBrEu8AvPl-mYPGjAyrsCLFpTdqODq2Nja_wcvT5Ondapb0etYZgqh58rW73o-Rn_psRfbzAPLqTykFasJOdu49V9o5_axIzcwZf1vUVvHx3sw5NNuJkl4tNGYj4/s640/20160707_142455.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">13 days of food</td></tr>
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When I ordered the plastic Forest Service maps for the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness they were huge, big enough for a table cloth. I cut them down into 6 pieces each so I could leave out the areas where we wouldn't be, and so they'd be more manageable on the trail. The route for our crossing changed dramatically from the way it started out. I originally planned to camp in the canyons, near water, and spend the days traversing high ridges with big views, hopefully away from mosquitos that I speculated would be down low.<br />
I had a couple conversations with Brad Bence, wilderness specialist in Kooskia, Idaho. After I told him my plan, on the first call, he politely asked me to call him back when the date was a little closer. About a week before we were to set out I called again. He didn't try to talk me out of it, but gave me the objective info I needed to make decisions. Rather than telling me what I wanted to hear he finally said; "<i>Mick, I just think your going to have a real tough trip"</i>. I hung up the phone, and tried to swallow the lump in my throat. My hands shook as I folded the maps and put them away. I sought out my usual therapy; an hour long run.<br />
A couple days later I returned to the maps with Lisa and told her about my talk with Brad, then asked if she was sure. I could tell my report from Brad made her nervous, but with her best game face she said she was sure<i>.</i> For the first time I knew the trip was going to happen and it greatly intimidated me.<br />
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The problem that Brad referred to is called deadfall, downfall, or blowdown, you get the idea. It's especially bad now as a result of the bad wildfire seasons that have plagued the West in recent years. Wildfire kills the trees, leaving them brittle. The winter storms bring the weight of snow, combined with fierce winds, sometimes over 100mph. These storms blow down trees in swathes of tens of square miles at a time. <br />
The Forest Service, and it's partners, can only clear so many miles of trail during a summer season. As Brad said, <i>"nobody really does what you guys are doing"</i> which, I guess, is part of the reason they don't get the funding they need to keep trails clear and maintained. To be honest, it sounded awful, and maybe I'm an idiot, but it sounded like the perfect reason to go. There was no guide book, or permit system to manage the hoards of people fresh out of REI. I like the idea of meeting the wilderness on it's own terms; even when it's inconvenient. The problem was that I was about to get more than I bargained for. <br />
After talking to Brad, and changing the route, I made a plan B in case the miles took longer than anticipated, and a plan C in case things went bad and we had to get out. Brad said that Moose Creek Ranger Station was staffed and that we could use the satellite phone to call out if we ended up running behind and needed to let people know. He said there would be a Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) trail crew working down from Elk Summit and that the Moose Creek trail should be open to the Selway River giving us an option for a quick exit if we needed it. As it turned out we had to use plan B after taking 8 days to get to Moose Creek Ranger Station; what we thought we could do in 5.<br />
July was a priority so we could be done before wildfire season got
going, and before the streams started drying up too much. We had never
done a trip this ambitious before, certainly never packed 2 weeks of
food. I didn't even see how it was possible to pack 2 weeks of food and
still keep packs at a manageable weight. Even now I still don't because Lisa did it all! <br />
Planning to take 11 days, we
packed a couple extra days of food, just in case. As it turned out our
packs handled the load well with room to spare, even though we both
carried a bear canister. We both started the trip with packs that
weighed 25% and 20% of our body weight respectively.<br />
Usually we don't carry a SPOT device, but would on this trip. Our plan would be to SPOT-in once every morning. I gave my co-workers, Jim and Dave, copies of maps with our intended route, and contact info for Brad if we disappeared. This part of the planning is a cardinal rule. It's a bit freaky, but in order to have confidence in what we were doing I needed to take things seriously, especially with the deadfall challenges creating the added risk of injury. <br />
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<h2>
Day 1 - July 9th 2016:</h2>
In Hamilton, Montana we got breakfast at the Coffee Cup Cafe. Our drive to the trailhead was almost done and if I had any questions time was running out to ask them. I looked around the cafe and it didn't look like anybody could've answered them anyway. I thought of Brad saying <i>"nobody really does what your doing"</i>, and tried to think of something else. I grabbed a Missoula paper and it had a warning of a winter storm coming to the high country in the next couple days. I tried to cool my nerve by convincing myself that it'd be a quick moving storm that drops a couple inches of snow that melts by noon. Alas, I told myself. We were here, we were going, we were on our own, and we were prepared. <br />
The last of the drive took us north to Victor then west to the Big Creek Trailhead. It'd been raining, but the sun was peeking through as we got packs ready to go. The first steps were the usual slow slogging rhythm of walking with a heavy pack. Adjusting to things, especially feet, and giving everything a good systems check.<br />
Big Creek trail was easy on us and gained elevation slow and steady. Huckleberries were out, much to our surprise, and we would eat them every day of the trip. A mile past the wilderness boundary it began to rain, and didn't quit for the next 3 days. Backpackers and lots of day hikers were on the way out, the last people we'd see for 5 days. When we got to Big Creek Lake there was nobody around. Everyone but us were smart enough to heed the winter storm warning, we guessed. Around the far side of the lake was a nice ledgy campsite and mosquitos, with a big Bald Eagle sitting high in a dead tree. The Bald Eagle peered at us with his best eagle glare as we violated his space, and set up in the steady rain, preparing for a long night in the tent. After dinner Lisa read out loud from our shared book; <i>The Long Walk</i>. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1: the wilderness boundary in Big Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Creek trail - easy going</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 1: Big Creek Lake</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 2:</h2>
At first light, suspicious that today was going to suck, I got up to make coffee. I can deal with a day that sucks as long as I have coffee first. I set lake water on the stove to boil looking up to see our eagle friend still sitting in the tall tree. The Starbucks instant packs, were OK at best. The rain had slowed to a light drizzle and the lake was beautiful in the morning light. I told Lisa the coffee was ready so she got up to join me. I made breakfast, and tried not to let my nerves get out of hand about what lay ahead.The further we went around Big Creek Lake the more the sign of people fell away. There started to be a few blowdown trees across the trail, but nothing too crazy. The rain fell steady and it was getting colder as we approached Packbox Pass. We were both cold by the time we found a lunch spot on the Idaho side of the pass, but we knew food would help. Packbox Creek was a beautiful forest full of flowers, but it was lush with grass sometimes six feet tall, making the trail difficult to follow. Somewhere before the intersection with Colt Killed Creek is where the burn area started, and where the going got difficult. For the next several hours the progress was slow, sometimes half a mile an hour. Earlier in the afternoon I thought about turning back, but decided I'd rather struggle the next 90 miles than do the last 10 again. I was also stressed out about one of us getting injured climbing across wet and slick trees. We periodically coached each other with words like <i>"use your poles"</i> or <i>"over the log, not on"</i>. Amazingly, none of our rain gear got shredded.<br />
Our goal for the day was the intersection of Big Flat Creek and Colt Killed Creek. Just before dark, still pouring rain, we emerged from the burn area to a lovely little camp full of daisy's in the lodgepole pines beside the creek. It took us 12 hours to go 11 miles. A couple years ago we started carrying a three person tent for camps exactly like this one. We could throw all our wet gear on one third, and sleep on the other two thirds. Use one vestibule for cooking, and the other for entry/exit. I cooked our steamy gruel as Lisa read our book by headlamp. We sipped our whiskey and listened to rain coming down hard on the tent. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2umIdNcCnQ/V6cYojRDgjI/AAAAAAAAIJ0/wUxie3fURUMm5HbV-mLog8uMI-uzq5OkACPcB/s1600/20160710_105145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P2umIdNcCnQ/V6cYojRDgjI/AAAAAAAAIJ0/wUxie3fURUMm5HbV-mLog8uMI-uzq5OkACPcB/s320/20160710_105145.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">climbing away from Big Creek Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Creek Lake from Packbox Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">near Packbox Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Packbox Ck: checking out a herd of elk</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 2: Colt Killed at Big Flat Ck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a hard day</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 3:</h2>
Day 2 was such a complete beating that we were not very motivated to get going the next day. I lay in the tent for a long time thinking about how deep in the wilderness we were at that moment. The thought gave me a tentative smile. The rain quit during the night, so we made a fire to dry stuff out, then decided to stay put for another night. The day was mostly dry, but the surrounding country was fogged in. Late in the afternoon the fog lifted just enough to show the high snowy ridges that surrounded us. With nerves finally starting to adjust to the wilderness I suggested we worry about those snowy ridges tomorrow. During the day I did some fishing in Colt Killed Creek, which was more of a river than a creek, it was running fast, but clear. Unfortunately whoever had been at this camp long before us left it a mess so we burned as many of the trash bits as we could find before leaving.<br />
That night we had a special dinner just for the hell of it. The closest thing to exotic we had was dry pea soup mix from Winco. We called it la soupe aux pois and designated it an official French dinner. French dinners naturally call for red wine and we just happened to have some. Our table would be a chunk of firewood, as usual. I tied a daisy to a tent stake and stuck it in the crack of a log then stoked up the fire to take the chill off the evening.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 3</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkQHJu_onSwHz2XFgLbIUon7IUzVGaaCLL22U41y8wvy4Z2p6GgmnzWYKaPifSMn8ijWIAYLpBOZ4xP0li4JLhMERY1JH9vUK8M-wXy-UdR-vtc-_ODWCCcXKW2dvs-pO4uXy5V-w74U/s1600/20160711_185038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbkQHJu_onSwHz2XFgLbIUon7IUzVGaaCLL22U41y8wvy4Z2p6GgmnzWYKaPifSMn8ijWIAYLpBOZ4xP0li4JLhMERY1JH9vUK8M-wXy-UdR-vtc-_ODWCCcXKW2dvs-pO4uXy5V-w74U/s640/20160711_185038.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a daisy of a dinner date, deep in the wilderness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQjAn0Aib2W8hxkgDWieTSwF61kF_c4AVyBoWKZJeZNmKWgHeeFB-SrU8sb2SsiKk0XW1CunGLNcNK_-bO138qcos0NTOVB8xSowmNiiGeF1WRrP9M-GpPhZLAre8yvyPHnjOYbOyjDQ/s1600/20160711_162017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAQjAn0Aib2W8hxkgDWieTSwF61kF_c4AVyBoWKZJeZNmKWgHeeFB-SrU8sb2SsiKk0XW1CunGLNcNK_-bO138qcos0NTOVB8xSowmNiiGeF1WRrP9M-GpPhZLAre8yvyPHnjOYbOyjDQ/s320/20160711_162017.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">stretching for today's 8 hr. workout</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 4:</h2>
I crawled out of the tent to a pretty nice looking day, but the ridges were still snowy white. I made a morning fire and coffee and thought of the warning in the Missoula paper, 4 days ago at the cafe. Today our supposed route had us crossing Frog Peak at a little over 8,000'; the highest terrain of the trip. Right after starting out we did our first big stream crossing of the trip at Colt Killed Creek which was waist deep. The trail started out nice, enjoying almost a mile without any big trees down. The climb to Hidden Peak Ridge started with a few switch backs and lots of huckleberries and raspberries where we stopped often to snack. Then the burn area started again.<br />
Lisa tried hard to stay positive commenting at how nice the blooms were. The steep burned terrain was covered in wet and slippery grass. It was an older forest so the downed trees were big. The morning turned into a maze walking around trees instead of climbing over them, while trying to keep an eye on the trail that was grown over by vegetation. Our progress was again down to about a half mile per hour. Most of my friends would say that I can have pretty foul language, but this kind of work is surely where curse words were invented. At one point I stood on a log staring ahead at the mess with no end in sight. I was cursing is disbelief when it occurred to me that if I didn't take so many ****ing curse breaks that we may actually be able to cover some miles. Even the notes that Lisa put on the map are full of profanity, such as: "<i>finally a fu**ing trail</i>". Ha ha - it's funny now 4 months later.<br />
Just before our lunch stop on top of Hidden Peak Ridge we started getting into the quickly melting snow. At about 1pm we stopped having made 4 miles in 5 hours. I was excited to be up on higher terrain with the possibility of big views. At lunch the weather still looked good. We dried our feet a bit and changed socks. After lunch we made our way up Hidden Peak Ridge towards the lookout tower, getting into deeper snow.<br />
I was tracking the elevation contours on the map to see how much further we had to ascend compared to how much snow was on the ground. Just short of the lookout tower came the first report of the thunder. Still in a burned area, the downed trees were smaller and easier to get past. The weather was really going bad as we approached Frog Peak and the snow was deep enough to completely obscure the trail. Navigating turned mostly to following tree blazes and I was trying to ignore what the day was turning into, knowing that my attitude was dangerous.<br />
The thunderstorm was dumping snow and the wind was whipping it into bad visibility. We stopped, out of the wind, in a thicket of high altitude spruce bushes, and discussed our options. The trail was obscured by the snow, and if we were to proceed it would only be by reading the terrain, finding the trail again somewhere on the other side of Frog Peak. The map showed the trail crossing the summit then following a narrow ridge down the other side. Even on a beautiful summer day it would've been difficult and dangerous because of the snow cornices left over from the winter before.<br />
The GPS on my wrist told me we'd come 5 miles since lunch, and it was late afternoon. We talked about camping in the spruce thicket, but neither of us liked the idea of a snow camp. Lisa unwrapped a frozen Clif bar for us to share while I looked towards the summit of Frog Peak obscured in the fog. Crossing Frog Peak today simply wasn't going to happen, which made for one option; we were turning around.<br />
The new plan was the only alternative and it would backtrack us to a more protected location, preferably out of the snow. By the time we got back to our lunch spot it was late. Our lunch spot wasn't a campsite, but it would be tonight. About a half mile away was the nearest creek where we collected water in the MSR dromedary. A 14 mile day, and 10 of them were for naught. It would've been easy to be depressed over the wasted time and miles, but we were proud of ourselves for making a safe decision.<br />
Having a record of safe decisions is most of the source of our confidence to set out on trips like this in the first place. There is always risk and nothing is certain, but I believe risk can be managed. For me the reward is a unique experience.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9694a4eMKXXIjFCjuVVTuGMyGwWPllKRG3AKpXMk0hGVcDEVXfi6M8G5ah2BJARhOtUf_3pM5T1C0ej0lsPbHvtKbAaGR0yBrAKaWVz6S2-VJ0ah-hvems3j75UNKrsi9KiyQi8zRsJ8/s1600/IMG_20161112_080211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9694a4eMKXXIjFCjuVVTuGMyGwWPllKRG3AKpXMk0hGVcDEVXfi6M8G5ah2BJARhOtUf_3pM5T1C0ej0lsPbHvtKbAaGR0yBrAKaWVz6S2-VJ0ah-hvems3j75UNKrsi9KiyQi8zRsJ8/s320/IMG_20161112_080211.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">before the new storm; near Hidden Pk lookout</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSQ0A4vcP2_ZB2eORqGSj2sz1lzabsM5NepTdeRbSHk4OvQJWCQehQwpOq7ReB9NUyIkw_httThSiZd2QalfTCgU21cXUBw9RjBvIlQHuc75vBDQnDO9GfCTBIy7ZPRsmKtVr14v2ORg/s1600/20160712_172715.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZSQ0A4vcP2_ZB2eORqGSj2sz1lzabsM5NepTdeRbSHk4OvQJWCQehQwpOq7ReB9NUyIkw_httThSiZd2QalfTCgU21cXUBw9RjBvIlQHuc75vBDQnDO9GfCTBIy7ZPRsmKtVr14v2ORg/s320/20160712_172715.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">wilderness as far as you can see</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iADsbVBYucA/V6cYoraouJI/AAAAAAAAIG0/BsnP_pj9YtQtSDCt-qYsWAdizPuAaSGYQCPcB/s320/20160712_172739.jpg" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frog Peak: before the storm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHRIyhXS5Os/V6cYojEKBcI/AAAAAAAAIG0/YCPxx1vDfYQ1q2KIWTeKUQaYH41iIoaFwCPcB/s1600/20160713_094408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHRIyhXS5Os/V6cYojEKBcI/AAAAAAAAIG0/YCPxx1vDfYQ1q2KIWTeKUQaYH41iIoaFwCPcB/s320/20160713_094408.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 4: Hidden Peak Ridge</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 5:</h2>
Since we backtracked off of Frog Peak the only alternative was to go the other way off of Hidden Peak Ridge, working into Big Sand Creek. This change in the route wouldn't end up being that many extra miles other than the backtracked miles from yesterday. Again the morning was lovely. Frog Peak sat there in the eastern sky taunting us with another try today, but we would not. The trail was nice walking with a big sunny view of Hidden Lake, to the south, as we worked toward Big Sand Creek. The blowdowns got bad in the drainage bottoms and in the last few miles of Tr10 before we reached Big Sand Creek, but for the first time in 5 days our feet were dry, which was a real boost of the spirit. Near the junction with Tr22 we saw a black bear and cub. It was one of the funniest bear encounters I've seen. The mom saw us and the first thing that occurred to her was to turn and run like hell. The cub saw the mom run away and hauled ass up a tree. Then the mom stopped so fast she about went ass-over-tea-kettle, and was like: "wait, I can't leave my cub!" So she ran back down the hill towards the cub, incidentally, closer to us. We stopped laughing and got outta there. I don't think either one had ever seen humans. <br />
Big Sand Creek was nice walking. Lots of blowdowns, but most of them weren't very big. It looked like a great place to see a moose, but we didn't. Happy in spirit, and it was a fantastic day in the woods. The plan was to turn south on Tr627, but we set our sights on Big Sand Lake for camp, about a mile past the 627 turnoff. Feeling stronger, we stepped out the miles through the stillness of the afternoon.<br />
When Tr4 came in from Elk Summit we saw the first foot prints since day one at Big Creek Lake. This was a weird phenomena. After seeing foot prints we felt a lot better about things for some reason. Sort of a kinship through hardship thing I guess.<br />
The camp at the mouth of Big Sand Lake was one of the prettiest yet, in the tall unburned trees, a refreshing sight to see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn7ql3hYpoU/V6cYov4OPCI/AAAAAAAAIG0/Ovv3VC8RhjQFMB8wkNc2yVhS862RdYnVACPcB/s1600/20160713_103928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kn7ql3hYpoU/V6cYov4OPCI/AAAAAAAAIG0/Ovv3VC8RhjQFMB8wkNc2yVhS862RdYnVACPcB/s320/20160713_103928.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking SE from Tr10</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmB7jXUsWVM/V6cYosHU3XI/AAAAAAAAIG0/iXqKeYST9Q86AMAta6xqrNy5Ec-mO-KCACPcB/s1600/20160713_103841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmB7jXUsWVM/V6cYosHU3XI/AAAAAAAAIG0/iXqKeYST9Q86AMAta6xqrNy5Ec-mO-KCACPcB/s320/20160713_103841.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking SW towards Hidden Lake from Tr10</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tr10 near Big Sand Creek jct.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Sand Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BRFM6ppKonKSgu_1IbWc1EHi3jqnKE5WYjoOV6KI8QFORb6nblitsM5HCC3Gc3e72iEkts7wacPHM18opwa0lUpK7bc6L7P2Eob9djKtZGnW_rmKECkHVJ0duXyRceCplMkzo0Uze7M/s1600/20160713_165837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9BRFM6ppKonKSgu_1IbWc1EHi3jqnKE5WYjoOV6KI8QFORb6nblitsM5HCC3Gc3e72iEkts7wacPHM18opwa0lUpK7bc6L7P2Eob9djKtZGnW_rmKECkHVJ0duXyRceCplMkzo0Uze7M/s320/20160713_165837.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blow downs in Big Sand Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Sand Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 5: Big Sand Lake</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 6:</h2>
We began by backtracking a mile from Big Sand Lake to pick up Tr627 that would take us into Moose Creek. About a half a mile from camp we ran into a group of hikers. It was Dan Browder and friends from Hamilton. They were on the last full day of a 9 day trip that started at Corn Creek on the Salmon River. We chatted with them for probably half an hour. They asked us about our trip and vice versa. They saw the trail crew, that Brad mentioned, working in Moose Creek and we were really interested in getting an update on them. The MCC trail crew worked down from Elk Summit into Moose Creek then down stream from there. By now we knew our original plan, to come out on the Lochsa at Wilderness Gateway Trailhead, wasn't going to work. Dan offered to call Lisa's mom and give her an update on our progress, letting her know our plan was changed. Just in case we couldn't use the phone at Moose Creek R.S. we had to get word out that we planned to exit at Race Creek on the Selway River. Just after parting company we ran into another group of guys at the 627 jct. that we just said hello to in passing. Jeez, grand central station all of a sudden! A crossing at Big Sand Creek began our ascent of Jeanette Mountain. The trail was steep and again relatively free of deadfall so we were able to make good time. Near the top was a marshy area where some big biting flies were going crazy. The flies made us delay lunch until the other side of the pass where we found a spot with a big view towards Blodgett Mtn, several miles east. We guessed Dan and crew were probably up on Blodgett Pass about now.<br />
Going down super steep switchbacks into Dead Elk Creek we were glad there wasn't any deadfall which would've made for tough going, because the terrain was so steep. As it was we made good progress. In one place there were so many huckleberries that we dropped packs for a bit to pick some, planning on adding them to oatmeal the next morning. It only took about 20 minutes to fill a nalgene. <br />
In the bottom of Dead Elk Ck. and for the first mile or so in Moose Creek the trail was easy going. Thinking we were golden, the burn area started again. Moose Creek was getting narrow, and steep, with big cliffs on either side. In a few places the map showed the trail going high into the rocks to go around waterfalls and such. I watched the GPS closely, but didn't want to miss one of these trail diversions, especially in the waning daylight. The berries were a big distraction because they were everywhere in the burned area. Again, we stopped often to snack, but knew we needed to find a camp before dark. We ended up having to scratch out a place to camp along Moose Creek. It looked awful on first glace, but ended up being pretty nice. Again, I was too tired to fish, or just didn't give a damn. We'd been eating so many berries that neither of us were very hungry so we made a partial dinner by headlamp. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5l2Z5bmcccI/V6cYolzBrcI/AAAAAAAAIG0/cZhRcTTpbZ0atVCZI3fW8lzi58PYzuFsgCPcB/s1600/20160714_132037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5l2Z5bmcccI/V6cYolzBrcI/AAAAAAAAIG0/cZhRcTTpbZ0atVCZI3fW8lzi58PYzuFsgCPcB/s320/20160714_132037.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tr627 looking east into the head of Dead Elk Ck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsG_O3mloVK3Mz9E9bGfUieBk0Wp2-o9CofhRzQ9qqlpDv_zooeJgSXyxVGXbp5ANBgKdlPJ2WYBUcJn4QUArKI9-YiBVIrxyQvmggcoCMWEzRuttUddnKqZXfCB32WP8LTLyABWmJOk/s1600/20160714_132055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsG_O3mloVK3Mz9E9bGfUieBk0Wp2-o9CofhRzQ9qqlpDv_zooeJgSXyxVGXbp5ANBgKdlPJ2WYBUcJn4QUArKI9-YiBVIrxyQvmggcoCMWEzRuttUddnKqZXfCB32WP8LTLyABWmJOk/s320/20160714_132055.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch on Tr627</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the long awaited Moose Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hucks and a little oatmeal</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 6: Upper Moose Creek</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 7:</h2>
Day 7; a week in the woods. We celebrated by eating nearly 20 ounces of huckleberries in a cup of oatmeal. The breakfast gruel was funny looking, and purple, but super good. A week of Starbucks singles were starting to suck, but I was still glad to have them. High on huckleberry sugar we had no problem finding the trail diversion that went high above the canyon floor. We were glad we camped where we did. After the trail let us back down on the canyon bottom we got into the most amazing cedar grove I've ever seen. The place demanded reverence. We didn't hike, but strolled through, the way you would walk through a museum. Taking our time, glad it hadn't burned, we wondered if the Forest Service had protected it from burning, the way they would somebody's personal property. I sure hope so! We found a lunch spot and sat against a massive old cedar tree eating quietly. Lisa finally said "<i>it feels like were inside of a stately old art gallery</i>". After lunch we continued about a half mile to the Tr486 Elk Summit jct.<br />
At the junction was evidence of a freshly cut tree; the work of the MCC trail crew. For days we'd talked of getting to this point. I could've cried when Lisa hugged the Tr486 sign after struggling through 56 miles of deadfall in the trail. I'll never look at a tree across the trail the same again. We moved along at 3 or 4 miles an hour, through the awe inspiring cedar grove, that continued for miles. A couple miles later we came to where the trail crew was working, thanking them again and again. They said it was nothing and seemed surprised to see backpackers. I returned the handle to a crosscut saw that I picked up in the trail a mile back. We set our sights on a camp near Elbow Bend hoping to get there early enough for a bath, and some sunnin.<br />
I even had time for another pathetic attempt at fishing, knee deep in the cool mountain water, when I was overcome by a timeless question. I thought of the afternoon in the warm sun and our two day descent from mountain ridges. I looked at the water at my feet and wondered at our common journey. Had we traveled together from that cold afternoon high on Frog Peak? Finally, Lisa asked me what I was doing, snapping me out of the trance. Looking into the shining water I asked her what she thought about the same questions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3Idea-ff_8/V6cYome37uI/AAAAAAAAIG0/8Q1Tfgbbu7gxLansFFr2tmsqL8n_8PJ4ACPcB/s1600/20160715_133909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3Idea-ff_8/V6cYome37uI/AAAAAAAAIG0/8Q1Tfgbbu7gxLansFFr2tmsqL8n_8PJ4ACPcB/s400/20160715_133909.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">happy to see the 486</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OiVC80xR9wQ/V6cYoqVBeJI/AAAAAAAAIG0/UBC4oZC6z-k3DkkrhjKZl6Co29YARGXfACPcB/s1600/20160715_134136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OiVC80xR9wQ/V6cYoqVBeJI/AAAAAAAAIG0/UBC4oZC6z-k3DkkrhjKZl6Co29YARGXfACPcB/s320/20160715_134136.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trail crew!!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">reverence</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2ynVGzTRIqvN8IicDbBLcdU2kN217j3_BQyE2h0w8yG8h8hhflfN8kkThYp0IBa_l1-k1CfL8qycBbcwJgmtfHys6jzK9Ni7gM1n1Zy1zhDEwXIcw5j-e44HCa-UCiE3KY1NDqCR5Rc/s1600/20160715_162256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2ynVGzTRIqvN8IicDbBLcdU2kN217j3_BQyE2h0w8yG8h8hhflfN8kkThYp0IBa_l1-k1CfL8qycBbcwJgmtfHys6jzK9Ni7gM1n1Zy1zhDEwXIcw5j-e44HCa-UCiE3KY1NDqCR5Rc/s320/20160715_162256.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Day 8:</h2>
We left Elbow Bend bent on making it to Moose Creek Ranger Station. The 16 miles came so easy that we were there by mid afternoon. A few miles from the ranger station we met a retired Forest Service engineer and his wife that had flown in to do some airplane camping.<br />
At Moose Creek Ranger Station we looked around at all the historic sites, and Lisa said hello to the horses and mules. We found a note to Anna, welcoming her home. We found out later that Anna was the Wilderness Ranger on her way in from Elk Summit Trailhead 25 miles away. The care taker, Val and her kids were at the beach for some swimming. Just as we headed down the airstrip to leave the ranger station behind we saw Val coming up from the river. We met her at the office and she let Lisa use the satellite phone to call her mom in Spokane to confirm the new pickup location. She also gave us a weather report saying it was going to be a hot hike out along the Selway. With Frog Peak still in recent memory, hot sounded fine to us.<br />
Again, we were almost to leave then Anna showed up so we dropped packs again to talk to her. We told her about our route and were surprised to hear that Colt Killed Creek had been cleared the previous year. There's no way the Forest Service could ever keep up with all the blowdowns. I was really glad to see a wilderness ranger out on the land. Anna was super friendly spending lots of time talking to us, when she surely just wanted to take off her boots and have some dinner after a 25 mile day. Thanks Anna, your a wonderful example of a wilderness ranger! <br />
Moose Creek was a bit of a low point for me because it is where the original route died for good. It was only a quick two days to get out to Race Creek along the river, from here. I still wanted for my original route to work especially the country that would put us near the Selway Crags. The route would've had us going Northwest from Moose Creek, across many more miles, likely strewn with fallen timber. As much as I wanted for it to work the thought was unbearable, and we didn't have the time left. Walking across the bridge at the mouth of Moose Creek we turned left, instead of right, and that was it. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqpIxDBwK-3qaazlBqpIXYCDTUtyjINPH7VR-zLallgLkYzEF4GwRSbgcDwyZ8T9fgr61wLqMq7STTYBlZ75bbuxlUT41DoNymFncOLgtFSO-PB4DHEXdL3f5wMGu7F8R8gAZW5tAFkE/s1600/20160716_152339.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiqpIxDBwK-3qaazlBqpIXYCDTUtyjINPH7VR-zLallgLkYzEF4GwRSbgcDwyZ8T9fgr61wLqMq7STTYBlZ75bbuxlUT41DoNymFncOLgtFSO-PB4DHEXdL3f5wMGu7F8R8gAZW5tAFkE/s320/20160716_152339.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">approaching Moose Ck R.S.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqSRljT8e-U/V6cYovPkuwI/AAAAAAAAIG0/7MFfsTFrsxsSlua65ciSypnhYU6MIH_iQCPcB/s1600/20160716_153349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqSRljT8e-U/V6cYovPkuwI/AAAAAAAAIG0/7MFfsTFrsxsSlua65ciSypnhYU6MIH_iQCPcB/s320/20160716_153349.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...the miles</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMXk8ZVyh38/V6cYokIkaDI/AAAAAAAAIG0/9DWZdDtny805RshusKoUdn_HJr8FtXKDgCPcB/s1600/20160716_175109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JMXk8ZVyh38/V6cYokIkaDI/AAAAAAAAIG0/9DWZdDtny805RshusKoUdn_HJr8FtXKDgCPcB/s320/20160716_175109.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Historic Moose Ck Ranger Station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtfA46NyKSm-QCMth4XA6xH5N-JBDC9jt_Kd1JyZxBfDDqHhvSJCRQMddk8DXDoBl5lvb-9sGVe8drMEQM3t1wK2mX1BfPxbr7xRenOhSA7kVhL4mltFo1Ala7-tamDcp69ba5dgmHzc/s1600/20160716_175258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJtfA46NyKSm-QCMth4XA6xH5N-JBDC9jt_Kd1JyZxBfDDqHhvSJCRQMddk8DXDoBl5lvb-9sGVe8drMEQM3t1wK2mX1BfPxbr7xRenOhSA7kVhL4mltFo1Ala7-tamDcp69ba5dgmHzc/s320/20160716_175258.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herman the Forest Service mule</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XCRebab8D8/V6cYop4XCSI/AAAAAAAAIG0/2MVh2-MZIfgVPJTv5NNRUnWqgtybGpjqgCPcB/s1600/20160716_191532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XCRebab8D8/V6cYop4XCSI/AAAAAAAAIG0/2MVh2-MZIfgVPJTv5NNRUnWqgtybGpjqgCPcB/s320/20160716_191532.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moose Creek airstrip</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMOiYYHK0kycOegTpJAQx-RGqOUATaMqiHRwulaPuKKaKuhnmJEX2KzcUBriDlBK__Etn8Zl51lHEfLz4mAP6DBZUhISe1-qwMf92uO1zFi_s0CD0-nMxZBqIc3y0mH7ZqlJhgQSxIuk/s1600/20160716_193706.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMOiYYHK0kycOegTpJAQx-RGqOUATaMqiHRwulaPuKKaKuhnmJEX2KzcUBriDlBK__Etn8Zl51lHEfLz4mAP6DBZUhISe1-qwMf92uO1zFi_s0CD0-nMxZBqIc3y0mH7ZqlJhgQSxIuk/s320/20160716_193706.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the turning point</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7PXH8LUavQ/V6cYokpBcyI/AAAAAAAAIG0/L-_1XBYROsUI_jq1Z6wCyf6v1vULMeLJQCPcB/s1600/20160716_192923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r7PXH8LUavQ/V6cYokpBcyI/AAAAAAAAIG0/L-_1XBYROsUI_jq1Z6wCyf6v1vULMeLJQCPcB/s320/20160716_192923.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first view of The Selway</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RygrK27fPUg/V6cYotbcU1I/AAAAAAAAIG0/xyleHjhnM80PZQRVSwMd7pbDX407DwcvQCPcB/s1600/20160717_070647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RygrK27fPUg/V6cYotbcU1I/AAAAAAAAIG0/xyleHjhnM80PZQRVSwMd7pbDX407DwcvQCPcB/s400/20160717_070647.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 8: on the Selway</td></tr>
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<h2>
Day 9:</h2>
We woke up early and got going just in case it was super hot like the Moose Creek Ranger said. The trail was like a freeway and the miles came easy. I stopped often to look at, and photo the rapids. Even though it was super low water I wondered at how people float this creek in an oar rig. It ended up being pretty hot, but not terrible. We found the camp that Anna recommended and set things up. Neither of us slept good the night before on the rocks along the river so we took an afternoon nap. I did some fishing continuing my bad luck spree. (notice, no pics of fish!) I put our sleeping pads into the boulders along the river to make a place to sit. We cooked 2 dinners then groaned because we ate too much. Sitting in the rocks, we watched the Wild Selway River flowing west, into and through the golden light of our final day. We talked about how nice it would feel to sit in the truck, and of the cold northwest beer that Lisa's mom would have.<br />
Camp 9 is the only camp where I forgot to take pics. <br />
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<h2>
Day 10:</h2>
We got going early again moving strong and lithe, not like the sluggish way we started at Big Creek. The day got hot, super hot actually! The Selway River trail along the north bank gets the south facing sun all day making everything pretty dry and dusty. We were surprised to see no rattlesnakes, as we were warned. Despite the dry exposed country there were lots of streams coming in providing water whenever we wanted it, continuing the trend of the entire trip.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-of4jsnYJx1w/V6cYov3kn-I/AAAAAAAAIG0/6pyEXhYpj3IzLVOW5J9on_tLboT9SiI_wCPcB/s1600/20160718_095712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-of4jsnYJx1w/V6cYov3kn-I/AAAAAAAAIG0/6pyEXhYpj3IzLVOW5J9on_tLboT9SiI_wCPcB/s640/20160718_095712.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Selway - wild and wonderful</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">glad I'm not boating!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 10: The Selway Bitterroot - Crossed</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 10: with the parents</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hank working on ice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">thanks mommy!</td></tr>
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<br />
As we approached the wilderness boundary I
told myself not to let the moment be soured with the failure of the
original plan. I checked the GPS, and pushed it up past the blister that had formed on my wrist and almost walked right past the sign without seeing it.
Although it was just a sign, bolted to a cedar tree, it indicated
that we had indeed walked across the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. A
bit later we stopped and stared at a wooden kiosk next to some cars, the endeavor completed.
I looked at the GPS that had just clicked off the 112th mile. Lisa and I had a long hug, and thanked each other. I sarcastically
suggested next time we find a nice trail to walk on, maybe one of the
trails in a magazine, with nice signs, and some people too??? She responded; <i>"no... let's not!"</i><br />
Lisa
grabbed a trail register card out of the kiosk and we sat in the dirt
next to a boulder to wait for Kay and Hank to pick us up. There was a
big camper with a generator running and what sounded like a TV going
inside. The gentleman asked us from where we came. I told him Victor,
Montana, but I think he thought we drove as he went back inside. Lisa
doodled a cartoon on our trail register card of a fat bear leaning
against a tree, eating doritos, and drinking a beer....the only thing on
my mind.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Credits:</h2>
Dedicated to my best friend Lisa, always at your
strongest when it matters the most. I've written about most of it, what
remains shall be ours to cherish.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Kay and
Hank for picking us up at the end. Thanks for all the treats at camp 10,
like beer, doritos, red wine, nice food, and coffee. Most of all,
thanks for the ride back to our car at Big Creek! We love camping with
you guys.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Lindsey for loaning us the SPOT device and following.<br />
<br />
Thanks
to Jim and Dave for following us on the SPOT device. If we had
disappeared there is nobody that I'd trust more highly than you guys to
come looking for us.<br />
<br />
Thanks to Daniel Browder for
relaying word over the mountains from deep in Big Sand Creek. Also
thanks for meeting us for beers, on short notice, and reminiscing, in
Hamilton at Bitterroot Brewery. <br />
<br />
Thanks to Montana Conservation Corps and trail crews unseen. Never again will I look at a tree in trail the same.
Thank you!<br />
<br />
Thanks to Brad Bence, Anna, and Val for letting us
use the satellite phone at Moose Creek and for your service,
dedication, and passion for public lands. As I'm sure your aware you
have a priceless treasure in the expanse of The Selway
Bitterroot.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Gear:</h2>
Water<br />
We carried a rechargeable steri-pen ultra-violet light water purifier. Using the steri-pen many times a day I never had to carry more than two quarts of water at a time.<br />
<br />
Camera:<br />
Samsung S5 for photos and for taking notes. S5 was soaked all day on the second day and was fine. <br />
<br />
Recharging device: <br />
lithium-polymer recharging battery pack <br />
<br />
Tent:<br />
REI 3 person quarter dome T3 Plus, now extinct.<br />
<br />
Lisa:<br />
Boots: Asolo<br />
pack: Osprey 85<br />
rain gear: patagonia<br />
pants: prana<br />
sleeping: big agnes/thermarest<br />
<br />
Mick:<br />
boots: La Sportiva<br />
rain gear : Arc Teryx<br />
Pack: Mystery Ranch Terraplane plus wet rib<br />
Pants: Prana - awesome burly pants <br />
shirts: patagonia long under wear<br />
sleeping: big agnes/thermarest<br />
<br />
food (mix/match):<br />
dried pears, plums, peaches, at home<br />
dried kale, mushrooms, broccoli, peppers at home<br />
mixed nuts<br />
jerky <br />
quinoa<br />
rice<br />
macaroni <br />
dried chicken and turkey from amazon<br />
dried eggs and bacon from amazon<br />
cheese in 8 oz packages - one per three days<br />
starbuck coffee singles<br />
cocoa powder<br />
limeade dry gatorade mix<br />
jolly ranchers<br />
m&m's<br />
clif bars<br />
<br />
From Winco bulk:<br />
cheese powder<br />
powder milk<br />
pea soup mix<br />
vegi chili mix<br />
curried lentils <br />
wasabi peas<br />
instant potatoes<br />
oatmeal<br />
<br />
Stove/pots:<br />
MSR pocket rocket/stainless<br />
<br />
<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-1084898481730012962016-05-29T18:15:00.000-06:002016-05-29T18:15:18.177-06:00Grand Gulch...finallyOur friends would ask us: <i>"where you going this time?"</i> I was embarrassed to say that were going to Grand Gulch for the first time ever. Can't believe we've both been in Utah for 15 years and had never been.<br />
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>We originally planned to do an out and back, 5 day trip from Bullet Canyon Trailhead. Once we started down Bullet we were thinking about going out at Kane Gulch so we'd see the whole Grand Gulch/Bullet Canyon loop.<br />
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<h3>
Day 1:</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lisa and I rolled out of Salt Lake City at precisely the most obscene hour of the day. Driving the Subaru this time cause the blazer has a throw-out bearing about to die. The Subaru is good for covering a lot of road, fast. Something the '77 doesn't do so well. We made it to Kane Gulch Ranger Station within an hour of the 12 noon cut-off time to pickup our backcountry permit and watch the backcountry ethic video. The video was produced by the same Kelly Rigby at the State Office that I took down the river a couple years ago when he and Chad produced the video for Deso.</div>
<div>
We parked at Bullet TH and got going right away. It didn't take long and Lisa spotted a big stacked wall on the rim of the canyon, setting the tone for the rest of the trip. Pretty much every time we looked up we saw something! Unbelievable archaeology from start to finish. Within a couple hours we came to the first "popular" ruin on the map; Perfect Kiva, the only ruin that allows people to enter. Perfect Kiva has been "hardened" as is evidenced by the sheet of plywood, for the roof, edges sticking out of the dirt.</div>
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<div>
I'd have hated to haul an entire sheet of plywood all the way down Bullet. On Deso we freak out if we see corn cobs or pot sherds. Here they're everywhere! We had to step slow and careful to avoid stepping on them. It was surprising that the BLM allows people to enter the sites at all. It'll be interesting to see how/if the management changes when the whole thing is declared a National Monument. Seems that it needs some kind of protection cause people are idiots and won't follow directions. In nearly every ruin there were signs that asked people not to enter the rooms, yet the foot prints of hikers were inside. So, later when your looking at the sites from considerable distance we have the dumb shits to thank!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice grass in Bullet Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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We didn't climb up to Jailhouse Ruin, and kind of wished we would have later. The trail sort of turned into a maze in the Jailhouse area. Lots of campsites, and the spring make it a popular area, I guess. The campsites were nice, but it was early and we weren't desperate enough yet to try making the spring work. Shitty water, but water is water if your in a pinch. We weren't in that big of a pinch...yet. We went on to the mouth of Bullet passing ruin after ruin along the way. Again, the camps were nice at the mouth, but the water source was pathetic. By now it was 5pm and we were ready to be done for the day. The spring was worse than Jailhouse and smelled of cow even though there were no cows in Bullet. There was no way! Back to our packs we went, boots back on, Sheiks Canyon spring in our sights.<br />
It's funny, but if you've ever been truly thirsty, water will rule your entire existence. I'm pretty picky about water. Depending on where we are, we carry three forms of water treatment with us when we go. A pump (that also removes taste), chlorine, and an ultra violet Steri-pen. As far as I'm concerned, my entire trip will be geared around water and I will obsess over it, here's why; I've only been out of water once in my life. During my season in the Escalante I ran out of water on Fifty-mile Mountain, a spring I was counting on was dry. I went from 4pm to 2pm the next day without water. The experience scared me senseless, and made me take water seriously. I see people in the backcountry with water bottles from the 7-11 and suspect they've never been without.<br />
Before we left the mouth of Bullet we decided to hike out the top of Kane Gulch as we didn't want to miss the ruins further up canyon. The rangers at Kane Gulch Ranger Station commented that it was the wettest year in 15 years, which explained the jungle of weeds in Grand Gulch. On our way to Sheiks the progress got painfully slow; less than a mile an hour. The trail went through tamarisk jungle and climbed in and out of an incised stream bed sometimes 15 feet deep. Yet still, almost every time we looked up, there were more ruins hanging impossibly on the wall like birds. About 7pm we got to Sheiks Canyon and found a small campsite on a sage bench with a great view. We dropped packs and got out water gear to go find the spring. On the way up Sheiks we discovered the Green Mask Ruin, not knowing it was there. I was glad we didn't do much pre-trip, ruin location research. It was a joy to stumble upon the ruins, breathless, an entire field of vision filled with wonder. We had several firsts on this trip, and two were at this site. 1)The Green Mask is the only time I've ever seen the color green used in a pictograph. 2)The mud spirals are the only time I've ever seen this type of archaeology.<br />
The spring in Sheiks was perfect so we loaded up and hauled the water back to camp. Lisa treated the water while I started the stove and made us curried chicken with lentils for dinner. Glad that we held out for better water, we had a wee nip of whiskey, and watched the last of the sun on the rocks high above, on our first night in Grand Gulch. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Jailhouse Ruin</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncuR9LHYXWON4FDuvoMBwlDt5rLPiRluwtPh-UKTlv4T2Q5qJxTW7HSuE9J4zkO-Mw-mVtC4-kd-B6or8BLu2v9utNvVAANtQ3yXMQJwZ9hZRI_uHEecV7P9fDPelKgf8yJVJQY-OfYk/s1600/20160526_095035+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncuR9LHYXWON4FDuvoMBwlDt5rLPiRluwtPh-UKTlv4T2Q5qJxTW7HSuE9J4zkO-Mw-mVtC4-kd-B6or8BLu2v9utNvVAANtQ3yXMQJwZ9hZRI_uHEecV7P9fDPelKgf8yJVJQY-OfYk/s320/20160526_095035+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Spirals: a first</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sheiks?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green Mask</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 1</td></tr>
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<h3>
Day 2:</h3>
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We planned a more chill day, but the miles still clicked off with delay. Alas, we had 5 days provisions for what was supposed to be a 3 day trip. Somehow it took us 6 hours to cover 7 miles! We set our goal as Todie Canyon. Later, we learned the canyon was nick named "to die" because of the brutally steep trail that climbs out the top. After leaving Todie we entered a section where the trail follows the bottom of the stream bed, walled in by more 8 foot tall weeds, surely with ruins out of sight as we passed by. I thought Perfect Kiva was amazing, but Split Level Ruin may have been my favorite. The midden pile alone was staggering!</div>
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Once we got within day hiker range of Kane Gulch Trailhead the trail improved dramatically. Todie was another nice campsite in the cottonwoods with a nice water source a little bit up Todie Canyon.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">weeds...damn weeds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRIWOMEPG-CsHfzTU9XBBTtYioK7M5xda0QNs_gDhoxxKlhgIOSSCB30o0EpxpUmLSk0hORurkFthCj4HXQY7-o14988rnS_4y2WOfVCtetOZqySPa2w0FKBImbnbW9E5uHhU4xNNTPk/s1600/20160526_135438+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqRIWOMEPG-CsHfzTU9XBBTtYioK7M5xda0QNs_gDhoxxKlhgIOSSCB30o0EpxpUmLSk0hORurkFthCj4HXQY7-o14988rnS_4y2WOfVCtetOZqySPa2w0FKBImbnbW9E5uHhU4xNNTPk/s320/20160526_135438+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Split Level Ruin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 2 - Todie Canyon</td></tr>
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<h3>
Day 3:</h3>
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May 27th, today, was Lisa's birthday and much of the reason we were in Grand Gulch. Today would be our most chill day with only 3 1/2 miles to go to our goal at Junction Ruin. Before setting out we would leave our packs at camp and hike up on to a ledge above camp where I thought I spied some petroglyphs the night before. </div>
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This petroglyph panel was very interesting because it had some figures that looked like the Fremont style from up north. There was a bighorn sheep with oversized rectangular body and smaller head and legs. Also present were a few horned anthropromorphs. Both of which are distinct Fremont style in Deso. The re-patinated figures indicate that they were quite old.<br />
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We took a long birthday lunch stop under Stimper Arch in the shade of a young cottonwood tree.</div>
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Later in the day, another bug free, beautiful day in southern Utah we arrived at Turkey Pen Ruin. Each ruin we saw continued to best the one before. I'd definitely recommend going in Bullet for this reason.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XHlo2xT-8xptfG2DHGfvKE9YYGI2P3bKTmsEpPmWnenRfHl18wooQ47QN6tnuap0_47ya0TawW5DnFNtzUHLLBbMDHWavQsMze203trpnLFTxA8UkSxMEmVcuJAFETTcWaS_nPrXV2E/s1600/20160527_125918+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9XHlo2xT-8xptfG2DHGfvKE9YYGI2P3bKTmsEpPmWnenRfHl18wooQ47QN6tnuap0_47ya0TawW5DnFNtzUHLLBbMDHWavQsMze203trpnLFTxA8UkSxMEmVcuJAFETTcWaS_nPrXV2E/s400/20160527_125918+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge Turkey Pen Alcove! (Lisa in lower right)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie00EFVQvZ8qBhPZ6XTxyZnoiOkFrnbrn9c19qZ66lZnyumiNSLOcs8-WCzdZRsVhsaLkV3eY59IObdTrhzcdIhXfXVlPSQ4nE0eJpgwsPJSIzSYqFRsxmP_MBj6LmsCBNkKx2Yz4_2u4/s1600/20160527_130538+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie00EFVQvZ8qBhPZ6XTxyZnoiOkFrnbrn9c19qZ66lZnyumiNSLOcs8-WCzdZRsVhsaLkV3eY59IObdTrhzcdIhXfXVlPSQ4nE0eJpgwsPJSIzSYqFRsxmP_MBj6LmsCBNkKx2Yz4_2u4/s400/20160527_130538+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Turkey Pen</td></tr>
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As we continued up canyon we saw more and more hikers along the easy trail to the junction with Kane Gulch. Two or three other groups we talked to mentioned what a great campsite there was at Junction. When we arrived there was nobody else around so we dropped our packs, claiming the prize. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03wTmSVNHtrKENyxNKlrs-pWCINyKyqnrgWP1HWKHV6Uh_MWnveY3Fwn9aFCCToUQybT4wBt5tXnJOzcK7cnp1W4wwMrDePZoU2N2jcUw17LJH2TnmWBHknCzD7z9QOW_w2oXmw7qkKI/s1600/20160527_185824+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03wTmSVNHtrKENyxNKlrs-pWCINyKyqnrgWP1HWKHV6Uh_MWnveY3Fwn9aFCCToUQybT4wBt5tXnJOzcK7cnp1W4wwMrDePZoU2N2jcUw17LJH2TnmWBHknCzD7z9QOW_w2oXmw7qkKI/s320/20160527_185824+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 3 - birthday wine and chocolate</td></tr>
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<h3>
Day 4:</h3>
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Today we would go out of the canyon. We got up early, made a pot of cowboy coffee, and took a short walk up to where we could see the cliff houses, over the trees. The morning sun slowly illuminated the wall. We had the whole canyon to ourselves. We noticed the remains of a ladder hanging from the ledge astonished that it could last so long, even a few rungs survived. How did they have the nerve to ascend and descend from there every day on such a rickety ladder? A few hours from the end of the trip there was so much I didn't know! The cliff dwellings high on the wall convinced me that I didn't need to know everything about these people to have complete respect for their nerve and skill. They had balls like I couldn't imagine. They had craftsmanship to build a ladder that would dangle from a precipice for a thousand years! We walked back to camp to make breakfast and get on our way.<br />
On the way out we saw hoards of people coming in. The holiday weekend had started just as we were leaving. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfityhZXiPKujEl0-nDgUxzuIQ7F4vZE_fBbFD2RaE4hNlvc1cxtADqV77b_87dJXQ6dCnmgTACbvab1GAJwZtaY9t0E3ohJQsD0pjjGul7GUHscsVShCzzA1RUbDPeWYYZubsgAuhFqw/s1600/20160528_071043+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfityhZXiPKujEl0-nDgUxzuIQ7F4vZE_fBbFD2RaE4hNlvc1cxtADqV77b_87dJXQ6dCnmgTACbvab1GAJwZtaY9t0E3ohJQsD0pjjGul7GUHscsVShCzzA1RUbDPeWYYZubsgAuhFqw/s400/20160528_071043+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the cliff dwellers</td></tr>
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Part of agreeing to a mystery shuttle is accepting both extremes of what's possible. We didn't know how we'd get back to the car, but we knew the greater extreme would guarantee us an 8 mile walk along the highway with the iconic Cedar Mesa formation called the Bears Ears always at our back.<br />
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We walked....for 8 more miles.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the mystery shuttle... not working out</td></tr>
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-64848940996096672672016-04-28T16:50:00.000-06:002016-05-25T04:49:33.264-06:00solo on the John Day RiverI have a friend that's 70 years old. He's been a boater all his life and has untold experience, but has never done a solo trip. Recently he asked me; <i>"what possessed you to go on the river for 9 days by yourself?"</i><br />
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I couldn't help, but smile and ignore the question, not because I was trying to be a smart-ass, but because I didn't have an answer. I know because I've asked myself this very thing at some point on nearly every solo trip I've done.<br />
I've wanted to float the John Day for as long as I can remember. This spring the stars aligned for it to happen; good flow, weather in the 80's, and time off from work. I loaded my little Catboat, and two weeks of supplies into the '77 then rolled for the Blue Mountains in Eastern Oregon to begin the trip near the tiny town of Dale on the North Fork of the John Day.<br />
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Dale to Monument: </h3>
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I contacted Donna's Shuttle Service in Fossil, Oregon to do my shuttle. She said that people sometimes put-in about 2 1/2 miles upstream of Hwy 395 bridge along a dirt road. I drove up there and was a bit un-nerved at the look of things. The further up canyon I drove the more technical the water became. It wasn't that bad, but there were lines that would need an "A" game at the oars of a boat overloaded with two weeks of supplies. I decided to bail on the plan to launch where Donna and I agreed that my rig would be left, hoping for the best.<br />
The other option that I'd researched online, as a launch point, was at a place called Tollgate Campground, just upstream of the 395 bridge. I really wanted this one to work, but I saw no place to launch here. To this day, I have no idea what anyone is talking about in regards to a launch point at Tollgate. I ended up driving down the highway towards Camas Creek and found a place across the river on forest road 3963 . This one was about 2 1/2 miles down river of the 395 bridge and worked out fine. I was able to leave my truck in a clearing along the highway by the 3963 bridge where I was pretty sure that Donna would come looking for it.<br />
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It was beautiful and in the mid 80's. The water was about as cold as you'd expect snow melt to be, but I had a good time rigging the boat. I got everything rigged including a self rescue kit that would be accessible when the boat was upside down, should I flip. I parked the '77 across the bridge in clear view of the highway with a decent tip and a note of apology under the floor mat. I pushed off and started to adjust to the speed of the water, ducking my head to pass under the first bridge before mile 1 of what would be a 211 mile trip.</div>
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The North Fork reminded me of the park-like setting of the Grande Ronde. The warm spring season made the hills vibrant with green grass and yellow blooms of the Arrowleaf Balsamroot. I was happy to be in my home dirt. The look and the smell of things was why I was out there and I was happy about it even though I couldn't explain it to anyone, including myself.</div>
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I printed off the pages out of my copy of Soggy Sneakers and had them with me. I followed along with my GPS running to keep track of the upcoming rapids of note. Most of the advice in SS was either out of date or complete bullshit, sometimes both, cool title though.<br />
Rapids named Grandstand and Zipper in the Soggy Sneakers book were the biggest deal in my opinion. The rest were not really noticeable. Grandstand had a pretty aggressive eddy fence at the bottom. Zipper had the same, but also had a big hole at top center. Easy enough to read and run. <br />
On a future trip I would be sure to camp below the confluence with the Middle Fork, on left, and hike the high ridge to the over view. I would also like to float the upper river. I'd probably have a couple vehicles, one to take up stream, and one to leave the overnight gear in near Camas Ck. This would let me run the upper, more technical, segment as a day trip in a lighter boat. Then stop to pick up the rest of the trip gear and go on downriver.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the put-in at FS road 3963 </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">near Burn Cyn.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">campsite 1 near Burn Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">campsite 2 (about a mile upstream of Wall Ck.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">confluence of North (L) and Middle forks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 2</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">camp 2<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking up stream towards Cabin Ck. (boats on river left)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrowleaf Balsamroot superbloom</td></tr>
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Monument to Service Creek: </h3>
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I stopped off at Monument boat launch where I hoped to dump some trash. No trash bins here, but nice toilet and picnic tables. After Monument was the USGS gauge then a nice little canyon followed by a low concrete dam. The dam looked to me to be blown out on most of the left half of the river where I floated through with no problem. A few miles further on was another ugly concrete contraption under a blue bridge. I pulled around it on the left side, but it looked like it could be more of an issue than the dam upstream. After some miles there were interesting remains of an old water diversion or something hanging from the rocks on the right. I drifted quietly and marveled at the care with which somebody took to put the thing together. As I approached Big Bend Campground I saw the blazer go by on the highway above the river. Seemed that everything would be ok in that department. Big Bend is where I originally wanted to camp, and I wish I would've. There was a nice campsite where I could tie the boat right to the picnic table. Lone Pine CG, a couple miles downstream, was not really good to get a raft into with a fast current peeling through the willows making landing pretty hard. The confluence of the North Fork and the Main Stem, at Kimberly, was not quite as dramatic as the Middle Fork, but seemed like it doubled the flow. Below the confluence was mostly private land so I ended up not being able to find a campsite all the way to Spray Campground; a 33 mile day. I passed through ranches and irrigation pumps all day without hardly even getting off the boat. Finally, about 7pm, I got to Spray Campground giving wide berth to a fisherman that was busy pulling small-mouth bass out of the river as fast as he could reel them in. It looked like the next dose of rain was coming soon so I moved my cooking gear under the awning that covered the picnic tables. Spray CG was $12, but a nice place with trash bins, toilet, and a covered picnic table area.<br />
I called Donna in the morning since Spray was the only place on the trip that my phone would work. I was supposed to let her know what day I'd be getting off the river. She said the blazer was at Service Creek store and suggested she leave it at Service Creek boat ramp so I could use it to go up to the store for a few re-supplies. The store/cafe is about a mile from the boat ramp. I got all packed up at Spray just before it started to rain. From what I remembered of the weather forecast, several days old now, was that the warm days seemed to be over as the wind blew gray and cold, upstream. A few cars passed per hour on the rural road along the river as I put my back into the wind. I worked slow and steady at the miles that lay between this cold water and a warm nip of whiskey, later that night, in camp. <br />
It was a good thing Donna put my blazer at Service Creek because it was raining steady when I got there. I think she was expecting me to get off the river early so she'd stage it just in case. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ugly weir looking upstream at the bypass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">low concrete dam below Monument </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ugly blue bridge weir</td></tr>
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<h3>
Service Creek to Clarno:</h3>
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I drove up to the Service Creek Stage Stop to get a few essentials like beer and ice. First I sat down in the cafe, wearing rain gear and rubber boots, and had a hamburger. The only other people in the place were a table of about 8 old ladies, and a table of the same number of old men. They seemed to have come in from the surrounding ranches for their quarterly lunch date. I looked out the window at the rain coming down trying not to make it obvious that I was eaves-dropping on conversations about quilting, grand kids, irrigation equipment, and who the hell is the new owner of that ranch. Beside my table in the corner was a stash of old broken oars, someone's misfortune, now a wall decoration. The rain was letting up and the sun coming back out so I paid my bill and headed back to the boat. The sun was warming things up nice now so I got rid of my rain pants and untied the boat. Standing in the river, I wore board shorts, rubber boots, rain jacket, and floppy hat. I held half the length of my bowline as a van full of senior citizens pulled up and unloaded with cameras snapping. It turned out that they were on a road trip adventure from a seniors home in Portland. Iris was their leader who came over right away to say hi, and ask questions. They were all very concerned about my safety and wanted to make sure I had a life jacket. How long was I on the river? Was it my own boat? Surely I must get lonely? Did I have enough to eat? I assured them I was right where I wanted to be, and thought of my late mom and how she'd worry the same way. I hope when I'm old, and unable that there's somebody like Iris to take me on a Oregon backroad adventure. If for nothing else, just to breathe the sagebrush air in eastern Oregon. Strong work Iris!<br />
Iris said <i>so long</i> as I pushed my boat out through the willows and into the current. I floated under the bridge at Service Creek and went over my safety plan. The river felt faster and more dangerous after hearing all the concern from Iris and her crew and I missed my mom. I set my sights on the next camp as it'd been another long day. I set up a rain fly and cooked dinner as a light rain fell. After dinner I took a little walk up on the hill behind camp and was satisfied with the look of the country...my home 20 dirt....good Oregon dirt. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(mi 153.5) looking up river towards Service Creek</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 4 (mi 153)</td></tr>
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Despite a good nights sleep, there must be something about the long, wide, and windy, Twickenham valley that makes one silly.<br />
I enjoyed big views of Sutton Mountain WSA, one of the few wide expanses of BLM land in Oregon, that's not a mess of checkboard ownership. I rowed and rowed with my back to the wind. A couple cars went by on the far side of of irrigated fields. I felt the monotony get the best of me as I gave an Osprey a bunch of shit for using an old tarp to build it's nest. He told me I'd been too long at the oars and that I should take a break. I didn't take a break, but thought of the old poem as I pulled through the last of the wide and windy Twickenham Valley. I figured E.R. Jackman had spent too much time in the sun before he wrote it. <br />
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<u><b>Twickenham the Beautiful</b></u><i><br />
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<i>The coyotes howl for Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>The bobcats prowl for Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>but do not go to Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>if seeking dive or joint</i></div>
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<i>there is no jail in Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>there's little mail in Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>but I'd rather choose a Twickenhammer</i></div>
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<i>for driving home a point</i></div>
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<i>now no train runs to Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>so to make a trip to Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>you approach another city</i></div>
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<i>you ask your way with prayer</i></div>
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<i>some go by way of Antelope</i></div>
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<i>or Waterman or Shaniko</i></div>
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<i>but do not go to Lone Rock</i></div>
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<i>you cannot leave from there</i></div>
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<i>I'd rather live in Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>than Amsterdam or Rotterdam</i></div>
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<i>for they eschew profanity</i></div>
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<i>from grandpa right on down</i></div>
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<i>and if you'd stand right out in Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>and boldly call out "Twickenham"</i></div>
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<i>they'd cast you out of Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>they'd throw you out of town</i></div>
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<i>So it's "Oh to be in Twickenham"</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>in Twickenham in Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>It's oh to be in Twickenham some frosty night in June</i></div>
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<i>for everything is spick-n-span</i></div>
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<i>in Twickenham in Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>and I'd rather take a lickin' than</i></div>
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<i>to miss a trip to Twickenham</i></div>
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<i>where the lambs and calves are singing</i></div>
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<i>and every one in tune</i></div>
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<i><br />
</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>E.R. Jackman - 1957</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dSBA0M4LL_X5pc2BSB1o49PE8fcIJLDbbQfsW_0NjhlULYXDuK9EB40LklStwBtEQIsjBzMEE8bsAhxujzaaunFPqjqXBgBKVFB1zBK2TScUJBkBiK3yNa76R550jZv1zCzxDWAinzo/s1600/20160423_145342+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dSBA0M4LL_X5pc2BSB1o49PE8fcIJLDbbQfsW_0NjhlULYXDuK9EB40LklStwBtEQIsjBzMEE8bsAhxujzaaunFPqjqXBgBKVFB1zBK2TScUJBkBiK3yNa76R550jZv1zCzxDWAinzo/s320/20160423_145342+copy.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey nest made with shreds of an old tarp</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sutton Mtn WSA</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipk_KGksRuDHQeqCnw8jthOd2lcUP-PL8nt8O9-caxMiTalKiNc9X_mAb6Qw2B-Cb0U355moH_32TO2rWKiyPehzJWKCiH-bvVRKgM5t2xuzRiWVTuACvwO-2YdwbRwmhZJ4iJ1uE8hGE/s1600/20160423_120643+copy.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipk_KGksRuDHQeqCnw8jthOd2lcUP-PL8nt8O9-caxMiTalKiNc9X_mAb6Qw2B-Cb0U355moH_32TO2rWKiyPehzJWKCiH-bvVRKgM5t2xuzRiWVTuACvwO-2YdwbRwmhZJ4iJ1uE8hGE/s320/20160423_120643+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twickenham valley barn</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Priest Hole</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Byrds Point with Vulcans Anvil look alike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoPMpXA91Beiyc41VOUmJcZLo-XNBzNbuugFr03yXhRXswLp0900cQjff-lx4Vbyk8ZjL9-LRbHFvhg_3aX8_X6cmNoctwJA6yUF1ei_wV1-k0RzyI_i_J-vG36o3mnRsiA17FSwPWjA/s1600/20160423_155019+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoPMpXA91Beiyc41VOUmJcZLo-XNBzNbuugFr03yXhRXswLp0900cQjff-lx4Vbyk8ZjL9-LRbHFvhg_3aX8_X6cmNoctwJA6yUF1ei_wV1-k0RzyI_i_J-vG36o3mnRsiA17FSwPWjA/s320/20160423_155019+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">remnant of Ft. Dalles/Canyon City wagon road</td></tr>
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The wind was cold, but at least it was sunny, so I didn't mind too much. Alas, another day in gore tex pants and jacket. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4uoYfTGLEARSQe4Q9iBozNMUrBD8REzsWSMca_rwoPyRUpMczVOxCnPcxhiSwJWVeeMDF85ALhEBg1QuNbR-8208vvOnOyMzk_jxB3bjqt0-umcSAAqgibY7fkkxEvS8S15GOR44VN0/s1600/20160423_192449+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4uoYfTGLEARSQe4Q9iBozNMUrBD8REzsWSMca_rwoPyRUpMczVOxCnPcxhiSwJWVeeMDF85ALhEBg1QuNbR-8208vvOnOyMzk_jxB3bjqt0-umcSAAqgibY7fkkxEvS8S15GOR44VN0/s400/20160423_192449+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 5 - Arthur Campbell's "Hungry Rock"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv5cCfjnw0kBgRG9Sf5FGFD1JemSWqjLl_MGvmof9HwukgTkVy4mf1QoXWzB9Gt8FKpwLv_n8RNCQT-YhPojc2x18XP1m1oyx3C2eZa_anff33m-g56FRiiMSRAPftiCF02e8ImAPPSo/s1600/20160423_193231+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidv5cCfjnw0kBgRG9Sf5FGFD1JemSWqjLl_MGvmof9HwukgTkVy4mf1QoXWzB9Gt8FKpwLv_n8RNCQT-YhPojc2x18XP1m1oyx3C2eZa_anff33m-g56FRiiMSRAPftiCF02e8ImAPPSo/s320/20160423_193231+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJifeRGY2DWCpT28o3KMJfttzFbeyyM_Mpvj0tO7BM90qB2YX0YTbLZV3uUWF6UgFbZjGq5cDtAs5daIuKCyTKKjAvQ74RyemulLUcIXomXV-0gtpDa8t0JlBfVODC5VPR3RG0uwiZSo/s1600/20160423_193239+copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwJifeRGY2DWCpT28o3KMJfttzFbeyyM_Mpvj0tO7BM90qB2YX0YTbLZV3uUWF6UgFbZjGq5cDtAs5daIuKCyTKKjAvQ74RyemulLUcIXomXV-0gtpDa8t0JlBfVODC5VPR3RG0uwiZSo/s320/20160423_193239+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0StQXjAXM7SXh5lYinUddFqR2kF4WCjDcqlrcQ_UmvXy5si45-89a4nsDZnf4nKRVK3y1qRUppaGuuhDj0-RTUHS14pN2CetS4XFYm5ruJ9PnT0FXSSFzrZyOehw1mH6Eb2b4ZGrm70/s1600/20160424_080454+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0StQXjAXM7SXh5lYinUddFqR2kF4WCjDcqlrcQ_UmvXy5si45-89a4nsDZnf4nKRVK3y1qRUppaGuuhDj0-RTUHS14pN2CetS4XFYm5ruJ9PnT0FXSSFzrZyOehw1mH6Eb2b4ZGrm70/s400/20160424_080454+copy.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">these two insisted on waking me up</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpdP4ovP9RJukoef-8RzgEh9DO10ZPEdvk_or7YpUkxoZe5Sig1EiVnKXZxnJT8OpTwR-DNSWYL4IOaWkO3DKoC9-JEj03eu-WsS-VBrSRpgvIpnqtvRB0yCcb7QLGQCpR4gLHMenYVU/s1600/20160424_101154+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOpdP4ovP9RJukoef-8RzgEh9DO10ZPEdvk_or7YpUkxoZe5Sig1EiVnKXZxnJT8OpTwR-DNSWYL4IOaWkO3DKoC9-JEj03eu-WsS-VBrSRpgvIpnqtvRB0yCcb7QLGQCpR4gLHMenYVU/s320/20160424_101154+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Day 6 I stopped to check out an old vacant ranch homestead. I figured it was too cold for big Oregon rattlesnakes to be on the prowl, but I was wrong. Just after I took the photo of the outhouse I noticed a big 6 foot rattler as he crawled under the outhouse. If I'd have included another few inches in the bottom of the photo I'd have inadvertently included it in the photo.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZMsXnLYfpL-FF5dLp3i5qCS8lRHKdi_fXDC7KcGTJDU-56ORJgWLFTNii6O770zL0GPnIIQPZQUBZ5u2W0WznfmgpgFIytF9nxESrQzxu-5CwYLOFptRQLCK7vp88iTa1t5k3-tC4ck/s1600/20160424_113035+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ZMsXnLYfpL-FF5dLp3i5qCS8lRHKdi_fXDC7KcGTJDU-56ORJgWLFTNii6O770zL0GPnIIQPZQUBZ5u2W0WznfmgpgFIytF9nxESrQzxu-5CwYLOFptRQLCK7vp88iTa1t5k3-tC4ck/s400/20160424_113035+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonely Old Ranch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJVzBNTQOnYCKW1TEDc2mC6b67BdNnnupXOX9aJRlM17SuwlOkr53CTxcmYAmp81J1Ogv21bt_pJVbu9bqvS4HiqLxXfVP9quFu1qPtresrVFcehPyHWde4MM_cox7jGvWjZQ9hI2HFw/s1600/20160424_110432+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVJVzBNTQOnYCKW1TEDc2mC6b67BdNnnupXOX9aJRlM17SuwlOkr53CTxcmYAmp81J1Ogv21bt_pJVbu9bqvS4HiqLxXfVP9quFu1qPtresrVFcehPyHWde4MM_cox7jGvWjZQ9hI2HFw/s320/20160424_110432+copy.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-oNTemaJ3F2h2sfaq2Zy4g0lLVOhBG3K3dQL3OnKoTJ-Shp05ubo2M7DpaHevx16Kdjk5rtY1ESmGvmGH4kF39swcNjTJLpR-kYcHvpxiCJLn4UCR-GTupJ68EsoPpT6m1FhNvn9XQk/s1600/20160424_110618+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-oNTemaJ3F2h2sfaq2Zy4g0lLVOhBG3K3dQL3OnKoTJ-Shp05ubo2M7DpaHevx16Kdjk5rtY1ESmGvmGH4kF39swcNjTJLpR-kYcHvpxiCJLn4UCR-GTupJ68EsoPpT6m1FhNvn9XQk/s320/20160424_110618+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">6' rattler just out of view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NBr8NPWix2dKcHs52DnNHEOctnx1Nw2PSVVd6bIxF7WUg53LbdjRX4BFJFDxJYvchuA4PkUE2ia3nFc-QY5kx8-I0-sWnx-JW_larblh3WAxWGn4KpAFAGc4H5G4i0oM8VADp7xkM4I/s1600/20160424_111458+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3NBr8NPWix2dKcHs52DnNHEOctnx1Nw2PSVVd6bIxF7WUg53LbdjRX4BFJFDxJYvchuA4PkUE2ia3nFc-QY5kx8-I0-sWnx-JW_larblh3WAxWGn4KpAFAGc4H5G4i0oM8VADp7xkM4I/s320/20160424_111458+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">waiting out a rain...</td></tr>
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As I walked back to the boat I saw a river trip coming downstream. I untied my boat, rowed into the current, and met Woody from Portland, who paddled a yellow canoe. They started the day before at Service Creek and were going to Cottonwood Bridge. They wanted to camp in the same area as I planned on, near Cathedral Rock. As it turned out we would see each other, off and on, for the rest of the trip. </div>
<div>
After the old ranch I would pass through the nicest camping of this section; mile 122-126. A future trip would require some loitering in this short canyon section.<br />
The wind continued after getting to camp so as a break I went for a short hike up above Cathedral Rock to get a view of Spring Mountain Wilderness. Spring Mountain is one of Oregon's newest wilderness areas, designated in the 2009 omnibus legislation. Also had a nice view back up river into the short canyon section. Later Woody and crew invited me to dinner and I didn't pass up the opportunity for the conversation and especially the fresh green salad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCDIqXxf41a76k721-cK8lUVM1UjY9sX3kXq3WVeFUVtaHCtx_ciXY4wQh-L_k0hGTL8y0SQJavgstigZAUcwObzwCZBS4NMkkEGMSmZnf4i19CucJAhDzk1GZIkkozt8vYtkX0otWsY/s1600/20160424_165843+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyCDIqXxf41a76k721-cK8lUVM1UjY9sX3kXq3WVeFUVtaHCtx_ciXY4wQh-L_k0hGTL8y0SQJavgstigZAUcwObzwCZBS4NMkkEGMSmZnf4i19CucJAhDzk1GZIkkozt8vYtkX0otWsY/s320/20160424_165843+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">upstream toward mouth of short cyn section</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK8cWVFl5S43xucCzlCVIo2bQsmqzleZzQ6rnhaeGLwVjp9-C1E0kiQRaZnCMO9rhjKUz_4mL8YjmBbrZncOLK_zifyK_LAwtOjHiBF_sPujhC7B8JJRQSDo03xH9iVj9LWpXFJbsKl4/s1600/20160424_171949+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtK8cWVFl5S43xucCzlCVIo2bQsmqzleZzQ6rnhaeGLwVjp9-C1E0kiQRaZnCMO9rhjKUz_4mL8YjmBbrZncOLK_zifyK_LAwtOjHiBF_sPujhC7B8JJRQSDo03xH9iVj9LWpXFJbsKl4/s320/20160424_171949+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking towards Spring Mtn. Wilderness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNJISMR7qzsXySXGrL3U4DXVBosI09JQcN0i5_sjcl9ms_yEqs4YYE6ft-RERzDgO5klCvn1JRGwSiGEJBsmKzBABosmuBRIdxfX5HN8NfRXcprVCHlcwnxnkQ62Tm-B09FwXYvoPZiA/s1600/20160425_070511+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNJISMR7qzsXySXGrL3U4DXVBosI09JQcN0i5_sjcl9ms_yEqs4YYE6ft-RERzDgO5klCvn1JRGwSiGEJBsmKzBABosmuBRIdxfX5HN8NfRXcprVCHlcwnxnkQ62Tm-B09FwXYvoPZiA/s320/20160425_070511+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 6</td></tr>
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<h3>
Clarno to Cottonwood: </h3>
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Ahh, the lower John Day. It strikes me in the soul like nothing else. Not sure why, maybe the older I get the more nostalgic I get about my home dirt.<br />
I knew in advance that the whitewater wouldn't really be a challenge on this trip, but for a couple places. The most notable at Clarno rapid. I thought Soggy Sneakers did a nice job of summarizing this rapid. It says: <i>"...it's long and complicated, so give it a scout"</i>. I didn't think it was too big of a deal, as long as you stayed on your line. As anyone can see, the river wide hole near the bottom would suck to go into, especially given the rocky swim below. The top of the tongue wanted to push right at the flow when I was there. Long rapids like this that are scouted from high above can be confusing once your at the oars so it's a fun test of scouting skill. Picking out markers that are recognizable from river level always helps me. Or, dividing the river into halves or thirds until markers are in view helps me too.<br />
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I'm not sure how long ago this debris flow happened, but it's pretty dramatic, in that it constricts the river and pushes hard right into the top of Basalt rapid. I was able to read/run right of center, but at high flows this would exciting.<br />
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Basalt Rapid is sort of the beginning of the Great Basalt Gorge. I remember this canyon from the trip in 2009 and wanted to camp in here. The river camps are the best of the trip from mile 93-89.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 7 - Great Basalt Gorge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my magic carpet loyally waits...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kokopelli tree</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 8 - The Palisades</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjwmzUIzoz3I2uUWXkqSMgGqrMjqa9VbDxMxNZ_5lKySuJI96WWKSF5t6hUepgVa8K0b_z8YuRuZQkdLYL73G2UXKU52y2mP7czWaocduRNNFisQL0XincxLOIqHKM2fyPblAmFSKtwE/s1600/20160426_191345+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcjwmzUIzoz3I2uUWXkqSMgGqrMjqa9VbDxMxNZ_5lKySuJI96WWKSF5t6hUepgVa8K0b_z8YuRuZQkdLYL73G2UXKU52y2mP7czWaocduRNNFisQL0XincxLOIqHKM2fyPblAmFSKtwE/s200/20160426_191345+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I was originally planning to stay another day, but the grey sky and gore-tex clothes for the 6th day in a row convinced me to start thinking. I thought about the heater in the blazer, and a cotton t-shirt, and about getting a head start on the drive back to Utah. A meadow lark song echoed high above the river, through the basalt formations. I was sad to think of them singing goodbye. I knew the end was nigh with less than 10 miles to go, yet I still had an eye out for a campsite. Cottonwood bridge came into view at 3pm and I refused to row. The wind went perfectly still, and would offer me the final half mile, as complimentary. The erie grey stillness of the canyon made a passing car seem more shiny than it needed to be. It was going faster than it needed to go, and was too loud. The lustrous pace of the world would throw itself at me whether I rowed or not. I drifted under the bridge and rowed to shore so I wouldn't continue over Tumwater falls. 211 miles, and 9 days by myself were done.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">catboat 1041 at the end</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnN5qk98wglh3zIDFC36mNtEXb6dGK4vJVk_n42swpnOb-wGnYa4_9DXXJU8ZgFjF9_9BYs1Abt3ntjJiOOjyfOblUkEM9snodRpqej7TTGXrzROHp0z9tXW7_03t8SLhhPvmUXCps334/s1600/USGS.14048000.02.00060..20160418.20160428.log.0.p50.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-20229760310855405152016-01-17T09:43:00.000-07:002016-03-22T10:33:12.372-06:00Rum TherapyLisa and I seem to have been posted up on Jost Van Dyke for the past week. Rented a little 10'x10' plywood shack on the beach in White Bay. For 60/nt. the place comes with mosquitos, a festive blue and yellow paint job, the sound of the surf, and one kitty.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view every night</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
The other day we walked down the beach and sat in front of the Soggy Dollar bar. For two hours I stared at a French catboat, probably about a 95 footer, moored in the bay. Lovely turquoise water made her lines all the more elegant. Amazing boat, twice as big as all the other cats in the bay. I'm convinced that I need one now, but alas!<br />
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As the expected alternative for an unemployed river ranger, we rented a haggard assed old dinghy with an 18hp, 2 stroke, outboard. We christened her "Rum Therapy" because of the sticker on the bow. For some reason it made sense to me to try my hand at piloting a 10 foot dinghy across the high seas. It came with two of the most pathetic life jackets I've ever seen, a bent paddle, and an anchor. We took swim fins, and made a self rescue plan to take our beer and swim to shore, when Rum Therapy decided to go to the bottom! Lisa loyally boarded, and opened us a cold one while the ice lasted. We said a salute to our one year anniversary as we motored around Yost in 4 foot swells.<br />
Without having to land in the surf we arrived at a little island called Sandy Spit that was about as big as our house. We spent the day chillin out on the beach, swam in the breakers, and went snorkeling to a beautiful reef wall. It rained for a few and made us cold for the first time since we left Utah, but neck deep sea water was warm and lovely, like everything else around.<br />
At sunset the little two stroke fired on the first pull and, with a slow grind, got us back into Great Harbor before dark. We tied up Rum Therapy, thanked her for the spirit, and walked back over the dark hill to our beach hut. We made a dinner of fish and rice that some kid said looked like breakfast! So, apparently it wasn't too fancy, but dinner included a shitty bottle of champagne on a Caribbean beach, and we liked it!<br />
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Guess we're supposed to leave here in the mornin' after having spoiled the shit out of the rental kitty. We catch the 7am ferry to Tortola, then a cement barge of a ferry to St Thomas, for a flight to St Maarten, where we'll be for the next 3 weeks.<br />
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Phone dont ring, and text is outta bueno. Talk later....<br />
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Lisa & Mick<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">boat to Jost</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Beach Cabin for a week</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9AyqLGkXBAkgrFE5qckaJxgLkNm9ewKINATtZRbrSGQIPIUb_NZbX7qEUbk4IQLbgCfNLfbqhzlDMG_2Q6LotSxD7X6bmGo2XO8D19-Y5yXz_P_GAqS9dimIHJYYH2fmjXUjqPBzm3k/s1600/20160113_093936+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9AyqLGkXBAkgrFE5qckaJxgLkNm9ewKINATtZRbrSGQIPIUb_NZbX7qEUbk4IQLbgCfNLfbqhzlDMG_2Q6LotSxD7X6bmGo2XO8D19-Y5yXz_P_GAqS9dimIHJYYH2fmjXUjqPBzm3k/s320/20160113_093936+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mosquito net...very important</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSI3QEqPgcI13Ybl_qiXRfQPhIJ7ku2K4Po2L1gQCjZJAdJLDwZzcQbi_bNEwWgO8WYbsJBfbzDFupE1s9924WYIRnJDsHxA8xuE5XWugoe9mDDPzG7PO7qmOKZhKhoGfxmMlsAZTtnI/s1600/20160115_160252+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSI3QEqPgcI13Ybl_qiXRfQPhIJ7ku2K4Po2L1gQCjZJAdJLDwZzcQbi_bNEwWgO8WYbsJBfbzDFupE1s9924WYIRnJDsHxA8xuE5XWugoe9mDDPzG7PO7qmOKZhKhoGfxmMlsAZTtnI/s320/20160115_160252+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Bay from the road to Great Harbor </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9uRRlZoF2y5U_o8RjqPhULof_V1P2blzyPaNwszL2fzFUDpsZXZYSfscILVf3vhagEb9oHJNv_WSx4zws5VQyXQRhZ5mBwsAiOPjIuLMLsJb3q2VCdA8vYU-yymqeZlGYC5GeiBfo2Y/s1600/20160115_172557+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw9uRRlZoF2y5U_o8RjqPhULof_V1P2blzyPaNwszL2fzFUDpsZXZYSfscILVf3vhagEb9oHJNv_WSx4zws5VQyXQRhZ5mBwsAiOPjIuLMLsJb3q2VCdA8vYU-yymqeZlGYC5GeiBfo2Y/s320/20160115_172557+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foxy's Tamarind</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfGEkky7mnll2jyXxtuBVvSnUjgCVG8a8i03s86ELA2EsBAt0sWv-j0FkIssCiMnb6bChy9e2B0ceq3v3byU7DGpGgQbvEdjxuLFP78elJECMe6yy4YZYpSvBRgjQhEB_1cNCKc_FxUY/s1600/20160116_141616+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfGEkky7mnll2jyXxtuBVvSnUjgCVG8a8i03s86ELA2EsBAt0sWv-j0FkIssCiMnb6bChy9e2B0ceq3v3byU7DGpGgQbvEdjxuLFP78elJECMe6yy4YZYpSvBRgjQhEB_1cNCKc_FxUY/s320/20160116_141616+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a marooned book</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwowkt5v75F10uaAi2Jq3S-e1rrMxKLtDuW6LR5SSlukz1rqygp3tBdDOv-2vDnRdbeUx6DnCFizrUFRbqG2NVX7M8KDlOladaWLrnWC1qA5U86EGNrB1gAMzDEs82ttfVP3qh9HavUPo/s1600/20160117_133709+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwowkt5v75F10uaAi2Jq3S-e1rrMxKLtDuW6LR5SSlukz1rqygp3tBdDOv-2vDnRdbeUx6DnCFizrUFRbqG2NVX7M8KDlOladaWLrnWC1qA5U86EGNrB1gAMzDEs82ttfVP3qh9HavUPo/s320/20160117_133709+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Anniversary on Sandy Spit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXmfv3GMiUTWA3wOuqJn40ziNFdKNSAMXQYeekXQ21NeTn86XJ9LJASxNYypim1YJSTYRZNNvELgh8yyY89fsJpHc5Xfa9bdWjEWPQB_VgfVZ6ejk78pmr45HhmJtuQYjL6Zy3XaV7CA/s1600/20160117_160641+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXmfv3GMiUTWA3wOuqJn40ziNFdKNSAMXQYeekXQ21NeTn86XJ9LJASxNYypim1YJSTYRZNNvELgh8yyY89fsJpHc5Xfa9bdWjEWPQB_VgfVZ6ejk78pmr45HhmJtuQYjL6Zy3XaV7CA/s320/20160117_160641+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rum Therapy...the boat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zwi1FdslIQ37r30xy5f5xCBDlu4_njiCWXkiBv2_CDmV-B3wekhmebfFNHWBjQ3AGdpl7qvMHg-XhoqZapY_yFn-vL9IXjmYi_bEktF1BKeExw9JG-fpLF0iqSKt87-7rppD5l9hskw/s1600/20160117_175729+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zwi1FdslIQ37r30xy5f5xCBDlu4_njiCWXkiBv2_CDmV-B3wekhmebfFNHWBjQ3AGdpl7qvMHg-XhoqZapY_yFn-vL9IXjmYi_bEktF1BKeExw9JG-fpLF0iqSKt87-7rppD5l9hskw/s320/20160117_175729+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Navigating the High Seas</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OC1ArF4qz1MY-Ku3FbALRPnynheySvGvwAIodvqVthjoVztNWOZP0cu7ZGzFC3geYAkwvHVN7O76Xva8XOzznYaBSda5BZeCB6Fihh-wzSqDJdNjiQp5d35JMEYl6r5ssfgy0EKpaz4/s1600/20160118_073335-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1OC1ArF4qz1MY-Ku3FbALRPnynheySvGvwAIodvqVthjoVztNWOZP0cu7ZGzFC3geYAkwvHVN7O76Xva8XOzznYaBSda5BZeCB6Fihh-wzSqDJdNjiQp5d35JMEYl6r5ssfgy0EKpaz4/s320/20160118_073335-1+copy.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one bad kitty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75LurOQR31lSvLyuXjIB1vECDUHlKUAthklaqeKrv6MT43DhyphenhyphenTD_7uRHCV1OqgTcrW9rOvuFnGFwJfRZZPXQAabetyPqXM6FT9n6Phkqu0yg6AdGC2mMQyZZo98xOTuSrd4bWQpXRU9I/s1600/20160118_191116+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75LurOQR31lSvLyuXjIB1vECDUHlKUAthklaqeKrv6MT43DhyphenhyphenTD_7uRHCV1OqgTcrW9rOvuFnGFwJfRZZPXQAabetyPqXM6FT9n6Phkqu0yg6AdGC2mMQyZZo98xOTuSrd4bWQpXRU9I/s320/20160118_191116+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenny Chesney wall at Ivan's</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw2iZBpr2tcILB5gjUtZWABTpyCAWv5ZUhtR8r_s4z99sMoyw-d4_W8XhWiH6wjiE1RLj5k5inyRd_zbExFuWxx3WRgnlgvcxSe7OjGKrUrl4G-HD8rK_xl3ngYqFsD9wlgQlA_zu0Vc/s1600/20160118_191300+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLw2iZBpr2tcILB5gjUtZWABTpyCAWv5ZUhtR8r_s4z99sMoyw-d4_W8XhWiH6wjiE1RLj5k5inyRd_zbExFuWxx3WRgnlgvcxSe7OjGKrUrl4G-HD8rK_xl3ngYqFsD9wlgQlA_zu0Vc/s320/20160118_191300+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fresh squeezed early morning at the ferry dock</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-25073400831211315002015-12-22T17:32:00.000-07:002016-03-03T19:25:10.343-07:00Winter Solstice at May Creek CabinSomehow we lucked out again! What better way to break up a drive from SLC to the Northwest than to hike into a backcountry cabin and spend the night.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx4jjOcesJv2mmZrubDj_tryT5ymJpqiWuY64UBFRqJJmMigYGru5noX8wMKxDbZoz_RWylG0Lt_nUJPV6HF7b11ndRlP8KZwpzeKDfmvhWSYtIOOV0Ub7LRtwRkOORucPng7D_S9F4Q/s1600/20151222_093705+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZx4jjOcesJv2mmZrubDj_tryT5ymJpqiWuY64UBFRqJJmMigYGru5noX8wMKxDbZoz_RWylG0Lt_nUJPV6HF7b11ndRlP8KZwpzeKDfmvhWSYtIOOV0Ub7LRtwRkOORucPng7D_S9F4Q/s400/20151222_093705+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Even better to do it on the longest night of the year. Again this year we made plans to do Christmas at Lisa family's remote snowy mountain ranch north of Spokane. I learned many years ago that attempting to drive great distances, during winter, just plain sucks. My preference is to break the drive up with lots of stops, and maybe even take a few days to do it, instead of all at once.<br />
A couple years ago we did almost the exact same trip, only we hiked into the Hogan Cabin on the other side of the highway. Hogan was neat too, but we stayed there because May Creek was all booked up. This time there was an availability at May Creek so we took it.<br />
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On the way north we stopped at Sharkey Hotsprings, a BLM site south of Salmon, Idaho. Kudos to the BLM for keeping this place up despite the morons that <a href="http://www.postregister.com/articles/news-todays-headlines/2015/01/07/blm-seeks-leads-hot-springs-vandalism" target="_blank">vandalize it</a> .<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharkey Hotsprings</td></tr>
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It'd been snowing crazy and the parking area showed it. We had to dig out a place to get the car far enough off the road figuring we'd also have to dig to get it out. Sure enough we did, but that's part of the deal I guess.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging out a place to put the car</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shit house</td></tr>
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It only takes about 5 minutes for the woodstove to heat this little place up nice and cozy. Chili from our backpacking menu, yahtzee, and good whiskey makes for a perfect winter solstice deep in the snowy Montana woods. Later on we went out on the porch to listen for owls that we didn't hear. We decided they were cozy in their dens having cocoa.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kitchen side</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more yahtzee and a cinnamon roll from the bakery in Salmon</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-81327153298343805722015-11-05T10:54:00.000-07:002015-12-19T20:53:52.286-07:00catboat 1041In 2010 I think I completed 5 solo patrol trips down Deso. I remember thinking, after launching on the last one, that I'd had enough of solo trips for a while. Little did I know it'd be the last one for 5 years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">catboat 1041</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>October escorted the waning days of the 2015 river season in colorful regalia. Deep blue of the heavens. Red of not rocks, but rock, solid mass of rock. Yellow cottonwood leaves, richer than gold. The pastels working better on the palate than a box of jelly beans. Much of the time while on duty at Sandwash, I'd walk down to the river and want for a solo trip in the worst way. I always do this time of year. The crowds have gone back indoors to the comfort of their morning fires. The pesky bugs have long since thrown themselves over the precipice of the eternal cycle of the food chain. With such distractions out of the way it was a perfect time to sit myself down before the spectacle of the desolate world, downriver, and be. It was the 24th and nobody was on the launch calendar for days in either direction. The fall colors balanced on the brink of going off. My new boat sat in the eddy, loaded too heavy with 9 days of provisions, but it was my magic carpet waiting to go. The call of the owls an hour before dawn. Canada honkers going upriver at dusk, 14 feet above the musty mud of October. The stiff neck in the morning of being 45...alas a nice reminder of the sky from the night before.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandwash - October dawn</td></tr>
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In recent months, sore elbows have convinced me that my boat was too damn big to deal with on my own.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The big boat (aka catboat 7)</td></tr>
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I decided I could get a smaller set of cat tubes, use some of the same parts from the big boat and have a smaller solo boat that I could handle on my own a bit easier.<br />
I did a bit of looking around online, and found this set from Sotar. I wanted grey for some reason, and decided that the red d-ring patches were festive so I kinda fell for this one. I wanted Sotar to add a bottom chafe wrap, but I was running tight on time. I called them up and talked to Joe Fusco who made things happen fast. He shipped them to Utah in time for a 8 day maiden voyage.<br />
Thanks Joe.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandwash - ready to go</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 1 - slough grass beach</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 2 - Mushroom Rock</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow - richer than gold</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 3 - Fretwater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6i4iSrGyCSCE-xMZueMrFrm5Yw8WIcOSknY1c4r3_4KONbkpLDfaJOxxY3dkeZ3YoDRMDX5h7tIxxx4s90cZW27tgZLovSHU2qA_VcuIi9YWBIAcRTKuK3bfcFPhZ06sNExSwhyMWK8/s1600/20151029_094409+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6i4iSrGyCSCE-xMZueMrFrm5Yw8WIcOSknY1c4r3_4KONbkpLDfaJOxxY3dkeZ3YoDRMDX5h7tIxxx4s90cZW27tgZLovSHU2qA_VcuIi9YWBIAcRTKuK3bfcFPhZ06sNExSwhyMWK8/s400/20151029_094409+copy.jpg" width="302" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">biscuits & gravy ala solo ranger</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU1zAji3p0wh_P9GqxEzLUaeQveLIJ6ZAcSObvpvY8AhZWbRrhYsyAW87e-5bucxfxDxfaHlkZjRgLAr1Y69asA_sdXBV37nD0UQjkrPSQJUx7-qcd5FY-qD1kENISOFhK08gUl8ek2w/s1600/20151030_081049+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWU1zAji3p0wh_P9GqxEzLUaeQveLIJ6ZAcSObvpvY8AhZWbRrhYsyAW87e-5bucxfxDxfaHlkZjRgLAr1Y69asA_sdXBV37nD0UQjkrPSQJUx7-qcd5FY-qD1kENISOFhK08gUl8ek2w/s400/20151030_081049+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 4 - Moonwater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPnEK0bh4Oc5V54P5Qq_rX6AWDzFqKjkOMkpSGZWpmabX-kLdokH2k5mfTEuc19ur6pkoLf-fGLCHb6en6oDML7fXwtSTg8Ui57Np4jkynN9juC87tWi2GlUM9KH-Kn2griXvdpPA94w/s1600/20151031_181255+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPnEK0bh4Oc5V54P5Qq_rX6AWDzFqKjkOMkpSGZWpmabX-kLdokH2k5mfTEuc19ur6pkoLf-fGLCHb6en6oDML7fXwtSTg8Ui57Np4jkynN9juC87tWi2GlUM9KH-Kn2griXvdpPA94w/s640/20151031_181255+copy.jpg" width="384" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">notes to self</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLf5p4JVN9C8FFes2ZneoifhCf6iv5cg6chIEHsAqsSlp0xRWJl9uTQakgMtUVqWIQJC1xnoi3wV7P3yCF7y9iAxaL2QWZ-QJTkbp_Wr9gLaYA973yDl9OCUv_WdegAeoWURJmQOjb6M0/s1600/20151030_103208+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLf5p4JVN9C8FFes2ZneoifhCf6iv5cg6chIEHsAqsSlp0xRWJl9uTQakgMtUVqWIQJC1xnoi3wV7P3yCF7y9iAxaL2QWZ-QJTkbp_Wr9gLaYA973yDl9OCUv_WdegAeoWURJmQOjb6M0/s400/20151030_103208+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">side hike near Moonwater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmYw2CYv8-pDjvMnCgkvAWle9Jgc5BB3y75as7iGPe5WZWCRZqr_VuMoGK7t8czsbvh90u_0XAQ7Nk9qibx62Ej2QKTm7TI9FDciWqZzBCFB_v2vfZItYjld9LvvOiXz2h1Md2GxIqxg/s1600/20151030_175032+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmYw2CYv8-pDjvMnCgkvAWle9Jgc5BB3y75as7iGPe5WZWCRZqr_VuMoGK7t8czsbvh90u_0XAQ7Nk9qibx62Ej2QKTm7TI9FDciWqZzBCFB_v2vfZItYjld9LvvOiXz2h1Md2GxIqxg/s400/20151030_175032+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 5 - owl rock</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVZH7WgoK6NBbVaz930-i77R9A5McGK8bFACLFo4suPIs2kNLYeKjEmaVJYj3zzXYOIQDOzVS0id700Ikgw8szb4ekdC-1jzSldVrdRgHmACuNjhr8VMTZWmmageHxJqy9MntJwe-MDw/s1600/20151030_181049+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVZH7WgoK6NBbVaz930-i77R9A5McGK8bFACLFo4suPIs2kNLYeKjEmaVJYj3zzXYOIQDOzVS0id700Ikgw8szb4ekdC-1jzSldVrdRgHmACuNjhr8VMTZWmmageHxJqy9MntJwe-MDw/s320/20151030_181049+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">campfire sittin - red of the stone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3DsAhF0QCYolKkShdYginwJ5dUDUwFTRxW9wLCl27AHRdXf1HRb4CKsM8ZPBhOwX-IUsfuFEBQToKbVb0P93UapQoRcvfwTbbD5QNcGyvb4Zd32IEy08hXSHV8ROPB6-BTsiQd0ra9w/s1600/20151031_175947+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3DsAhF0QCYolKkShdYginwJ5dUDUwFTRxW9wLCl27AHRdXf1HRb4CKsM8ZPBhOwX-IUsfuFEBQToKbVb0P93UapQoRcvfwTbbD5QNcGyvb4Zd32IEy08hXSHV8ROPB6-BTsiQd0ra9w/s400/20151031_175947+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 6 - trick-or-treaters</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecgI0ccCaQ-JkURMi0-8_6gFR_rxilDvinn6fOZZOoNDshMp_35hSL-n6EFR3qaiHFg8tNQaF2RR-p_tZW3wu5Yi9ZB91mc74C1flgy1rVHh8sUWM1Xvwl0zzmbuHm7DGL4hMJTFVQ7U/s1600/20151101_115652+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecgI0ccCaQ-JkURMi0-8_6gFR_rxilDvinn6fOZZOoNDshMp_35hSL-n6EFR3qaiHFg8tNQaF2RR-p_tZW3wu5Yi9ZB91mc74C1flgy1rVHh8sUWM1Xvwl0zzmbuHm7DGL4hMJTFVQ7U/s400/20151101_115652+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">side hike near Rattlesnake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VQ1SMCmw0BbmCD7_Hkp8i9O5_cYPESb1lrWrRbLiHp6Ji2Mn_-WrTJ5AE_Ap4nJMWW6KaZALA36zXXrNmZG5urR5hN5ZFtkT23V4BmS5VWBOM46RU_wuOSDEJgAa1ie58iFVT8M8ghU/s1600/20151102_070419+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VQ1SMCmw0BbmCD7_Hkp8i9O5_cYPESb1lrWrRbLiHp6Ji2Mn_-WrTJ5AE_Ap4nJMWW6KaZALA36zXXrNmZG5urR5hN5ZFtkT23V4BmS5VWBOM46RU_wuOSDEJgAa1ie58iFVT8M8ghU/s400/20151102_070419+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 7 - room with a view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJtmceL2o8JO4QQ8tsGQMPPs-2LTDZL9125igSVZlzr7_Vfsy4kQeb-uI7FdsrF-EY1-qPsqZE6MB4w0jqvkJrV1nugq0LoGgVuVuyN8t0BvicLziJbLj2zjtAmiI0FbZUha41Yxrbro/s1600/20151102_101928+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJtmceL2o8JO4QQ8tsGQMPPs-2LTDZL9125igSVZlzr7_Vfsy4kQeb-uI7FdsrF-EY1-qPsqZE6MB4w0jqvkJrV1nugq0LoGgVuVuyN8t0BvicLziJbLj2zjtAmiI0FbZUha41Yxrbro/s400/20151102_101928+copy+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the end - after 8 days of nobody</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMviO20t9GZ9S8vG_TVYQ3A69GPPvBPn9QvOJQU_C1kNSJLP5VtqE3Qq_HZHxYU0uH-CObnSGUS7Y5DCWX3A2JTrlczZRIox0cOurrWMxtWF8ddP32dtRkBP0H2ZagBaPAq4Xuuax9nJ0/s1600/20151104_120808+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMviO20t9GZ9S8vG_TVYQ3A69GPPvBPn9QvOJQU_C1kNSJLP5VtqE3Qq_HZHxYU0uH-CObnSGUS7Y5DCWX3A2JTrlczZRIox0cOurrWMxtWF8ddP32dtRkBP0H2ZagBaPAq4Xuuax9nJ0/s320/20151104_120808+copy.jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the ol '77 loyally rollin for home</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-25672539543874028652015-08-20T11:05:00.000-06:002015-08-22T11:27:30.910-06:00The Timberline Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMajuBjQFKsHybCQZdqk9HuT3GeFcTQ1bxkWyo5azYaWuVulohkVIabhSjWa8qwAWaSn2GHPeoTFN5Z_SoRmO7lFgoZvKTc0Yy85Eu8WXpaebJs23I5_yEyFQHbVkg9uOYy6V1IasU0MU/s1600/20150818_162017+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMajuBjQFKsHybCQZdqk9HuT3GeFcTQ1bxkWyo5azYaWuVulohkVIabhSjWa8qwAWaSn2GHPeoTFN5Z_SoRmO7lFgoZvKTc0Yy85Eu8WXpaebJs23I5_yEyFQHbVkg9uOYy6V1IasU0MU/s400/20150818_162017+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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This spring I applied for the lottery to hike the Wonderland Trail that circumnavigates the base of Mount Rainer. A couple months later the Park Service generously sent me a letter that my application had been denied, but thanked me for paying the fee. As an alternative Lisa and I set our sights on the Timberline Trail around Mt Hood.<br />
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I've always wanted to hike this route anyway and did not for a long time because of the monumental geologic event in November of 2006. I was in Hood River at the time seeing my parents and remember the news. As I remember there was a lot of wet heavy snow that fell in early November, followed by temps in the 50's with pouring rain way above the timberline on Hood. The pegs lined up for a disastrous mud and debris flow off the east side of Mt Hood that washed out miles of highway 35 and several sections of the historic Timberline Trail. To this day the forest service has closed the section of the TL trail that crosses Eliot Branch below the Glacier.<br />
To call the Eliot washout a "washout" is the understatement of the decade. The flow that came off of Eliot removed about 100 vertical feet of earth, from the bottom of an already massive canyon, leaving nearly vertical walls of very loose volcanic sand and rock. Over the 9 years since, hikers have negotiated the passage of Eliot in a variety of ways, most commonly, by a route that has become known as "the ropes". The reading that I have done on this route has always sketched me out to the point of avoiding the trip all together. Alas, it was time to go have a look. We planned an extra day into the trip just to cross Eliot, planning that in a worst case scenario we'd walk miles around "the problem", to the north.<br />
Lisa flew into Portland on Saturday where I picked her up. We drove to Government Camp and stayed at the Huckleberry Inn, where we could get our packs organized for an early start the next day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfFBevzn1LZ07NcOORzU9bJhJs-5iqToEUvnj8v2ka__W-nZkwYqIZ9TCVDWLZqKJfsnWkB2fvtoZeAU_Cg0-23ByuS_yNq1RjF5A704l6HxgW5i40GC50T7ALf5Uy7s-Pbst_Ufczu8/s1600/20150817_101641+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcfFBevzn1LZ07NcOORzU9bJhJs-5iqToEUvnj8v2ka__W-nZkwYqIZ9TCVDWLZqKJfsnWkB2fvtoZeAU_Cg0-23ByuS_yNq1RjF5A704l6HxgW5i40GC50T7ALf5Uy7s-Pbst_Ufczu8/s400/20150817_101641+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Day 1:<br />
The morning we started we went to the cafe for an outrageously expensive order of namesake huckleberry pancakes and were amused at a PCT through hiker, sitting at the bar, devouring several plates of food. The weather forecast called for highs in the 80's for the next several days, but smoky from wildfires burning to the east. We crossed our fingers and hoped for the ever rare sunny and clear Oregon skies to continue. We drove up to Timberline Lodge and talked to the parking lot attendant about where to leave the truck for 5 days, signed into the trail register, and filled out a backcountry permit, and still got started by 9:30am. Our first nights camp was planned for somewhere in Paradise Park, but that plan quickly got changed once we saw how many day hikers were headed there. Once we started walking we ran into a couple groups that, on finding out what our route plan was, had a reaction like <i>"oh so your crossing the washout???"</i>. Although, I was confident with our off trail route finding abilities, I was still getting nervous about the Eliot crossing. We had lunch in Paradise Park and I started thinking about leaving more time to deal with whatever Eliot may challenge us with so we continued on. The west side of the mountain gave us the dark forest fix with miles of shady trail through mossy woods that was such a nice escape from the heat of mid-summer. At about mile 10 we found the perfect camp beside the nicely named Rushing Water creek, where we marveled at the big Oregon trees, made chicken chili, and sipped a wee nip of whiskey.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_zmm8OHMsoRRqojw3E5l8R2iPI4u7A72qDnSoVtgP5v6NNgHnHd-LCuFcIVgbMTqApvzuhLViZBn9FRpcRGNAGzQTylBxge261s06tFfnKB02XvkkcDvi4y3kHeSHDHTJBA_bRhdCrw/s1600/20150817_083023+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_zmm8OHMsoRRqojw3E5l8R2iPI4u7A72qDnSoVtgP5v6NNgHnHd-LCuFcIVgbMTqApvzuhLViZBn9FRpcRGNAGzQTylBxge261s06tFfnKB02XvkkcDvi4y3kHeSHDHTJBA_bRhdCrw/s320/20150817_083023+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rushing Water Creek</td></tr>
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Day 2:<br />
We awoke early to the voices of a couple PCT through hikers that had camped right next to us. They were up early and on their way before I was half way through making a pot of cowboy coffee. After we got going we had the first big river crossing of the trip; the Sandy River. The Sandy is one of the big drainages off the west side of the mountain. It is mentioned at the Timberline Lodge trailhead in a stream crossing tips kiosk that is dedicated to a hiked who drowned here during a high water crossing. Knowing that the stream crossings could be the biggest hazard we planned our trip for mid August when most of the snow would be done melting. Being one of the driest years on record, we crossed the Sandy without even getting the sole of a boot wet. The amazing wasteland in view that is left from a more violent outflow event is one of the highlights of making one of these glacial crossings. We continued past the fairytale beauty of Romona Falls, and the <i>"don't look down"</i> exposure in the Muddy Fork. After temporarily running out of water we stopped in the Wy'east basin where we filtered water and looked down into the Hood River Valley mostly enshrouded in the smoke of wildfires that unfortunately seems requisite this time of year. About 6pm we found a campsite in Elk Cove where we had a lovely view of alpenglow in the days waning light on the prehistoric glaciers of Mt Hood.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU63pQzzaSNkt-uAacHbi39ShQLHohnZkv8QVrk5xmJcxo4lqB4QJ_S31zpYdew4q4Gc_DRerA4WDPrlnCNvfJ5f1a62Dw288z87pTj8DdaZvwOHTRCRbqc61tL6VEBd2bxj1Co2u5PU/s1600/20150817_094216+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRU63pQzzaSNkt-uAacHbi39ShQLHohnZkv8QVrk5xmJcxo4lqB4QJ_S31zpYdew4q4Gc_DRerA4WDPrlnCNvfJ5f1a62Dw288z87pTj8DdaZvwOHTRCRbqc61tL6VEBd2bxj1Co2u5PU/s400/20150817_094216+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Sandy River</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romona Falls</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvpag4dAS3D6Aw_kBZjTFuaNeVWqMCZWELxtJD40mK7PWcUeYQQpeyZexKhJ8maNUoR9DWjZ_NgrXQZgabYyKCrp7biEgHTuuVXi38gU0PMq3t8wE1X7APf8EABX62jju_Vk_H6ok4AQ/s1600/20150817_101916+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnvpag4dAS3D6Aw_kBZjTFuaNeVWqMCZWELxtJD40mK7PWcUeYQQpeyZexKhJ8maNUoR9DWjZ_NgrXQZgabYyKCrp7biEgHTuuVXi38gU0PMq3t8wE1X7APf8EABX62jju_Vk_H6ok4AQ/s320/20150817_101916+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">come to the woods, for here is rest - John Muir</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LE57HOsRxHYWaHf-iOjo-jMLKEfN0hnS8fVGNU44pE9nyKGOE5CVhRy0LW4PRQaYh8YeJM4kVH5GwxiP7gnm7DNsczzUyDGdoUjaVlJE12zf-Fa6xH-iodHDCXnbeKNXFFKEpRkH8aI/s1600/20150817_114345+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LE57HOsRxHYWaHf-iOjo-jMLKEfN0hnS8fVGNU44pE9nyKGOE5CVhRy0LW4PRQaYh8YeJM4kVH5GwxiP7gnm7DNsczzUyDGdoUjaVlJE12zf-Fa6xH-iodHDCXnbeKNXFFKEpRkH8aI/s320/20150817_114345+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjTKDRpltTnHlGC5WbuTpovXvPd3h4DmRwte-bHPPbfi4ExEIaVuFDowmzDjMjrvwzjvr7jIMBmNz2mRbMNdQvB96M866yIC3m2Uad7Ab-vuWe79QflCgQS09AwAdfb2kpbXDgP5UYV8/s1600/20150817_115035+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSjTKDRpltTnHlGC5WbuTpovXvPd3h4DmRwte-bHPPbfi4ExEIaVuFDowmzDjMjrvwzjvr7jIMBmNz2mRbMNdQvB96M866yIC3m2Uad7Ab-vuWe79QflCgQS09AwAdfb2kpbXDgP5UYV8/s320/20150817_115035+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQYNXe34qoZH7IFttuP_HjiQ86NAm4qDY7dnzd2TgxgS75X_3UovbxqBQKIVlTA5OZQxNCWq72SlK1bUFeaL8WJF20PmKvpE-mkd57A-KwWXVKGl9-0KTFgB-NUxzCD8hezcc9UEF8pE/s1600/20150817_115509+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQYNXe34qoZH7IFttuP_HjiQ86NAm4qDY7dnzd2TgxgS75X_3UovbxqBQKIVlTA5OZQxNCWq72SlK1bUFeaL8WJF20PmKvpE-mkd57A-KwWXVKGl9-0KTFgB-NUxzCD8hezcc9UEF8pE/s320/20150817_115509+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crossing Muddy Fork</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rounding Bald Mtn. - above Muddy Fk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Above Muddy Fork</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wy'east Basin above HR valley</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dQRUUOpaZPDlHXRvpWHMLzChHN1d7LpM76cEdjDg3M_SjLIzhnp-yritHPkKL9pUFOG4d8b6FVqAqkpPBA6xHNIFjQbnhyphenhyphenUzQ5bheBQI7NJKVkUU5T4hZ71OFV3xRGdYxHACA0eqkj4/s1600/20150817_174943+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dQRUUOpaZPDlHXRvpWHMLzChHN1d7LpM76cEdjDg3M_SjLIzhnp-yritHPkKL9pUFOG4d8b6FVqAqkpPBA6xHNIFjQbnhyphenhyphenUzQ5bheBQI7NJKVkUU5T4hZ71OFV3xRGdYxHACA0eqkj4/s320/20150817_174943+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">descending into Elk Cove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XUjaQggkqzBrfbVgCj7fdy_aGA2hUvxbStSYImoYtxT0EWpE6trHrBP826zikjicx9L95WZ7vTiCq50_q-2Z3L_4-x_VdrJjfZasZMOw97gf__ZOiTqRRoiATVYKMxh4hWhKWUtxrLw/s1600/20150817_194109+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XUjaQggkqzBrfbVgCj7fdy_aGA2hUvxbStSYImoYtxT0EWpE6trHrBP826zikjicx9L95WZ7vTiCq50_q-2Z3L_4-x_VdrJjfZasZMOw97gf__ZOiTqRRoiATVYKMxh4hWhKWUtxrLw/s320/20150817_194109+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elk Cove; camp 2</td></tr>
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Day 3:<br />
The big day. The day that has made my pulse rush for years turned out to be anti-climatic. We crossed the burned area from 2012, through Coe Creek, the forks of Compass Creek, and finally to the edge of a precipice that was Eliot Branch. It was lunch time, actually past lunch time, but I had no appetite. When Lisa and I are hiking we have moments that we know we need to "<i>have a good head</i>". Sometimes one can just put your eyes at the trail and stomp out the miles, but sometimes it takes more brains than brawn; where good judgement is critical. This was one of those times and skipping lunch meant maybe not having the brain fuel needed when it counts. Although I knew it, I really wanted to go. Lisa got out a couple power bars that we ate and continued. I had a grape flavored jolly rancher for good measure, and stepped to the edge.<br />
The first big descent we went one at a time in case a rock came loose we be in a safe zone to let it go by. Kind of like safe avalanche terrain travel techniques when backcountry skiing. I got to the rope which I didn't think was that necessary especially with trekking poles which are great for such terrain to use to "backup" footholds incase something gives out. Once I was down I got out of the way in case Lisa dislodged a rock.<br />
Both of us down, we went up the valley that was one of the most amazing geologic spectacles I've ever beheld. I felt like we were inside of a geologic event that was happening in fast forward all around, and we were! Up canyon was it, the heretofore avoided at all cost, Eliot Glacier shining in the sun, craggy crevasses split in a terrible looking mess, spilling off the summit of Mt Hood. Down the mountain further the glacier was covered in rocks and dirt ending in a dirty wall of ice about 100' high and a quarter mile wide with a river coming out from underneath. The river that we'd now find a place to cross. Down canyon was a fall line we couldn't see over. After searching for a while we decided we have to take off boots to cross. After all, we'd carried sturdy Chaco river sandals all this way we may as well use them. The water was about as cold as you may expect glacial melt water to be so we made quick work of it. Once across, we made as quick of work as possible of our time inside of a geologic event and skee-daddled on up the other side, past the ropes, to the edge where we had a long lunch break.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzjDjvHFJ1aPWWylEWC0OENxZPIA_lp7xDghxVFkWIA0UcmwCgCQu-biXMLnmuP4LW7tOeZPC41F6zfIOYMDNL7oOLIQBLtcBvS6c4b2Uh_PIRLr6lIrhEUttQ_WhSXKihez-4n0dL88/s1600/20150818_092645+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzjDjvHFJ1aPWWylEWC0OENxZPIA_lp7xDghxVFkWIA0UcmwCgCQu-biXMLnmuP4LW7tOeZPC41F6zfIOYMDNL7oOLIQBLtcBvS6c4b2Uh_PIRLr6lIrhEUttQ_WhSXKihez-4n0dL88/s320/20150818_092645+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">descending into Coe Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vjxJg-Pe6a9QHg9oPm9Vi5XC63OY2AQ4Az1LEgj1HPnb7n-A7rDhtBZQohWevyigZcP5K7qLwEB0pXt5WE7kypAt2o-4NWhW7ovi4N57MDNT-WYOstQPVSe5yhpO1XpckVcWqLt_mzk/s1600/20150818_114246+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vjxJg-Pe6a9QHg9oPm9Vi5XC63OY2AQ4Az1LEgj1HPnb7n-A7rDhtBZQohWevyigZcP5K7qLwEB0pXt5WE7kypAt2o-4NWhW7ovi4N57MDNT-WYOstQPVSe5yhpO1XpckVcWqLt_mzk/s200/20150818_114246+copy.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ropes we didn't use</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD3w3bJG4J8BneWBClgJIibBmCgepxgC4X89V5gBm8DVaOR-_PzxSuhVmTSZHSjD_UoIhojQDrKBJ1pstKoycLDBdV6thJd0Dh6Mrt1apePv-Gp4DfCpV4nYSK5_S40sd31VShejYSFc/s1600/20150818_114253+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrD3w3bJG4J8BneWBClgJIibBmCgepxgC4X89V5gBm8DVaOR-_PzxSuhVmTSZHSjD_UoIhojQDrKBJ1pstKoycLDBdV6thJd0Dh6Mrt1apePv-Gp4DfCpV4nYSK5_S40sd31VShejYSFc/s640/20150818_114253+copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the ropes - west side descent</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_s1e496plyCUDXq3bUczwqxzsb84H-SDAlTZxnfLg_ntmaQZkR-d2gPnl_ABzz0xFUMDNgr2He1xKrLRg5Bnk_Uqtj1kImDuAp1NanvA1jm5yfCwY89PBqYDKQeyLFxV_JNxVIyr0So/s1600/20150818_114529+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_s1e496plyCUDXq3bUczwqxzsb84H-SDAlTZxnfLg_ntmaQZkR-d2gPnl_ABzz0xFUMDNgr2He1xKrLRg5Bnk_Uqtj1kImDuAp1NanvA1jm5yfCwY89PBqYDKQeyLFxV_JNxVIyr0So/s320/20150818_114529+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">west side ropes route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPb6h3RtheSo9TD0Ma_idczMdl40siiLToCp7jR5AGv-TtwW5FvGkLxaJoP_wHjhRHLte8JyOJsM1Squ3Vvgimmy_W9r66TDWtW2VrhHA1_gBdjOtHKL3rbj_Eqp7RQbOEEU_wlxpwlc/s1600/20150818_120726+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPb6h3RtheSo9TD0Ma_idczMdl40siiLToCp7jR5AGv-TtwW5FvGkLxaJoP_wHjhRHLte8JyOJsM1Squ3Vvgimmy_W9r66TDWtW2VrhHA1_gBdjOtHKL3rbj_Eqp7RQbOEEU_wlxpwlc/s400/20150818_120726+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">crossing part of Eliot Branch</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv6u5qUpjMnu3MaypGNqO1gZwK0TlbUtxYOnobVPGXD9H-mS11SzaM35XuoBEShJilIVgYNRAN_iGIeEdveS4d6ZB1tmeC6TNX7avkR3slWzOU_HgKRd5lhuHYVRoA3147GxO-wUwq4k/s1600/20150818_122337+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfv6u5qUpjMnu3MaypGNqO1gZwK0TlbUtxYOnobVPGXD9H-mS11SzaM35XuoBEShJilIVgYNRAN_iGIeEdveS4d6ZB1tmeC6TNX7avkR3slWzOU_HgKRd5lhuHYVRoA3147GxO-wUwq4k/s400/20150818_122337+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lovely Bride ascends the ropes east side</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGX-HVeLWGjkVu2QBARdP9hw9MMJPu85WanDDE9uvPHIsgmWfIN8riedIc-DlItXFG-ZZpbTpwki_3MtotwYMOwjuygqdaSJK1pBb-Q78q18yg6q3pdXZ5VmkqmX27slHyrVljzAExqA/s1600/20150818_130849+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGX-HVeLWGjkVu2QBARdP9hw9MMJPu85WanDDE9uvPHIsgmWfIN8riedIc-DlItXFG-ZZpbTpwki_3MtotwYMOwjuygqdaSJK1pBb-Q78q18yg6q3pdXZ5VmkqmX27slHyrVljzAExqA/s400/20150818_130849+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mystery Ranch Terraplane posing majestically</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDCEqag85wCHuK2zDZlVAMfLALImVPalUUya9jt9yjAvN3Y4twlB_Yd7jlR_V97ektKv2DBDd_k_DzqKi-OYC1MufaPo3diEifsPt3oxKNIBd8_fduWe-Ru0jtca8cohBX831zcZRayA/s1600/20150818_130937+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDCEqag85wCHuK2zDZlVAMfLALImVPalUUya9jt9yjAvN3Y4twlB_Yd7jlR_V97ektKv2DBDd_k_DzqKi-OYC1MufaPo3diEifsPt3oxKNIBd8_fduWe-Ru0jtca8cohBX831zcZRayA/s320/20150818_130937+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eliot done - sigh of relief lunch break</td></tr>
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Once we were east of Eliot Branch, the mountain tuned from lush forest to a barren landscape of bare rock exposed to the elements. I wouldn't want to be caught over here in bad weather.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkYFXF3CsDN_q8_VwGOdEhvP13XOLTQEjZi6PEMhPF5gqLQ3_nmjQ_Txv0F1tx3Z43CPuJ3rsHJcf51QCw5izedLqUOiUXpCSnOOB73XpQocfgbU1Udh2pI-aUAgkYiOxaEQWTlaTKwE/s1600/20150818_161758+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkYFXF3CsDN_q8_VwGOdEhvP13XOLTQEjZi6PEMhPF5gqLQ3_nmjQ_Txv0F1tx3Z43CPuJ3rsHJcf51QCw5izedLqUOiUXpCSnOOB73XpQocfgbU1Udh2pI-aUAgkYiOxaEQWTlaTKwE/s320/20150818_161758+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gnarl Ridge trail marker/wind sculpture</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljMBrOzFapmo1p6Mjzcdz7ipvh9c61Rdx-PPewmFt8zT5CGsbddiXMYu33xQM891CRYzSS7vAARtYYNY0i1V7vEbAw0Eus4VBDSIUTZJWjv5V6-yRZYchEke3ZI3qH2Ao4Qw4LO_06w4/s1600/20150819_090536+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljMBrOzFapmo1p6Mjzcdz7ipvh9c61Rdx-PPewmFt8zT5CGsbddiXMYu33xQM891CRYzSS7vAARtYYNY0i1V7vEbAw0Eus4VBDSIUTZJWjv5V6-yRZYchEke3ZI3qH2Ao4Qw4LO_06w4/s320/20150819_090536+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">camp 3 - near Newton Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBphVNcT-G7eZJZ1NHF0dz42gmqX6arZ5GA8ewFOX49c2-HuMwxEo0EMhPCZQ8L7SLVXiMLXTnWrLszTU4ijpSx8U80VkOHMKh_lNiEIcXXdA4eeTil9CU1Y44Pe2QfifHhCcQjsEVwhE/s1600/20150819_100907+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBphVNcT-G7eZJZ1NHF0dz42gmqX6arZ5GA8ewFOX49c2-HuMwxEo0EMhPCZQ8L7SLVXiMLXTnWrLszTU4ijpSx8U80VkOHMKh_lNiEIcXXdA4eeTil9CU1Y44Pe2QfifHhCcQjsEVwhE/s320/20150819_100907+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">descent into Clark Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotR163MlLCefnFvjB9gBfK71bkXhA3Jot5mZZE-OZ_bnFZoOpDaSIelD9LqQ1L6-g5xn68AMFYccfdNEoAPvJUD5JkLD_JTqb4BdoBAzd9wvX33lvDd9NEapUVuN7fC-VLk5GGQy5j2c/s1600/20150819_103408+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotR163MlLCefnFvjB9gBfK71bkXhA3Jot5mZZE-OZ_bnFZoOpDaSIelD9LqQ1L6-g5xn68AMFYccfdNEoAPvJUD5JkLD_JTqb4BdoBAzd9wvX33lvDd9NEapUVuN7fC-VLk5GGQy5j2c/s320/20150819_103408+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clark Ck trail - no less sketch than Eliot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbV5jd1z-yV7MuoZKT76DJEcKs1fx45OtqzG0pusEoBM43kjzWu7M7JgP86FbcQPZtgmAdiegclUqX3GAJRqiz2Aop0m4Sq7iRKi0lShYVfeb6sL9wcb73SkVerqTUS-Tz-CUo1Azwiw/s1600/20150819_132457+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimbV5jd1z-yV7MuoZKT76DJEcKs1fx45OtqzG0pusEoBM43kjzWu7M7JgP86FbcQPZtgmAdiegclUqX3GAJRqiz2Aop0m4Sq7iRKi0lShYVfeb6sL9wcb73SkVerqTUS-Tz-CUo1Azwiw/s320/20150819_132457+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White river - destroyed miles of Hwy 35 in 2006</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj3Ax479-VsTESTZrzTcuGKLmBUVA0No9BQFMW4RTr0FwUNBi2j3_2nyKquWR-JrMb2XWemWBirqab-aBf-UeawdcYRtJsc1b_8uDPCtDOZBAHz2Lbm4StD7SnRfGHIs7j6_vJkWs75A/s1600/20150819_132501+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIj3Ax479-VsTESTZrzTcuGKLmBUVA0No9BQFMW4RTr0FwUNBi2j3_2nyKquWR-JrMb2XWemWBirqab-aBf-UeawdcYRtJsc1b_8uDPCtDOZBAHz2Lbm4StD7SnRfGHIs7j6_vJkWs75A/s320/20150819_132501+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTJj3mD7-Bequktlkhe3cQMzPdbHzkze5To28KIy2eCvw7_Sy_Ac0qAR9B_nuTGrN9uh80sX-tzGmh0hlJxkIgUpmon5ADJsm-RbEkoj6sAFb-OAu_Mo7NZDQU0kl3RUKhD-wWnBiZTs/s1600/20150819_132504+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidTJj3mD7-Bequktlkhe3cQMzPdbHzkze5To28KIy2eCvw7_Sy_Ac0qAR9B_nuTGrN9uh80sX-tzGmh0hlJxkIgUpmon5ADJsm-RbEkoj6sAFb-OAu_Mo7NZDQU0kl3RUKhD-wWnBiZTs/s320/20150819_132504+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scoping out big ass country</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCDuiwNYYs0wYdNyjoA4L3WtqEGnI0BCVsstOXw2tgybSroVq8VD1_EHE5rvDNRxp3UawzZ3UzKT-Xzda3hm-Cg49D05_9ecwWPO2OW5hcrEWuWGoe_pKO40nEMmTJIDukjC6YeMYbiQ/s1600/20150819_133238+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCDuiwNYYs0wYdNyjoA4L3WtqEGnI0BCVsstOXw2tgybSroVq8VD1_EHE5rvDNRxp3UawzZ3UzKT-Xzda3hm-Cg49D05_9ecwWPO2OW5hcrEWuWGoe_pKO40nEMmTJIDukjC6YeMYbiQ/s320/20150819_133238+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big shit - big shit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mile 40 - almost done</td></tr>
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-27570906675298487272015-07-12T18:18:00.000-06:002015-08-22T18:23:42.031-06:00Jarbidge Wilderness...again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l31SIXa5ZxpBSA09osAumDkzRRO_wYtR5YYrgrre5kKbdEcxh22qctYEFZWSOkRpmXMltN0zns5Xb2aMEUuFyhIngztN2Vm28T4yGz4sog2EXB3vGbpolkpESLVJAhtTxSdqP_FERCE/s1600/20150710_105338+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_l31SIXa5ZxpBSA09osAumDkzRRO_wYtR5YYrgrre5kKbdEcxh22qctYEFZWSOkRpmXMltN0zns5Xb2aMEUuFyhIngztN2Vm28T4yGz4sog2EXB3vGbpolkpESLVJAhtTxSdqP_FERCE/s400/20150710_105338+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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As if one session of Jarbidge punishment wasn't enough we went back for another. <br />
<a name='more'></a>This time we approached from the east. The contour lines, indicating the way the trail staying high above the fray, had me thinking positive about this one. The ol' 77 would allow us to start at a high elevation trailhead south of Pole Ck Ranger Station after a 5 hour drive from Wells.<br />
We left SLC after Lisa got off work with a place named Bishop in our sights. The old '77 ran strong and true, like it always does when were Nevada bound. We stopped by Bellas diner in Wells for some grub, then eased on north across the hinterlands of the wild and wonderful Great Basin of Nevada. We found Bishop Hot Springs up a side canyon off our route that would be home for the night after we shoveled some cowshit out of the way. Did a bit more shoveling to make the blazer, and our bed, sit level, then went for a dip in the hot water coming from some mysterious place deep in the earth, supposedly next to molten magma that I hear is down there somewhere. I was about done with shovel work so we set the stove on the hood to make our coffee the next morning. We got things tidied up the next morning after another dip, some coffee, and some eggs pendejo, in that order, and proceeded on our way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1eH64DcSzjTdtMEHC-lXOFg8BKscWT_d0bZABZiAvBJJbkhDcl9SWTTnNt_ay21w5U0hB9azI4S_fUX4jHmJm0V3zuIX6iYl6_SPcopuHytT9vtgFUDVXrrmVj1gvLUGc8Ni607Mx8Y/s1600/20150709_063601+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu1eH64DcSzjTdtMEHC-lXOFg8BKscWT_d0bZABZiAvBJJbkhDcl9SWTTnNt_ay21w5U0hB9azI4S_fUX4jHmJm0V3zuIX6iYl6_SPcopuHytT9vtgFUDVXrrmVj1gvLUGc8Ni607Mx8Y/s320/20150709_063601+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bishop Hotsprings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3buqiBuuUbcMQH1U7hI7KbNv3BgO8AdRW8NRIDvabjM2Y8Zx20OBsVSHFFYDDPTbQvbTOZpjP-eUGp1Qi3DYNsOf6tXuvZbjIb6eDGFKQ21AvI6Hy1GItFf4WD_r6gHFIyfOC0jdmLQ/s1600/20150709_063726+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS3buqiBuuUbcMQH1U7hI7KbNv3BgO8AdRW8NRIDvabjM2Y8Zx20OBsVSHFFYDDPTbQvbTOZpjP-eUGp1Qi3DYNsOf6tXuvZbjIb6eDGFKQ21AvI6Hy1GItFf4WD_r6gHFIyfOC0jdmLQ/s320/20150709_063726+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eggs pendejo ala hood</td></tr>
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We got to a wonderful trailhead with views way into Idaho and beyond. The blazer approved of it's view that it'd have for the next several days while it waited for us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWZaGNJseuOqKbakPe0RUvUGsZaWWT0mcx9WVb11ADFknhxK_nemcYThnKZwG2oxwTJZD4tGsJYTz3wZHaD-LIHAmLeb8vmo7kCncatfVim94PdhLh-xPTRWAW6hFyQYYAC66e5x4StQ/s1600/20150709_100000+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYWZaGNJseuOqKbakPe0RUvUGsZaWWT0mcx9WVb11ADFknhxK_nemcYThnKZwG2oxwTJZD4tGsJYTz3wZHaD-LIHAmLeb8vmo7kCncatfVim94PdhLh-xPTRWAW6hFyQYYAC66e5x4StQ/s320/20150709_100000+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the road to Pole Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJX5CunzBOtBafOOfYC1ZgwNc3wCqm7b5g5UOpfX2AMfPxFtHDQZG4e1qsNCotHQZ1Z6HuJiC1SEfNnjw7BMd7cB9MYbARrePyUYkECxz-toBhyBGuE_OBAKOBepmrmQZSNaAKfjApTs/s1600/20150709_101911+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJX5CunzBOtBafOOfYC1ZgwNc3wCqm7b5g5UOpfX2AMfPxFtHDQZG4e1qsNCotHQZ1Z6HuJiC1SEfNnjw7BMd7cB9MYbARrePyUYkECxz-toBhyBGuE_OBAKOBepmrmQZSNaAKfjApTs/s400/20150709_101911+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Serengeti Plain</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW17FhK3Oe92PQIuOjBC5pFWE7WjvhPl_uwda2wvkCUiRcqu7vJmtPIsLm42AplLzWYpkj4DbZPTwPW8c-lZqf87cM_gEDwltKtm1As0QFTYEUK4ggMG5YeZmRv9n4guXdu2TRQde3ilI/s1600/20150709_101951+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW17FhK3Oe92PQIuOjBC5pFWE7WjvhPl_uwda2wvkCUiRcqu7vJmtPIsLm42AplLzWYpkj4DbZPTwPW8c-lZqf87cM_gEDwltKtm1As0QFTYEUK4ggMG5YeZmRv9n4guXdu2TRQde3ilI/s320/20150709_101951+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />
Day 1:<br />
God's Pocket Peak Trail #099 past Hummingbird Spring. It was quite evident that Hummingbird Spring is as far as the forest service, or anyone for that matter, has been for a long time. Continuing west we'd tie into our route from a couple years previous near the head of Camp Creek after waking some elk from a mid summers nap. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUaS8ms3XnowKx-gPvq6U0_TNgdhnv7HDwha9xEXQ5Ebjm7379tB13y9puc9Tj34cGWZzYmHjp4Riv9nO1A3_YFVhW8qjC8JUSWMjqraSMA3mPc2bVZYL7eIWtfeGsmvovodkaf17-nY/s1600/20150709_155849+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUaS8ms3XnowKx-gPvq6U0_TNgdhnv7HDwha9xEXQ5Ebjm7379tB13y9puc9Tj34cGWZzYmHjp4Riv9nO1A3_YFVhW8qjC8JUSWMjqraSMA3mPc2bVZYL7eIWtfeGsmvovodkaf17-nY/s320/20150709_155849+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taking a break along Gods Pocket Peak Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">knarly old trees </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">took three whistles to wake this guy up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YQaVTBn4UfS-ZUCpTKB1V6g8YeQBcUe_Evtx3OBOEPwkn4lVzY52xGw530HijJdRr6gprHyzaAQ2_bTzqvretmj3aC0oqaCi0utvhYApf1JfdY8vtqQekns7TAZbFQYPgBYE3lY-RM4/s1600/20150709_173018+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9YQaVTBn4UfS-ZUCpTKB1V6g8YeQBcUe_Evtx3OBOEPwkn4lVzY52xGw530HijJdRr6gprHyzaAQ2_bTzqvretmj3aC0oqaCi0utvhYApf1JfdY8vtqQekns7TAZbFQYPgBYE3lY-RM4/s400/20150709_173018+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">somebody left their refuse right in the trail</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdDPIbuMHvp1MjkDiAbjnFALCu7PKvnVQ2QTnLK-e42QAcN_nEr6EMDO_TVT_CdW7O7cTkB8Bzhem42UOQ84platia7P-24FTFDSTll4zl3gDujG2X4ZH6B7Hdzsr6G4AMdrvvrfL32o/s1600/20150710_104721+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNdDPIbuMHvp1MjkDiAbjnFALCu7PKvnVQ2QTnLK-e42QAcN_nEr6EMDO_TVT_CdW7O7cTkB8Bzhem42UOQ84platia7P-24FTFDSTll4zl3gDujG2X4ZH6B7Hdzsr6G4AMdrvvrfL32o/s400/20150710_104721+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Day 2:</div>
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Day two would be the end of the fun walking above the "fray" with big views everywhere. We descended into Camp Creek and when we did the jungle started. Not just a jungle, but a Shitty Stinging Nettle jungle that pretty much sucked! Stung in the face and hands and after several miles broken only by the crossing of blown down trees we started the ascent up trail #015 to an un-named pass where we'd take a break about 5pm looking down another un-named canyon where we'd hopefully find a campsite. We thought for sure we'd find a camp at Cottonwood Creek, but did not. As if on que to answer the question..."<i>can it get worse?</i>" it sure as hell did. The bottom of Cottonwood Creek where the FS says trail #102 is, is surely not, and hasn't been for years! Just before it was too dark to see, and after about 8 hours of a true Jarbidge Slogg we found a sandy spot in the bottom of Cottonwood Canyon that would be camp for the night. We just had to uproot some stinging nettle to make a place big enough to sit and cook our gruel. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ndm_5I8EVfwxLRAbJSiJAbveuKlFmyfRQ7ZfBqodyoc3Edzobp-aMCoJ-QDS_POl3aTELLmYi5zKBjm-ejabKCsxnb1AVE6FpX4z7s2JftGMOTIzkaKw1yk6Or_g9Izh6P5N9TuV-6A/s1600/20150710_131312+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Ndm_5I8EVfwxLRAbJSiJAbveuKlFmyfRQ7ZfBqodyoc3Edzobp-aMCoJ-QDS_POl3aTELLmYi5zKBjm-ejabKCsxnb1AVE6FpX4z7s2JftGMOTIzkaKw1yk6Or_g9Izh6P5N9TuV-6A/s320/20150710_131312+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp Creek downfall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsqlFWoBu9WIyv-Hp0Wt58icBwuKrheFaYjggPMX1k5uTRVFTzdcjUJY9w_n6fveeyyC08RswKwU7VskDzZ3kg1yYBvnWcSoyzzcFsG-uZd7sP8xeN36O-NpUDoNYBNZoanR3yPlB7R8/s1600/20150710_131655+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKsqlFWoBu9WIyv-Hp0Wt58icBwuKrheFaYjggPMX1k5uTRVFTzdcjUJY9w_n6fveeyyC08RswKwU7VskDzZ3kg1yYBvnWcSoyzzcFsG-uZd7sP8xeN36O-NpUDoNYBNZoanR3yPlB7R8/s320/20150710_131655+copy.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trail #098 and the Stinging Nettle Jungle of Camp Creek</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">woke these guys from a nap in Cottonwood Ck.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsDokH0mT-QZivq4QJdkCQ9962K9LyFngO5Z6cVIZjWfr8VmGEE7XrtCKP4GWRLBJnEr33i3lR98ifL8Dmoa8LqMO0qM36K0qXDfXiOzk4h9k7VFyGgQ2Jy7cOGMVWyz_N9ufj1aBp_U/s1600/20150711_084307+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTsDokH0mT-QZivq4QJdkCQ9962K9LyFngO5Z6cVIZjWfr8VmGEE7XrtCKP4GWRLBJnEr33i3lR98ifL8Dmoa8LqMO0qM36K0qXDfXiOzk4h9k7VFyGgQ2Jy7cOGMVWyz_N9ufj1aBp_U/s400/20150711_084307+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Terraplane at camp 2.</td></tr>
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Day 3:</div>
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After our night in the bottom of Cottonwood Creek we not-so-affectionately designated it the most terrible backcountry camp we'd ever had. Working up canyon we were able to get above the fray on elk trails several hundred feet above the jungle of Cottonwood Creek. We watched about 15 elk browsing on the jungle below in apparent happiness, oblivious to the stinging nettle. After a few more hours we came out to the last sign we'd seen, near Hummingbird Spring, at the beginning of our loop a couple days previous. We stopped for a break and swore we wouldn't be back to the Jarbidge. I'm not sure if that's true, but I hope so. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good strong woman several hundred feet above the fray.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymu3NX6XHOXT36Nx0HG__P82pVb_pdH5U0NLOJzr3EYze842bNZ4S8KB372HuAbARQaAGQrhLFNhs1TIMyeFlp1aujubSLbf0CjTSX95Se_NJeSHCZTMkejjA-mo4twDy0WelATUTATA/s1600/20150711_104227+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymu3NX6XHOXT36Nx0HG__P82pVb_pdH5U0NLOJzr3EYze842bNZ4S8KB372HuAbARQaAGQrhLFNhs1TIMyeFlp1aujubSLbf0CjTSX95Se_NJeSHCZTMkejjA-mo4twDy0WelATUTATA/s400/20150711_104227+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-Z-b9Isj6geTK0qyxhly-nFJ8RL30JtzIesOvwY92J93DgJRtsYuxw4rMGXj8Fpf0hPwn9R-yMMl9CX5FMOa8Epyp_J5E0bNbgfin_5NOzB7IMxax1gyiLWmyUKeZl679pTgI4qBiyo/s1600/20150711_104236+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha-Z-b9Isj6geTK0qyxhly-nFJ8RL30JtzIesOvwY92J93DgJRtsYuxw4rMGXj8Fpf0hPwn9R-yMMl9CX5FMOa8Epyp_J5E0bNbgfin_5NOzB7IMxax1gyiLWmyUKeZl679pTgI4qBiyo/s400/20150711_104236+copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">taking a break and swearing off the Jarbidge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlcFaz98MKYhmjyF2VpfNN9lNSToSQrcVzJkzVQp44tambjJYHICsPPQjGd3_oymf4SWeUfgBKwVlorurvHZstbP3kCS03jS848D0SToVfb08f_NSl3oMj-w9klcvKxyJ7JqSPkHlMb0/s1600/20150711_113353+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlcFaz98MKYhmjyF2VpfNN9lNSToSQrcVzJkzVQp44tambjJYHICsPPQjGd3_oymf4SWeUfgBKwVlorurvHZstbP3kCS03jS848D0SToVfb08f_NSl3oMj-w9klcvKxyJ7JqSPkHlMb0/s400/20150711_113353+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good place to die...the Matterhorn in the distance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAVzAh-PTLYXisfUs9cAiIH8L63R37l4hQ2Rm_MYQTYw12vwFeGqruhYHnPmN8JQy_BusLLQ1FozzrCKn4H81pjXbRpiuK8QK3E8h02LRTRz9VPggJ47D-uZqzPpze9jpHLXUk7FfSP0/s1600/20150822_165128+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKAVzAh-PTLYXisfUs9cAiIH8L63R37l4hQ2Rm_MYQTYw12vwFeGqruhYHnPmN8JQy_BusLLQ1FozzrCKn4H81pjXbRpiuK8QK3E8h02LRTRz9VPggJ47D-uZqzPpze9jpHLXUk7FfSP0/s640/20150822_165128+copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">route of Jarbidge 2.0</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-74462817719537483712015-05-20T16:07:00.000-06:002015-12-18T06:41:43.313-07:00a YouTube kind of Desolation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The State Office decided we needed some representation on YouTube. Thanks to Kelly and Chad at the BLM state office for being so generous with their editing. You guys should be in Hollywood!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PMBgdQS-_JA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PMBgdQS-_JA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Wa_2rMrUu5U/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wa_2rMrUu5U?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div><br />
mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-53718682659844377622015-05-14T15:13:00.000-06:002015-12-17T15:47:31.279-07:00River Manager of the YearI'll let the articles tell the story:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc0_um4RYRdCAS7mVThyPPWOWuV283viH9PAvL13HrHlyvlAefEaijpc7EuubrOxRNgIpgma0_ULeAkz7RPcQi-wgnNnKA1VmaZXBrNOI9-3b0loAKJaj0_h8v6dJd9nZxUr4e0Mm_RQ/s1600/2015+RMS+Award+Recipients+5-4-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKc0_um4RYRdCAS7mVThyPPWOWuV283viH9PAvL13HrHlyvlAefEaijpc7EuubrOxRNgIpgma0_ULeAkz7RPcQi-wgnNnKA1VmaZXBrNOI9-3b0loAKJaj0_h8v6dJd9nZxUr4e0Mm_RQ/s320/2015+RMS+Award+Recipients+5-4-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.river-management.org/2015-river-management-awards">http://www.river-management.org/2015-river-management-awards</a><br />
<a href="http://www.river-management.org/assets/Journals-Newsletters/2015summer.pdf">http://www.river-management.org/assets/Journals-Newsletters/2015summer.pdf</a><br />
<a href="http://www.river-management.org/assets/Journals-Newsletters/fall2015web.pdf">http://www.river-management.org/assets/Journals-Newsletters/fall2015web.pdf</a><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/BLMUtah/posts/933920566640277">https://www.facebook.com/BLMUtah/posts/933920566640277</a>mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-74361853369728154512015-03-31T10:21:00.000-06:002015-03-31T21:13:07.899-06:00No Man's Canyon<span style="text-align: center;">The Robbers Roost country! I have taken the liberty to refer to it as everything draining into the Dirty Devil River from the east. It's a wild piece of country that always delivers a great adventure and usually the kind of beating that makes beer taste damn good.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis14GSH-5sXO_vxhfnxbFd5bD9jbHs9gy5rBXm1LnfnvejjXle-qCG-s5n0Z_JQAaS8KSb4ll13iP4Ededm9yKc_7BcX-p5NLlRGWlw5k5xCtL4E3UdDSwMgMY5w6A2WpSKjAa-_c4PPE/s1600/20150328_191113+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis14GSH-5sXO_vxhfnxbFd5bD9jbHs9gy5rBXm1LnfnvejjXle-qCG-s5n0Z_JQAaS8KSb4ll13iP4Ededm9yKc_7BcX-p5NLlRGWlw5k5xCtL4E3UdDSwMgMY5w6A2WpSKjAa-_c4PPE/s1600/20150328_191113+copy.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a name='more'></a>As I write this I have to find a position to let my elbows off the edge of the table because it seems that all the hide was left behind in our clamber to drag ourselves out of the depths of that irresistible and punishing sandstone abyss.<br />
Whoever you are, Indian Brave, Train Robber, or Backpacker, most people agree on one thing; access into and out of the Dirty Devil Canyons is limited to a few ways.<br />
Lisa and I decided a long time ago that our next trip to the Roost would be into a little traveled place called No Man's Canyon. On study of maps it looked like we could make a loop out of it, provided we agree on several miles of road walking back to the rig.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 1:</span></b><br />
It was late morning now as we drove out the East Angel Point Plateau, onto an island in the sky of sorts, between two major tributary canyons of the Dirty Devil. The map and GPS said it was time to stop, but Lisa required that we pull the '77 off the road and park somewhere that we wouldn't squish any cute little yuccas. It was hot already and didn't feel like March as I rigged my <a href="http://www.mysteryranch.com/mountain-adventure/expedition-packs/terraplane" target="_blank">Mystery Ranch Terraplane</a> for it's maiden voyage. We locked up and slogged south, across a mile of blackbrush, where nobody had walked in a thousand years, probably for good reason. At the rim we looked into a bottomless mess of solid stone. I looked down at the ground for a bit, thinking that when I looked up it would all make sense. I got out the map, and took a drink of water trying to wash the nervous cotton out of my mouth. I squirmed under the weight of my pack and uncomfortably looked back at the obscenity, but for some reason I smiled at the thought of the challenge that brought us here. Excited by the intimidating task of route finding that lay before us, we stepped off the rim, through a 20' notch that the USGS map promised would be there. We descended onto the wonderful Navajo slickrock maze of domes in one of those heart stopping descents that looked impossible, right to the end. But it worked, thanks to some cowboys that wanted an access in that place real bad. Once on the narrow canyon floor we found a lovely camp under the brand new spring cottonwoods, and beside a trickle of water. My plan all along, that couldn't have worked out more perfect, was to find such a spot where I would sip rye bourbon with my lovely Lisa, and gaze at the star-spangled banner of the heavens to celebrate the finish of my 45th year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK81gx3tLA6qkkCoyV7cbPVPgqeLa-UNvut0hTzV5MS8QNk8ERZe1uo2th6aqfsBsB1VQOhNNnVt3aqTx-kxsTrm7Scd7kFdPi91c0h1Iz1k_TL70ka-OxzVzWNFGNFywMw-KQ2JorF2E/s1600/IMG_20150328_101820_842+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK81gx3tLA6qkkCoyV7cbPVPgqeLa-UNvut0hTzV5MS8QNk8ERZe1uo2th6aqfsBsB1VQOhNNnVt3aqTx-kxsTrm7Scd7kFdPi91c0h1Iz1k_TL70ka-OxzVzWNFGNFywMw-KQ2JorF2E/s1600/IMG_20150328_101820_842+copy.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">c'boys wanted this entry bad</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entering No Mans Canyon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoOdB7wW5yhs0Onw4tuc-uRbeCZ0OD6tMTZ7-bzljx6OPegmF54duwVC_PeRuThykIXHjgfUqgj5AbrufmGOOHfun-7VPVn4MjcaZgiwAKHzDh_G6Ywi6D_rOUl4kxulIKeSC2tCMKp0/s1600/IMG_20150327_160333_239+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoOdB7wW5yhs0Onw4tuc-uRbeCZ0OD6tMTZ7-bzljx6OPegmF54duwVC_PeRuThykIXHjgfUqgj5AbrufmGOOHfun-7VPVn4MjcaZgiwAKHzDh_G6Ywi6D_rOUl4kxulIKeSC2tCMKp0/s1600/IMG_20150327_160333_239+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa archaeologizing</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">morning light in No Mans</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn1Z4uhac6QwMU9nnDSvtPO8lyBgFZ7V-DtccdLkSij_kozumgK7lAuQV_Nt6C9xM9b-9Hzw90X__TI57Vn9v0vtwo_HYSptAYX1n-umlzPFw2Hx5gZ0jKN4SpAPlASH7Sp1UaFJgxMc/s1600/IMG_20150328_081933_368+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVn1Z4uhac6QwMU9nnDSvtPO8lyBgFZ7V-DtccdLkSij_kozumgK7lAuQV_Nt6C9xM9b-9Hzw90X__TI57Vn9v0vtwo_HYSptAYX1n-umlzPFw2Hx5gZ0jKN4SpAPlASH7Sp1UaFJgxMc/s1600/IMG_20150328_081933_368+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 2:</span></b><br />
We walked up the canyon and the further we went the more we left all sign of recent human passage behind. Before the Main Fork and North fork split we came to a nice shady pool that looked like the kind of place where I could spend an entire day contemplating the eons that the water has traveled to get to where it is now. Past the pool the narrow canyon floor got a bit brushy for a while with lots of undercut ledges of soil that made me cautiously probe with my poles, to avoid falling into a deep sink hole. After leaving the vegetation behind the North Fork opened up and changed dramatically into an Egypt looking place, complete with several hour sand slogging ass workout. We stopped under the shade of a single juniper for lunch and analyzed our packing and food system. Part of our trip objective was to strategize on how we wanted to pack for a 100 mile trip around Rainer on our agenda for August. After lunch we continued into the upper reaches of the North Fork where we found footprints of canyoneers coming out of the technical section of the North Fork. We were almost out of water on a hot day that didn't feel like March, complete with gnats. We found a nice spring deep in the North Fork, that had access right at the source, which I believed, was good enough to drink without treatment. Some folks are sketched out by not treating backcountry water, but if a million years of sandstone doesn't filter the water then I don't think my cute little ceramic filter will either. The canyon floor was only a few feet wide and the camping would've sucked so we loaded up on water and decided to dry camp that night. Carrying all the water we would need for that night, and all of the next day we found a gravel bench, elevated about 50' above the canyon floor, where we could ponder the sand slog exit route encashe for the next day. The camp also had nice 180 degree views and since I'm a sucker for big views I didn't mind carrying the water. We ate dinner and watched the color show of canyon country then Lisa read from our book. Rather than carrying two books we have come to enjoy reading a book aloud, to each other. It seems to usually be about somebody else's backpacking trip. This time it was <a href="http://www.gailstorey.com/i-promise-not-to-suffer-a-fool-for-love-hikes-the-pacific-crest-trail" target="_blank"><i>I promise not to suffer</i></a> by Gail Storey, which is the best one we've read yet, even better than Wild I think.<br />
Near the end of the day Lisa quaintly noted "<i>do you realize that you have spent your entire first day as a 45 year old lugging a full backpack through deep sand?</i>" It wasn't planned that way, but it was better than almost anything else I could've imagined.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slippery pond bypass route</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">opening up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzNZTz5m2vz3PxxjOVhXPKpk-xZ-cJsFIe0JczRvbWdWL1UYQjdRQ788T6EWGgwVzSUzYluh8L4CgYSTIA8g8362mgv8K0jvmYZ3Uy94Sdx9Sf5ScTeJoWM9hqx2DSywSSlfNuOy6ByI/s1600/20150329_073015+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzNZTz5m2vz3PxxjOVhXPKpk-xZ-cJsFIe0JczRvbWdWL1UYQjdRQ788T6EWGgwVzSUzYluh8L4CgYSTIA8g8362mgv8K0jvmYZ3Uy94Sdx9Sf5ScTeJoWM9hqx2DSywSSlfNuOy6ByI/s1600/20150329_073015+copy.jpg" height="320" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">c'boy coffee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA28cwBqGLF_BY-Ks4AIrvUjrw8JDEIegWV3DHxQBHTimAAb0UzTy3MTdY6WJx1ycLa7AOPLcU-RLDehH__rNzTk6vgGGlvnvjMSNKGeQih_RHdqz3If9wThEqpC821Pnt4IFyiAUp28/s1600/20150329_075416+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfA28cwBqGLF_BY-Ks4AIrvUjrw8JDEIegWV3DHxQBHTimAAb0UzTy3MTdY6WJx1ycLa7AOPLcU-RLDehH__rNzTk6vgGGlvnvjMSNKGeQih_RHdqz3If9wThEqpC821Pnt4IFyiAUp28/s1600/20150329_075416+copy.jpg" height="317" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the sand slide exit</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Day 3:</span></b></div>
Our penthouse flat of a campsite let in the sun nice and early, which was good since we were hoping to get our sand slog of the day started earlier than our usual 10am departure. We got up early, made a pot of cowboy coffee, and watched the colors change into another beautiful day. We packed up and set to work at following some very specific directions from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Canyoneering-Technical-Loop-Hikes-Southern/dp/0874804671/ref=pd_sim_b_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=0RJ2VZGPVY7S5PEESG7H" target="_blank">Steve Allen</a>.<br />
In 2001, when I rangered in Escalante I learned to trust the contour lines on a map thanks partly to Steve. His lack of egotistic bullshit is rare in his field and I respect him immensely for it. He was also a big inspiration for the routes I would patrol. I figured that a backcountry ranger was supposed to be where he/she may run into people, or at least obtaining updated information about routes the public would be inquiring about in the visitor center. I followed his descriptions of almost every route in his book about the Escalante and never had one problem. The exit route that we planned to use is in one of his books so I trusted that it'd work, but knew we needed to follow instructions very carefully. He was again spot on the money. Mis-reading the map by one contour line in this area can have bad consequences. We went up the sand slide exit on a very obvious trail that is mostly used by technical canyoneers exiting the North Fork. It took all morning to go about one and a half miles. It's one of the more dramatic routes I've ever followed, anywhere! Narrow little ledge walking with massive exposure, a steep "butt crack" slickrock descent, a slot canyon too narrow to get a pack through; this route has it all. One of the slot canyon sections is so narrow that we contemplated unloading our shit and passing stuff through piece by piece then discovered a safe way to raise packs up one at a time with a section of rope we carried. With a little rock rash on elbows and packs we made it through.<br />
Out on top we had our work cut out for us. We had about a mile of blackbrush out to the road, then about 6 miles of road walking, which I would not recommend. Although the scenery was wonderful, there's something about road walking that feels abusive. I'm not sure why because it's super easy compared to slogging through trail-less deep sand, and without a shuttle there's only one way back to the car and that's a good long walk. After we got back to the blazer I was glad, that the cooler still had ice, cold beer, and italian sausage that would make a good pot of spaghetti for that nights camp on the rim looking over our multi-day endeavor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHfVbIWF-55yIHHBHiK5Yzom3er0bt_eBMiKB1wobYb-7iGXtwGlDL-tlXMafIeiVa9bDq-oeVFPtCAF0bN4tNsRyAXa8wa1uQZdOmqxGLRQsukbDxa0Oz830xYzG9CgR-80n9nobME/s1600/20150329_095018+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKHfVbIWF-55yIHHBHiK5Yzom3er0bt_eBMiKB1wobYb-7iGXtwGlDL-tlXMafIeiVa9bDq-oeVFPtCAF0bN4tNsRyAXa8wa1uQZdOmqxGLRQsukbDxa0Oz830xYzG9CgR-80n9nobME/s1600/20150329_095018+copy.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">constructed exit </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW8u576nxQzPin4MXqFG6zhmo3Mg91EWVI0zMJdAtqdpZx0Y0Hzn1ILOUyTSZ6Q_UJNGrGK2rc40wG3Vy7PWlNNlo3lRuqp9vrTPlV0kWTIJo_OB0Aoc55Wa-UyLBqwAZkv0e4qwi8PM/s1600/20150329_095137+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW8u576nxQzPin4MXqFG6zhmo3Mg91EWVI0zMJdAtqdpZx0Y0Hzn1ILOUyTSZ6Q_UJNGrGK2rc40wG3Vy7PWlNNlo3lRuqp9vrTPlV0kWTIJo_OB0Aoc55Wa-UyLBqwAZkv0e4qwi8PM/s1600/20150329_095137+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">steps</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRt29uZK1ri6A2pbTpOjxp2oGKl8xAo6T_CQ8uT7XanqPZnYauLrmK6L1cB4VFoEWptJkq0Lse1e8u0Nf1ElR8_-awPzf2cfmzY4-FGaOh6tFidwZeinpUWnZOZVlNagbLSsG8MdOhY0/s1600/20150329_102434+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIRt29uZK1ri6A2pbTpOjxp2oGKl8xAo6T_CQ8uT7XanqPZnYauLrmK6L1cB4VFoEWptJkq0Lse1e8u0Nf1ElR8_-awPzf2cfmzY4-FGaOh6tFidwZeinpUWnZOZVlNagbLSsG8MdOhY0/s1600/20150329_102434+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beginning the ledge walk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Goo9HfAa423nNArVHj4UWuiizclPZNmJHiArel_FXiQzAqwGzqunrb_9-D9dTvRA78O7JMOSQnJoGNCEqpvxyxrPt2KXHrvf-c3KOZ1TbDyt-o1kmFet7SIBmagiGwWczs0NPLCEL6Q/s1600/20150329_103638+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Goo9HfAa423nNArVHj4UWuiizclPZNmJHiArel_FXiQzAqwGzqunrb_9-D9dTvRA78O7JMOSQnJoGNCEqpvxyxrPt2KXHrvf-c3KOZ1TbDyt-o1kmFet7SIBmagiGwWczs0NPLCEL6Q/s1600/20150329_103638+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the ledge getting skinny and exposed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorrp1JQN9kcf2YJ-Y4dVD1xd1EPmcM7YyXUfid104BInr9205TiACJScdkQufLujxn3oHR_OGMA755THVJ1-DWDqPaAR8OFucF4bQrEIPkFC3Pn4971BKzJmUaRyXp9CY4O-dD0RK2Zo/s1600/20150329_103531+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiorrp1JQN9kcf2YJ-Y4dVD1xd1EPmcM7YyXUfid104BInr9205TiACJScdkQufLujxn3oHR_OGMA755THVJ1-DWDqPaAR8OFucF4bQrEIPkFC3Pn4971BKzJmUaRyXp9CY4O-dD0RK2Zo/s1600/20150329_103531+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">down the V crack</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGMTBKyN-UfgQPbcTufgbrkntKXCveZjH5vcsCBfp0bPHTVFS45RpSBlWXWW9v9yUCh87bOh2UdNZxuFCGD_WwcmPAJp170IyaaVD4_Aqh05AUhPE1d9dPEu6v0qaH4SpZ6YUU2hrFdQ/s1600/20150329_103507+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGMTBKyN-UfgQPbcTufgbrkntKXCveZjH5vcsCBfp0bPHTVFS45RpSBlWXWW9v9yUCh87bOh2UdNZxuFCGD_WwcmPAJp170IyaaVD4_Aqh05AUhPE1d9dPEu6v0qaH4SpZ6YUU2hrFdQ/s1600/20150329_103507+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">gots to go down there???</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqgNkm1tRF0CDG62epTimX5kNPrxM3k6defM6_B_1UMBncYTS0dewo_bgXtc0Pj0GwbXphPVlxKgWoMCxPS-goutxDDDn_c9xbv0j4Obgmy_vRChDmEGEv8yxCFns-_OmuFv7vsipF20/s1600/20150329_104020+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqgNkm1tRF0CDG62epTimX5kNPrxM3k6defM6_B_1UMBncYTS0dewo_bgXtc0Pj0GwbXphPVlxKgWoMCxPS-goutxDDDn_c9xbv0j4Obgmy_vRChDmEGEv8yxCFns-_OmuFv7vsipF20/s1600/20150329_104020+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">going down there</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoytcRStyVBMO9pOW0Z11k4_ust79jnsYPz4B6Ak5HTwwcCeBSc2IVKJVLQ4QvxzfCsPBFQ6W8AHNOwdX4l4n1RlSYVYceI_ILx9rz_hjJCIPPTBPmBReEA20-ej_aXfqy1hUTZGSrh5U/s1600/20150329_105211+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoytcRStyVBMO9pOW0Z11k4_ust79jnsYPz4B6Ak5HTwwcCeBSc2IVKJVLQ4QvxzfCsPBFQ6W8AHNOwdX4l4n1RlSYVYceI_ILx9rz_hjJCIPPTBPmBReEA20-ej_aXfqy1hUTZGSrh5U/s1600/20150329_105211+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beginning of slot section</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP4WJzI8YeB-xVbMpPYMvkCwM37H-hRLHf7r6k2dSVtQlzINqCn-0XPLz87wQgMwYE4erEOXAeAZcdjF4FlQx92HNRjsIUFNriOPjoFVdGJpVqpeJjJPx_c6bDl-0u2_PLlIpeAMCZKo/s1600/20150329_105443+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioP4WJzI8YeB-xVbMpPYMvkCwM37H-hRLHf7r6k2dSVtQlzINqCn-0XPLz87wQgMwYE4erEOXAeAZcdjF4FlQx92HNRjsIUFNriOPjoFVdGJpVqpeJjJPx_c6bDl-0u2_PLlIpeAMCZKo/s1600/20150329_105443+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccIkmQAGAkPFbsvGruvvuyzbubg2rRVL4KQoKN6lF9MDgg2MyF23T1CCEM2ZkOD6xuXQrldDfG3dbmZXZuLbASJmo4_OBiVKbXZaQ6TC4OzFt2NzcCQqWeijMPLkC-sBA1bg9gFsEDRI/s1600/20150329_111941+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiccIkmQAGAkPFbsvGruvvuyzbubg2rRVL4KQoKN6lF9MDgg2MyF23T1CCEM2ZkOD6xuXQrldDfG3dbmZXZuLbASJmo4_OBiVKbXZaQ6TC4OzFt2NzcCQqWeijMPLkC-sBA1bg9gFsEDRI/s1600/20150329_111941+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">getting skinny</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6mmJ4ZRAcb98SBZcg7iM89Xs1YAIaQO0GnyzMbehPrwRIsbFybKq2ML9o0xt1szAtTUW1lzU2_vqxi4gW6jymCF_YExsQt5YX872O77IqgqknzSqMf-j7MzXh9MRoGiD85n6VJFzKoo/s1600/20150329_111947+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6mmJ4ZRAcb98SBZcg7iM89Xs1YAIaQO0GnyzMbehPrwRIsbFybKq2ML9o0xt1szAtTUW1lzU2_vqxi4gW6jymCF_YExsQt5YX872O77IqgqknzSqMf-j7MzXh9MRoGiD85n6VJFzKoo/s1600/20150329_111947+copy.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">raising packs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXBF9rnxgZ-mqMDAS_5dJbUBNKw5NxrBUAPIzGlU4sA1ouie3Hci3nbXWVrY_soz-8gEw71w1TnheadzZCvrEnQdeTcwuLalBYhBUFLWFAE_CIZ8EE3SfRGQ23HTF0f3gPIPtRMoKdww/s1600/20150329_113652+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIXBF9rnxgZ-mqMDAS_5dJbUBNKw5NxrBUAPIzGlU4sA1ouie3Hci3nbXWVrY_soz-8gEw71w1TnheadzZCvrEnQdeTcwuLalBYhBUFLWFAE_CIZ8EE3SfRGQ23HTF0f3gPIPtRMoKdww/s1600/20150329_113652+copy.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">climbing out of slot section</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr5EG1WZoTi0omzhhqvrEoAioWcn3ipK-hLbwe46HbSOPfZY0_7yKgEJaf2xEJw-n9ZBiUPdsU_KzkR5-7xeCbOWrDSH09R12xGwOLL46uu16zZD3k0cGqD-tr8t1PuWXcpzcCQoIthE/s1600/20150329_114454+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSr5EG1WZoTi0omzhhqvrEoAioWcn3ipK-hLbwe46HbSOPfZY0_7yKgEJaf2xEJw-n9ZBiUPdsU_KzkR5-7xeCbOWrDSH09R12xGwOLL46uu16zZD3k0cGqD-tr8t1PuWXcpzcCQoIthE/s1600/20150329_114454+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">still climbing out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SVthAzYKC9OxD27qWexfDBTLN2vb0PYIa-RX8LoEt8O3SZ7QOOVzeuYG3EY3IiIeDz8QQLKlLXfNgwWHl5aOTbAqQ-APlQJYBnQX8Pqyjg8VW-ESREMMZCFM192fvp6k77hd1pFs1To/s1600/20150329_115139+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SVthAzYKC9OxD27qWexfDBTLN2vb0PYIa-RX8LoEt8O3SZ7QOOVzeuYG3EY3IiIeDz8QQLKlLXfNgwWHl5aOTbAqQ-APlQJYBnQX8Pqyjg8VW-ESREMMZCFM192fvp6k77hd1pFs1To/s1600/20150329_115139+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">out on top</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBkh587NOQj5V7-KoU-fGGUFnI0yEQ88rkVN7kuxlkvcVZR3RFA-znM78XeLJjeVGnxk_eh3WmzeK4vCULzpIielVmXismDW_LB-NWKemKsz3PiQTgxPfPxgEHubWBybADtBUoSI33zo/s1600/20150329_121359+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNBkh587NOQj5V7-KoU-fGGUFnI0yEQ88rkVN7kuxlkvcVZR3RFA-znM78XeLJjeVGnxk_eh3WmzeK4vCULzpIielVmXismDW_LB-NWKemKsz3PiQTgxPfPxgEHubWBybADtBUoSI33zo/s1600/20150329_121359+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another mile of this</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-46ATSNPoakovLfqrKy0ain9xKg_zP1FIEM6Vma7DYfSOccW41l00sAO0z0EmDjGPGaUI42fm09-yFNHSdwj9VetBZfBrspc8SiVw1YFinsjjXxKq-eDcsKXiKe1M20rZOhD6zDd7Kk/s1600/20150329_141003+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-46ATSNPoakovLfqrKy0ain9xKg_zP1FIEM6Vma7DYfSOccW41l00sAO0z0EmDjGPGaUI42fm09-yFNHSdwj9VetBZfBrspc8SiVw1YFinsjjXxKq-eDcsKXiKe1M20rZOhD6zDd7Kk/s1600/20150329_141003+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and 6 miles of this</td></tr>
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<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrFwIXAmAN3VFbZNUfcPicloufzjUzR0dA5zuA4E5vTFaVBgG7XLiiY-I-BmIokAmqD0pB7PL3s3sR47s4rcriKVsJcGIYpqtGPpTIqZLOqxQ7n6lxqVC6td1ELD2bylC-h3v32vhhN8/s1600/20150329_193955+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrFwIXAmAN3VFbZNUfcPicloufzjUzR0dA5zuA4E5vTFaVBgG7XLiiY-I-BmIokAmqD0pB7PL3s3sR47s4rcriKVsJcGIYpqtGPpTIqZLOqxQ7n6lxqVC6td1ELD2bylC-h3v32vhhN8/s1600/20150329_193955+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">italian sausage spaghetti and wine</td></tr>
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-11801832588646488142015-03-16T10:49:00.000-06:002015-03-30T21:40:48.143-06:00Thwarted by The MazeA 75 degree forecast for redrock country in March is enough to make a Salt Lake City local roll out.<br />
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I threw our junk together while Lisa tried making up work hours for the 6 weeks we spent in Mexico this winter. We've always talked about going into the Maze, but one reason or another we got distracted by all the rad country we drive by to get there. Rad, mostly being Robbers Roost and the San Rafael Swell. This time we were determined to go into the Maze, but hell or highwater usually has a way of being pretty determined too.<br />
I was running around the day before we left when the Hans Flat Ranger Station called to say the Flint trail had a rockfall blocking the road so we'd have to enter from Hite. This phone call saved us a huge amount of driving and is one of the most considerate things I've ever seen any government agency do. After Lisa got off work we gassed up the '77 and rolled south, over the Wasatch, and into the dusty ass wonderful-ness of the petrified desert. About 11:30 that night we turned off the pavement on a little dirt road between the Dirty Devil and Colorado rivers. The beauty of the night was far too nice to be further disturbed with the sound of our machine, so we shut it down in favor of cold beer, and star gazing.<br />
In the info about backroads that I looked up before leaving said it was about 5 hours from Hite to Standing Rocks area. We got an early start and hoped to be hiking by early afternoon. I'd read, from my fellow blogger, that the road through Teapot Canyon was the worst of it, and it was. I was surprised to see how much of a road that the road was not. We made it through Teapot without any damage, but I was pushing it way harder than I wanted to. Even though I had all kinds of tools and spare parts to fix whatever went wrong, it just wasn't that fun to me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi-Wgv3LJceNqnpiDhoiG6ki6SA69WgadcZrpMYqCGYHuPoK9gAhQAW6bwD8u_PsHJXam81CNNqhV7oiTKQ0MAToB1VdNjV9mwk7U423ama_8Fty0Fo3XvfViL-DycqksGg8E7O_hv3E/s1600/20150314_112302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZi-Wgv3LJceNqnpiDhoiG6ki6SA69WgadcZrpMYqCGYHuPoK9gAhQAW6bwD8u_PsHJXam81CNNqhV7oiTKQ0MAToB1VdNjV9mwk7U423ama_8Fty0Fo3XvfViL-DycqksGg8E7O_hv3E/s1600/20150314_112302.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the good part of the "road"</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZyla4xLsHFjOu3GtNiNK6jGBYrzlh_1tSJn-gHLXs3ov9Rf3K2t0bCgI3YfCPjKUfPsiTUgU4zhudxwi5cUI2cVp0qeClAsgmiGLqL97gyS-6VxAjKSQP9y8pTzF926jz_gVGbD8LkU/s1600/20150314_112215+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidZyla4xLsHFjOu3GtNiNK6jGBYrzlh_1tSJn-gHLXs3ov9Rf3K2t0bCgI3YfCPjKUfPsiTUgU4zhudxwi5cUI2cVp0qeClAsgmiGLqL97gyS-6VxAjKSQP9y8pTzF926jz_gVGbD8LkU/s1600/20150314_112215+copy.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well past Teapot we sat on the tailgate and ate lunch looking out across the namesake of <i>the Maze</i>. We talked about turning back and looked and re-looked at the map. After deciding we'd get no hiking in that day, and that I'd spend the whole time worrying about breaking the blazer on the way out, we decided to abandon our plan. One of the reasons that we've avoided the Maze before is because of the commitment of time to "do it right". It's grueling enough to drive that road, but to spend a night or two and drive it again isn't my idea of a good time. If I were to do it again, I'd go for no less than a week.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWglwjSCuKkYl_83qBmWzfY_MAevwRQD-rgJgUwWA4brVqkW8sJ_DrRci_YJVfPREcVSJ5FrTtYEKb0tmZhTmJ4wBvfKkqb_wGlNXzIjLMIvM3bwAmNQ8XiKxiiicaLgw0pLXCivmBNUI/s1600/IMG_20150314_081100_467+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWglwjSCuKkYl_83qBmWzfY_MAevwRQD-rgJgUwWA4brVqkW8sJ_DrRci_YJVfPREcVSJ5FrTtYEKb0tmZhTmJ4wBvfKkqb_wGlNXzIjLMIvM3bwAmNQ8XiKxiiicaLgw0pLXCivmBNUI/s1600/IMG_20150314_081100_467+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">arrive in the dark and wake to this</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DqVi7mIjsjLKzg-pVOV1e6KSTF5YXw6v32yQ0V0q9rYpL2dvobxVprmgFqCezIun8EnLCeJ-Q7VQuu8br_BvwEFcHt5SXD6KewElKA8nkCCmHtquOa4GOrurgYeLvcMI4scNqfo0ee0/s1600/IMG_20150314_083235_030+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6DqVi7mIjsjLKzg-pVOV1e6KSTF5YXw6v32yQ0V0q9rYpL2dvobxVprmgFqCezIun8EnLCeJ-Q7VQuu8br_BvwEFcHt5SXD6KewElKA8nkCCmHtquOa4GOrurgYeLvcMI4scNqfo0ee0/s1600/IMG_20150314_083235_030+copy.jpg" height="320" width="305" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">eggs ranchero con '77 </td></tr>
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At 4pm we made it back to the road junction, where Verizon worked, so I called the Hans Flat RS and cancelled our Standing Rocks permit. She said that Sunset Pass campsite was occupied for that night so we decided to head over Sunset, into BLM land, and camp on the next pass over, which had fewer trees, hence a bigger view. Big views are an essential part of camping in my not so humble opinion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1LoasljgIYAMGa-LPs5DjXFnzCax9TPCg6WCZ6im5mtpBH5ZqU8DocBSwf3FJ-vMWHHkY3VfK3yeEtTO7v9AEka-ExQ41NSYRv3SFrVUHNd5sUwfQhFDky6XLhp8LlgOJpPvsVTgMw4/s1600/IMG_20150314_190701_997+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY1LoasljgIYAMGa-LPs5DjXFnzCax9TPCg6WCZ6im5mtpBH5ZqU8DocBSwf3FJ-vMWHHkY3VfK3yeEtTO7v9AEka-ExQ41NSYRv3SFrVUHNd5sUwfQhFDky6XLhp8LlgOJpPvsVTgMw4/s1600/IMG_20150314_190701_997+copy.jpg" height="215" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pot of gruel on the edge looking to Sunset Pass</td></tr>
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The next day we drove back out to the highway where, after 15 years in Utah, Lisa saw Lake Powell for the first time. She decided she hadn't been missing much. We did a short hike up to Hog Springs, which is a classic Glen Canyon Formation hike, then drove out to Angel Trailhead to camp for the night, setting up to hike the Angel Trail West the next morning. The night was again lovely. The chill of the air, combined with a sixty mile view, called for some fire and bourbon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZy_4HPyRqCe2xDZMLiWU55CGnqEyMpoFT8jOjKWPTrnCTwgz2buAXn1kak-NafpZK9ZLK3ArJtVnpyrms4PJo5HOQKMEFwqZUcz41xb8z69iDa_6jNijljJtwUKzwpNjcaFHW4xiS3k/s1600/IMG_20150315_190834_419+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZy_4HPyRqCe2xDZMLiWU55CGnqEyMpoFT8jOjKWPTrnCTwgz2buAXn1kak-NafpZK9ZLK3ArJtVnpyrms4PJo5HOQKMEFwqZUcz41xb8z69iDa_6jNijljJtwUKzwpNjcaFHW4xiS3k/s1600/IMG_20150315_190834_419+copy.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">frontier tailgate whiskey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNy6A8fvzxvQ5AVAmJ3_t3YiUjLyTHfNhd08mSgmUG6RgHbZmyQim2ky6pRjZ9ErME6CZtLquO40aCPP39ffO2Hb1o4UB9IAFoPRh_iyeBKezilQI7EToN58J2zkS_WqFF6cBCAv6xWo/s1600/IMG_20150315_193938_315+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivNy6A8fvzxvQ5AVAmJ3_t3YiUjLyTHfNhd08mSgmUG6RgHbZmyQim2ky6pRjZ9ErME6CZtLquO40aCPP39ffO2Hb1o4UB9IAFoPRh_iyeBKezilQI7EToN58J2zkS_WqFF6cBCAv6xWo/s1600/IMG_20150315_193938_315+copy.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">campfire sittin'</td></tr>
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The next day we walked over the precipice, following Angel Trail West, stopping occasionally to check out Angel Trail East where we walked a couple years prior to access Robbers Roost. Having walked them both, I'd say they are pretty equal in distance and difficulty to access the Dirty Devil. Angel West clearly has easier vehicle access though. I was surprised to see that Angel Cove spring was dry as a bone, which is an ominous indicator to what kind of dryness we will have this summer. We walked upstream, where we ran into a group of students from Washington on a week long trip into Robbers Roost. After chatting a bit we went to look at some rock art then turned back for the hike out, followed by the long grind home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFC2c4br42GO9s3RHAItKaTpqRBcwyEGvZM_crFanBrK1sWwYY5Za_DImQ-oKp8eDNuIPWjT8Ny2tB9DAC_NK-R50SdFY5Lao3oaFnLtlzdtMYTHtHWrofNsA6cqaHdXZo7NT0QDstkw/s1600/IMG_20150316_094314_087+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXFC2c4br42GO9s3RHAItKaTpqRBcwyEGvZM_crFanBrK1sWwYY5Za_DImQ-oKp8eDNuIPWjT8Ny2tB9DAC_NK-R50SdFY5Lao3oaFnLtlzdtMYTHtHWrofNsA6cqaHdXZo7NT0QDstkw/s1600/IMG_20150316_094314_087+copy.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">surveying our days work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfEzX2s0kh_1496uM-skv7mgRUJZyJ5PtiR-YdquFw_MG9qkld1lAnU5fi50dVuDFz2ColxCxZ2HlSUPVAZuTTvjbNKPyEKpdVfIpgaM8wCpKMiQB6vNNpgBdC3gS0-FFV0DQrXNobbg/s1600/IMG_20150316_105728_920+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhfEzX2s0kh_1496uM-skv7mgRUJZyJ5PtiR-YdquFw_MG9qkld1lAnU5fi50dVuDFz2ColxCxZ2HlSUPVAZuTTvjbNKPyEKpdVfIpgaM8wCpKMiQB6vNNpgBdC3gS0-FFV0DQrXNobbg/s1600/IMG_20150316_105728_920+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">petrified sand dune - aka Navajo Sandstone</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y2UHlc5QEWbZKmuDq9x72hHS04Ysl7zC8L5St8j7uT9GxKuPTYN29YaUU1iG2sUySgoBIsED_cFPR9N3MV9hUepLMqOoSGkJVpiT9auzyX8iefJ1zidsHhShav5OMpeZmZh2wpPxGpA/s1600/IMG_20150316_110036_084+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1y2UHlc5QEWbZKmuDq9x72hHS04Ysl7zC8L5St8j7uT9GxKuPTYN29YaUU1iG2sUySgoBIsED_cFPR9N3MV9hUepLMqOoSGkJVpiT9auzyX8iefJ1zidsHhShav5OMpeZmZh2wpPxGpA/s1600/IMG_20150316_110036_084+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarVphJawQXPjXhfWswqRExAjIy83ZZvxS2BeCnUrvn6TqOjq5uVWACTTpEng2XwGqGtzL6HzBhddwNNykGZHRu8Tq_eGkTBqRzu0Eqrt3ycr7o2uloWYxt7GQk44CayLo3kZks7FYxJY/s1600/IMG_20150316_111930_986+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarVphJawQXPjXhfWswqRExAjIy83ZZvxS2BeCnUrvn6TqOjq5uVWACTTpEng2XwGqGtzL6HzBhddwNNykGZHRu8Tq_eGkTBqRzu0Eqrt3ycr7o2uloWYxt7GQk44CayLo3kZks7FYxJY/s1600/IMG_20150316_111930_986+copy.jpg" height="338" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big hand dude</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08wywaOzy1zLu8387vz5XbCGPNKbcVr8mb5VX6sSFe4mD4n_Iow9rkIuInqLXsQGvaL1hHxK0tYlj59TlenyeoFTyqAI_8aTCcN0rawfKbKgfzC13ygIbt1dlAwPhoe0xMIQRi62fA4k/s1600/IMG_20150316_111946_353+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh08wywaOzy1zLu8387vz5XbCGPNKbcVr8mb5VX6sSFe4mD4n_Iow9rkIuInqLXsQGvaL1hHxK0tYlj59TlenyeoFTyqAI_8aTCcN0rawfKbKgfzC13ygIbt1dlAwPhoe0xMIQRi62fA4k/s1600/IMG_20150316_111946_353+copy.jpg" height="320" width="263" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">freaky hat dude, and clan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRTYTJHOoIOeeO9v9K7CT1QLn65mZKfuvcMxZoslWwBUm1Caa025yzvlS5VoRNDjcaDThVaNMWXzNYlBXfUi6x2SaoESn6WAkU0R3F1lsQXkgtrea094pEWlDrl5fSYLeNsCO4e8R2Og/s1600/IMG_20150316_121957_850+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRTYTJHOoIOeeO9v9K7CT1QLn65mZKfuvcMxZoslWwBUm1Caa025yzvlS5VoRNDjcaDThVaNMWXzNYlBXfUi6x2SaoESn6WAkU0R3F1lsQXkgtrea094pEWlDrl5fSYLeNsCO4e8R2Og/s1600/IMG_20150316_121957_850+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the "trail"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9m-v3y86eTgPDzsYLeldywqW-9WkRTNpYifxkx8OD0muJiRnrQr6z592KcjnRMd33OiUCrOFhlqB1vlOsTTiA53QKnj_OlFd1OVT8yBIxT9ZgDIB4JDQNGHuW8Raq4iknpOHb5f-E-bw/s1600/IMG_20150316_123418_667+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9m-v3y86eTgPDzsYLeldywqW-9WkRTNpYifxkx8OD0muJiRnrQr6z592KcjnRMd33OiUCrOFhlqB1vlOsTTiA53QKnj_OlFd1OVT8yBIxT9ZgDIB4JDQNGHuW8Raq4iknpOHb5f-E-bw/s1600/IMG_20150316_123418_667+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dusty ass, wonderful, petrified desert</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-40094051352264181112015-01-17T14:36:00.000-07:002015-02-26T18:02:31.474-07:00Married in Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lisa and Mick</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jan 17th, 2015</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b><b>B</b><b>arcelo Maya Palace</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Playa del Carmen, Mexico</b></span></div>
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over 100 photos follow...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">leaving shitty SLC for 6 weeks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lillian fixin me up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqiay355ooBHy163QiFOreRuMTpyFbACWWImaqlcPXlFWFmWXZ96qDabpF-CQwXFxYVuTdl_YBT9Ph8ryyG8ATJPowYqRW3iajS7oYSwRacEzO87kGq-NMAaM8bF3GAwkp3Wec2Lbw04/s1600/IMG_2379+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjqiay355ooBHy163QiFOreRuMTpyFbACWWImaqlcPXlFWFmWXZ96qDabpF-CQwXFxYVuTdl_YBT9Ph8ryyG8ATJPowYqRW3iajS7oYSwRacEzO87kGq-NMAaM8bF3GAwkp3Wec2Lbw04/s1600/IMG_2379+copy.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she's just so pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQFcuL1mEi1UIeh6I0wwYttiPls7lbKnb-O_P4mn7hh3o9HfokWPegyU8j3GhYqyx9VcJdXdCrg17pedzxnKj0bPCl4OFCxajZVNy2vzYiRe-TBKbmKU26HacA693HyNgqSpLrO5gfxg/s1600/IMG_2466+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQFcuL1mEi1UIeh6I0wwYttiPls7lbKnb-O_P4mn7hh3o9HfokWPegyU8j3GhYqyx9VcJdXdCrg17pedzxnKj0bPCl4OFCxajZVNy2vzYiRe-TBKbmKU26HacA693HyNgqSpLrO5gfxg/s1600/IMG_2466+copy.JPG" height="260" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU9K-XPEW7jGV3forSiBDuyqJGxgcNO9dsYwLzQrG-L2eDZ7jF-QycLlz3yhnrIF4V0xqR9XIxtaTFrkgQxQ1PMymQo-0st5rzZRAwvvgQpnjxQPImAX7ltM5owRyuzr6vb_wBe27Nrg/s1600/IMG_2467+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU9K-XPEW7jGV3forSiBDuyqJGxgcNO9dsYwLzQrG-L2eDZ7jF-QycLlz3yhnrIF4V0xqR9XIxtaTFrkgQxQ1PMymQo-0st5rzZRAwvvgQpnjxQPImAX7ltM5owRyuzr6vb_wBe27Nrg/s1600/IMG_2467+copy.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_6W8sEVVxFGvrjpUXbKy6Z-e16mTg5gDD_GmlCVdaCGz64zKyQas2JtjOgh8BUesnT1lWByGrG93lHuQAaRKOMu0EQrGZmIwY9wIa-M81CVkij_67khHF8iP8LIqy8sgEI3oJJ-bduM/s1600/IMG_2478+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB_6W8sEVVxFGvrjpUXbKy6Z-e16mTg5gDD_GmlCVdaCGz64zKyQas2JtjOgh8BUesnT1lWByGrG93lHuQAaRKOMu0EQrGZmIwY9wIa-M81CVkij_67khHF8iP8LIqy8sgEI3oJJ-bduM/s1600/IMG_2478+copy.jpg" height="640" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a mexican judge - tying our knot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the bar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6j803ZUAIARvbRrDT556vAMZe6_uUAyqmiXjYv16ZipNNXOYiAv6fEsQcbqV2-_GTE3y8NdO3b8xBgpm0PjoaKnzce30qRBLK-s1LsEODOWbHTHtGYy7w3Rt_MCOz2idlMQdfzyKHL4/s1600/IMG_2581+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6j803ZUAIARvbRrDT556vAMZe6_uUAyqmiXjYv16ZipNNXOYiAv6fEsQcbqV2-_GTE3y8NdO3b8xBgpm0PjoaKnzce30qRBLK-s1LsEODOWbHTHtGYy7w3Rt_MCOz2idlMQdfzyKHL4/s1600/IMG_2581+copy.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">no need</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLWh5ZOhVJnEHOd5U7Rld9IC7Ep3MvSJysVis7-A94wGcpe9njDg1L30hbk6Ch3iKFPOOSGahHncmBGeXTTusJaDWI-4ox1Wtfs1BHl4B9xZk4Yv82soU8ToRBJufKJPPR4camo27pss/s1600/IMG_2603+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLWh5ZOhVJnEHOd5U7Rld9IC7Ep3MvSJysVis7-A94wGcpe9njDg1L30hbk6Ch3iKFPOOSGahHncmBGeXTTusJaDWI-4ox1Wtfs1BHl4B9xZk4Yv82soU8ToRBJufKJPPR4camo27pss/s1600/IMG_2603+copy.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carols specially ordered bar tender</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaVlgMVJ4l1fZmd4fUTE1osUjNWRaL1O_wwbpDLkwnVfdL706p2hbWn7AXmwCfckSrT6jXKZGQ_j7onnfmTManT6cGY_ToRs5EKkVYqTNPJoAKv-1gC82p0qBLngiXMGsQyG03odILnw/s1600/IMG_2606+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaVlgMVJ4l1fZmd4fUTE1osUjNWRaL1O_wwbpDLkwnVfdL706p2hbWn7AXmwCfckSrT6jXKZGQ_j7onnfmTManT6cGY_ToRs5EKkVYqTNPJoAKv-1gC82p0qBLngiXMGsQyG03odILnw/s1600/IMG_2606+copy.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh my heavens!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OpdChKAol_ngAqXeWMw8RkjkRjHCzVSmna9mmTLkxKOVEKRbh5e5OQ12I228kxjwDx6uX3uBGYBb-zWQjysOAb3A4Z1sgEnTTlrY6_xEOGRCU6B9RFBAplb4l50BnrwR8S5Ua89lWf4/s1600/IMG_2657+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_OpdChKAol_ngAqXeWMw8RkjkRjHCzVSmna9mmTLkxKOVEKRbh5e5OQ12I228kxjwDx6uX3uBGYBb-zWQjysOAb3A4Z1sgEnTTlrY6_xEOGRCU6B9RFBAplb4l50BnrwR8S5Ua89lWf4/s1600/IMG_2657+copy.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQXajHATI6y_NsX3N8hNcEGTAyx_oU3ZG36OhVqepNmsMJchAalHmyxmlv5irceevXjFLvZOci0nRnEDUwKTHTM8syt9G-5EcbYi9EHwOIfbVasObOQ6UPEfbLWOTNrRX7hkW98_Qj-w/s1600/IMG_2662+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQXajHATI6y_NsX3N8hNcEGTAyx_oU3ZG36OhVqepNmsMJchAalHmyxmlv5irceevXjFLvZOci0nRnEDUwKTHTM8syt9G-5EcbYi9EHwOIfbVasObOQ6UPEfbLWOTNrRX7hkW98_Qj-w/s1600/IMG_2662+copy.JPG" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">she loves to twirl!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozxQ2MRIgbKTwipJ9BqVmzOWEAG6yRRiNdgmeJvSSgDXaoMsYT-zzJBn_a2OHR6O-plv4EcDSrurLkva3DtseysyDEhN575ispSIlobPLhLVab0wfnYOnD4R4_4wrRn5SU9RplTgM5Yw/s1600/IMG_2666+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhozxQ2MRIgbKTwipJ9BqVmzOWEAG6yRRiNdgmeJvSSgDXaoMsYT-zzJBn_a2OHR6O-plv4EcDSrurLkva3DtseysyDEhN575ispSIlobPLhLVab0wfnYOnD4R4_4wrRn5SU9RplTgM5Yw/s1600/IMG_2666+copy.JPG" height="400" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sarah taught me how to do this 20 mins before</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQZNklD9vHiEowfQIueE5-kBghAhhjIsudcr4yNgdMW2y9BsDbmOL6A9gjOX_fV_NEapYyiRkc5LxT7jnyfpX5Iy5RqJwLAh-ImiySWjR2926-03e5OKIipkf86ZUIGuB3TDCeXh4t04/s1600/P1180070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQZNklD9vHiEowfQIueE5-kBghAhhjIsudcr4yNgdMW2y9BsDbmOL6A9gjOX_fV_NEapYyiRkc5LxT7jnyfpX5Iy5RqJwLAh-ImiySWjR2926-03e5OKIipkf86ZUIGuB3TDCeXh4t04/s1600/P1180070.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the maids always left us a surprise</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3_2B4Zy4FgTBN60dC3kOw8cwr2lrCZ8frq9YetLHyvkR5-J0Ah9_YhO9r12yZ5LabfwLLSRr05FOf250Sfu0OYayUU4lrK7SAZEDN-bKPJrl2wcDdbOGjZ64FjXLJaGf5nsdxyfaRls/s1600/IMG_0347+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3_2B4Zy4FgTBN60dC3kOw8cwr2lrCZ8frq9YetLHyvkR5-J0Ah9_YhO9r12yZ5LabfwLLSRr05FOf250Sfu0OYayUU4lrK7SAZEDN-bKPJrl2wcDdbOGjZ64FjXLJaGf5nsdxyfaRls/s1600/IMG_0347+copy.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">fireworks during cake - courtesy of a rich farmer convention </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8hhG6MlvyIZUDzCNBOiqg_3KOFYWhOjLEh9WQOy_T2SyntPqaIoSGPsaJebQpks4eLd1BDySCEqhoegcma8KPuMjYQ0PWmbascW_HFCVr64G07-Gem71bgtthmqo1KiQ872IqEodsdo/s1600/IMG_0323+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw8hhG6MlvyIZUDzCNBOiqg_3KOFYWhOjLEh9WQOy_T2SyntPqaIoSGPsaJebQpks4eLd1BDySCEqhoegcma8KPuMjYQ0PWmbascW_HFCVr64G07-Gem71bgtthmqo1KiQ872IqEodsdo/s1600/IMG_0323+copy.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweaty boogy dancing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hVnWStUeopFsXU1cWa86QAXJSJZwA5oFrd9QKp5VPWfPTRiyUwlXw6iz3cBic2uDSISRwtrLDPndLIm0fhC5mKcUeKl9nrX2ZpKMxUK4uqqbr7Gk6vhMPe4WZqRhrzuPYdtKD_IkWq8/s1600/IMG_0367+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_hVnWStUeopFsXU1cWa86QAXJSJZwA5oFrd9QKp5VPWfPTRiyUwlXw6iz3cBic2uDSISRwtrLDPndLIm0fhC5mKcUeKl9nrX2ZpKMxUK4uqqbr7Gk6vhMPe4WZqRhrzuPYdtKD_IkWq8/s1600/IMG_0367+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">yep, drinkin'</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsEuwXXc-yfoNf8oAwXcPCjr7OKvwrNIN4zJtb_EgDHMR8CTgsQp93ZM49g5g-5cPmkjoQj-WkInBtm87e9KP-Ct4pdxANqkUcr7z296h0A6MW9DzZvU2JdodKO0PO1Lbh3RF9txiDU8/s1600/IMG_0275+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinsEuwXXc-yfoNf8oAwXcPCjr7OKvwrNIN4zJtb_EgDHMR8CTgsQp93ZM49g5g-5cPmkjoQj-WkInBtm87e9KP-Ct4pdxANqkUcr7z296h0A6MW9DzZvU2JdodKO0PO1Lbh3RF9txiDU8/s1600/IMG_0275+copy.JPG" height="320" width="227" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa's mommy loves to twirl too</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLMYu3Dl8ueY91aF7us1-6bxKJt1irIUcpWIAWpYfY2JMdCGWnVB-C8h0F-boa-12663ZKM8a3xNxBifF-LqBTV6wGd5PxxpyZwETrPUkD41vNa0lPtfaCF8rlOJksrloJheTikhA6yo/s1600/IMG_0278+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLMYu3Dl8ueY91aF7us1-6bxKJt1irIUcpWIAWpYfY2JMdCGWnVB-C8h0F-boa-12663ZKM8a3xNxBifF-LqBTV6wGd5PxxpyZwETrPUkD41vNa0lPtfaCF8rlOJksrloJheTikhA6yo/s1600/IMG_0278+copy.JPG" height="320" width="287" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the only time i've ever danced to Sinatra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPx4g0hbvHc1eaHG5hr4gREEDd64YhpaESnMYsHXU8_hPIo0XNe0YHzUsYcLiOkb_TAb7LRNuxzv0pMKruxmziF9qYP3X9-jdVgZlY73rnKsi0sdGiKd-6TQ0p6sUidjzK_kB5h65DQvo/s1600/IMG_0288+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPx4g0hbvHc1eaHG5hr4gREEDd64YhpaESnMYsHXU8_hPIo0XNe0YHzUsYcLiOkb_TAb7LRNuxzv0pMKruxmziF9qYP3X9-jdVgZlY73rnKsi0sdGiKd-6TQ0p6sUidjzK_kB5h65DQvo/s1600/IMG_0288+copy.JPG" height="320" width="279" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0UVoCKHhrXHWUy17Dx6YaHHHvdxbcmZLSizB-V4sabyFvfY79MHs0pc7i_XeHQCBpBh4xDQ7IMkztLTyXj4-bBIw1VXYrzvpIws4usgk_lsS5ff5rZma-4W3hiM0xutJaYwCXJDWbS0/s1600/IMG_0290+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt0UVoCKHhrXHWUy17Dx6YaHHHvdxbcmZLSizB-V4sabyFvfY79MHs0pc7i_XeHQCBpBh4xDQ7IMkztLTyXj4-bBIw1VXYrzvpIws4usgk_lsS5ff5rZma-4W3hiM0xutJaYwCXJDWbS0/s1600/IMG_0290+copy.JPG" height="278" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">hold on woman!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaG-ro857P4iycVyJbj_9LzoU1avTPtM0hfjo2YrK8q0Iz_FqqOM_sxzgTnM1XkUl5-kpgOPGFY6TeGwMsW1CfBBNp-NbsfawRLg4ABBP3GXxwn0SMypm7WdxG64tlMMhImO8p48z7XY/s1600/IMG_0301+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJaG-ro857P4iycVyJbj_9LzoU1avTPtM0hfjo2YrK8q0Iz_FqqOM_sxzgTnM1XkUl5-kpgOPGFY6TeGwMsW1CfBBNp-NbsfawRLg4ABBP3GXxwn0SMypm7WdxG64tlMMhImO8p48z7XY/s1600/IMG_0301+copy.JPG" height="320" width="176" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbalEVwJn1r-jYEeyWLR2B7B_nn4gdS03tK0P1oMhPfvg9W5I0dCImLYybgdzIaPbd5j9zqgJbjhcOP8lIit-a8rs1sfRvPdFt1e8wD90JiqrjM8vLZtbn8IOj5W6oIQkDM3xVW5eDFU/s1600/IMG_20150114_122858_696+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjbalEVwJn1r-jYEeyWLR2B7B_nn4gdS03tK0P1oMhPfvg9W5I0dCImLYybgdzIaPbd5j9zqgJbjhcOP8lIit-a8rs1sfRvPdFt1e8wD90JiqrjM8vLZtbn8IOj5W6oIQkDM3xVW5eDFU/s1600/IMG_20150114_122858_696+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lillian the wedding planner - so glad we did everything we did!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka5OEXO7gdaIxMPoCoB7mTebXxHwUcUuvk5ta5i4ze1T4ERJ1sPJ7mPY0vH9RgGEiTg-3VMoXUixc5CP6IgYAC9qDsqOv6ws_cOTIJQ0ucd9-YYeNIFAwBhUJeGoJCe-q9qdLMMZOb68/s1600/IMG_20150115_083349_549+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka5OEXO7gdaIxMPoCoB7mTebXxHwUcUuvk5ta5i4ze1T4ERJ1sPJ7mPY0vH9RgGEiTg-3VMoXUixc5CP6IgYAC9qDsqOv6ws_cOTIJQ0ucd9-YYeNIFAwBhUJeGoJCe-q9qdLMMZOb68/s1600/IMG_20150115_083349_549+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">part of the 2 mile beach in front of our room</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw97IfTNkeZwR1LUm9YQwxC88d_5Nr7k-BJBwMfJSTBon0i7ieTrhYzk8fiiTeDFnKQsXAK7WRT8vGAxQeCb76r1g4p27UDZHOMugQXOQzCxoLiBg7kaFf07i4LkvXyLZNrr9LmJxZj4k/s1600/IMG_20150113_134839_295+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw97IfTNkeZwR1LUm9YQwxC88d_5Nr7k-BJBwMfJSTBon0i7ieTrhYzk8fiiTeDFnKQsXAK7WRT8vGAxQeCb76r1g4p27UDZHOMugQXOQzCxoLiBg7kaFf07i4LkvXyLZNrr9LmJxZj4k/s1600/IMG_20150113_134839_295+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChb2zDQHamTIv0HeY8Bxcx2jmgfbVS6nevDIVerCJUhZNIV5YaYmE44L8vqbbQM2Xq_V5KAUAYt-__DxX8IEYh15961FOI3MeqSU3g7jOz3fwMblvV_vQVpbvy-whQyXt9zARwtLUndg/s1600/P1140010+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgChb2zDQHamTIv0HeY8Bxcx2jmgfbVS6nevDIVerCJUhZNIV5YaYmE44L8vqbbQM2Xq_V5KAUAYt-__DxX8IEYh15961FOI3MeqSU3g7jOz3fwMblvV_vQVpbvy-whQyXt9zARwtLUndg/s1600/P1140010+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a room with a view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OuZIXEMn0oGP_27_0xFtu-24yzTC7-hf2mYT2gRrxMr2PgyL2O6_OldS3YWYj6OPr22TqWGYvo-cEFEpaSWLBU0ZCYYhZMGeq6ZibWBXdvjSAhwjXRcS6wYYN8lR9KyqTvEzGIblYME/s1600/IMG_2641+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OuZIXEMn0oGP_27_0xFtu-24yzTC7-hf2mYT2gRrxMr2PgyL2O6_OldS3YWYj6OPr22TqWGYvo-cEFEpaSWLBU0ZCYYhZMGeq6ZibWBXdvjSAhwjXRcS6wYYN8lR9KyqTvEzGIblYME/s1600/IMG_2641+copy.JPG" height="320" width="285" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">c'mon baby...let's go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After Barcelo we went up the beach to an apartment rental with Sarah and Lisa's Mom for a week. Then Lisa and I went to Belize for 10 days, then back to Isla Mujeres, Mexico for 8 days before coming home.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXh9zT0CHDOEgfpO1Mp8yirFgz-ctGOFSnjMmanO0aZqEUWag1upgX1N_HAXEUJzx91a9ZUqk2Lumr4-bFV47F1tMIE-uffDqk7tZIF3Gap0N-z2kZQcRGCmVHGVPI6NUgIApzWjnomw/s1600/IMG_20150105_142909_470+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXh9zT0CHDOEgfpO1Mp8yirFgz-ctGOFSnjMmanO0aZqEUWag1upgX1N_HAXEUJzx91a9ZUqk2Lumr4-bFV47F1tMIE-uffDqk7tZIF3Gap0N-z2kZQcRGCmVHGVPI6NUgIApzWjnomw/s1600/IMG_20150105_142909_470+copy.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THE most awesome salsa I've ever had!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0Inq-_Sl3__VvNC-HweeMvGYAXXFuhtJTQslmMu08DmfIGExJlHhKBt9ZS2S7ENHZUSsSKfDxr0UOLDw5XZZyyhZJv24Kr0EzUoPeUKVxgDE3Cdyy5-GxfUaASUVGp7WHz_OjZqx_6g/s1600/IMG_20150110_171532_902+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0Inq-_Sl3__VvNC-HweeMvGYAXXFuhtJTQslmMu08DmfIGExJlHhKBt9ZS2S7ENHZUSsSKfDxr0UOLDw5XZZyyhZJv24Kr0EzUoPeUKVxgDE3Cdyy5-GxfUaASUVGp7WHz_OjZqx_6g/s1600/IMG_20150110_171532_902+copy.jpg" height="320" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beach chair - beer - book</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7S8oqTdYxbTipGS2pbNzh0IsZ1ecqdwKewqjzOm0pzDwpHIoyOUuTg98y0Jk7hYzNctw6wzyTsHDkiHejoASGwmTSDpTR_098UI2rN_rU-pjhvKbnA0BlhYSDWb9_GgcNS9iFaAE3pI/s1600/IMG_20150123_120541_250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7S8oqTdYxbTipGS2pbNzh0IsZ1ecqdwKewqjzOm0pzDwpHIoyOUuTg98y0Jk7hYzNctw6wzyTsHDkiHejoASGwmTSDpTR_098UI2rN_rU-pjhvKbnA0BlhYSDWb9_GgcNS9iFaAE3pI/s1600/IMG_20150123_120541_250.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPQNNs6t0s0l0j1DXg3ho5zZHLARkqrRO9TSXQVPc2bMC5Rj6UGciJMNg_vj_eJv1BVAfT0Cvv793ArfVmx7-OkStwkbW8Psv7w3ME3fPa1AfB68x-oqkcMyw7vbo9ixgqnTUKuPP8Xw/s1600/IMG_20150123_120606_529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyPQNNs6t0s0l0j1DXg3ho5zZHLARkqrRO9TSXQVPc2bMC5Rj6UGciJMNg_vj_eJv1BVAfT0Cvv793ArfVmx7-OkStwkbW8Psv7w3ME3fPa1AfB68x-oqkcMyw7vbo9ixgqnTUKuPP8Xw/s1600/IMG_20150123_120606_529.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mission at Valladolid</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLiKKL0ZI-3lrsNVyTA5EMGxvCMY2bwk7Xnfqz9FBF6lLb9Gab1t0PjnwwC7kRcBtdh8_hOQLNrTjTrLU7L-_F0yFoAtT0bmP-T09ZrLCD9AmAq-5Ht8pyGVJUaJkDNRmoQ0LiVFM2MQ/s1600/IMG_20150123_121208_192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLiKKL0ZI-3lrsNVyTA5EMGxvCMY2bwk7Xnfqz9FBF6lLb9Gab1t0PjnwwC7kRcBtdh8_hOQLNrTjTrLU7L-_F0yFoAtT0bmP-T09ZrLCD9AmAq-5Ht8pyGVJUaJkDNRmoQ0LiVFM2MQ/s1600/IMG_20150123_121208_192.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valladolid</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOFGhE9MkEqqwYMEBqe-9OUl8jm2MRsSqSrhl3VONwoQkMWhSV8RNvc7sVZ4K-lZpWWXjgwH7IcNr_rQ9EmIrf5V97p50RZXh7wc_Z3Rgwimm2L4oBA31eHe5ghbjbq8mfs_vR32utys/s1600/IMG_20150123_155803_774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOFGhE9MkEqqwYMEBqe-9OUl8jm2MRsSqSrhl3VONwoQkMWhSV8RNvc7sVZ4K-lZpWWXjgwH7IcNr_rQ9EmIrf5V97p50RZXh7wc_Z3Rgwimm2L4oBA31eHe5ghbjbq8mfs_vR32utys/s1600/IMG_20150123_155803_774.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch fabulous</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6wPXlAkx1PIygPGl9HhSOcQ2RCtPd-wGm-DCkobg5hfLjiBNIw7vbCHeuqq0vurVB9KsOzbSsazxqJogLu5j-LRTZNpDbzH4MELqxB1Z-pHYaWZenJE936q0OZiMAHWZmU29QGWFsjs/s1600/IMG_20150123_173436_997.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib6wPXlAkx1PIygPGl9HhSOcQ2RCtPd-wGm-DCkobg5hfLjiBNIw7vbCHeuqq0vurVB9KsOzbSsazxqJogLu5j-LRTZNpDbzH4MELqxB1Z-pHYaWZenJE936q0OZiMAHWZmU29QGWFsjs/s1600/IMG_20150123_173436_997.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just before we stopped and bought a bathroom sink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_R98lWeV2Atw-TRrQdm_6GRVEdwCNxlMsxqBUHB0W_4EC71IQv9qFQZzyVVSxN-thnC3b0KAh1i10SJp2rbqwgTilm5EsKUm95bSNXkhw9JYTrlxqPA75R1CBZOykQO752g3Dj8OYbE/s1600/IMG_20150127_161506_583.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_R98lWeV2Atw-TRrQdm_6GRVEdwCNxlMsxqBUHB0W_4EC71IQv9qFQZzyVVSxN-thnC3b0KAh1i10SJp2rbqwgTilm5EsKUm95bSNXkhw9JYTrlxqPA75R1CBZOykQO752g3Dj8OYbE/s1600/IMG_20150127_161506_583.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvex4uLQXj5RbwF16UM1jiUaBASe_aH1WitGINn1CdToDoPiRjonnYZxz1HyoH3nXfhYqJtv3EdvZxvT0dmb7eYX86oNu2S9AGqjXd3AW5kcr80Cg3NwGuNNWhGMfAGCe5H3BzNTT-LYg/s1600/IMG_20150127_161526_197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvex4uLQXj5RbwF16UM1jiUaBASe_aH1WitGINn1CdToDoPiRjonnYZxz1HyoH3nXfhYqJtv3EdvZxvT0dmb7eYX86oNu2S9AGqjXd3AW5kcr80Cg3NwGuNNWhGMfAGCe5H3BzNTT-LYg/s1600/IMG_20150127_161526_197.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0bbsnVpD2YHceKVkclMte9NA3qK88Eb-tBGjEXK5NLe7grspi0cOaLfKqm4HzK98fX5KmTrGTHtAja9J_cUMpdwY6sNuoQsLyOz6VfxequLc0zUGT7A5nyVRk8M0Tc11JRx3OlqTLcA/s1600/IMG_20150201_075347_923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM0bbsnVpD2YHceKVkclMte9NA3qK88Eb-tBGjEXK5NLe7grspi0cOaLfKqm4HzK98fX5KmTrGTHtAja9J_cUMpdwY6sNuoQsLyOz6VfxequLc0zUGT7A5nyVRk8M0Tc11JRx3OlqTLcA/s1600/IMG_20150201_075347_923.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X8mUgKOJXW3FCflatKT8B3mCZ1W2-z0W4xbnwWx1tYwdUhfBQURCeEVrhLi7zHE4KAvucY8TCJUUfqhTxCkrLhXnV2JWeRUAxKO74xD_oxd4F28qxdLQLL4DruQRp_Ji3gtn_1tgAaA/s1600/IMG_20150131_183729_286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3X8mUgKOJXW3FCflatKT8B3mCZ1W2-z0W4xbnwWx1tYwdUhfBQURCeEVrhLi7zHE4KAvucY8TCJUUfqhTxCkrLhXnV2JWeRUAxKO74xD_oxd4F28qxdLQLL4DruQRp_Ji3gtn_1tgAaA/s1600/IMG_20150131_183729_286.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNb9WplrDYN_aoWeLv2Bfntx2TLs2BcWkdz48isLj0bLtwyrbPgVfPpueYgGkjTkK138gYIUW65CvePz1YDdQihyphenhyphenKYlKKW1W12NVDlVw4JKvJ1W1ERyAO4LAtaJQdnVHBil24VI4MXl0/s1600/IMG_20150204_134743_123+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNb9WplrDYN_aoWeLv2Bfntx2TLs2BcWkdz48isLj0bLtwyrbPgVfPpueYgGkjTkK138gYIUW65CvePz1YDdQihyphenhyphenKYlKKW1W12NVDlVw4JKvJ1W1ERyAO4LAtaJQdnVHBil24VI4MXl0/s1600/IMG_20150204_134743_123+copy.jpg" height="320" width="152" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Belize City - not amazing!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb1_4vMxuQePufsmC2Z_kR6N2lOwLJACnqogw1E6fA36M-JfRGMLfNUfI9D-bT58RC_C5ICLjkwBcxoIIgDoYLCivTPK8sdsjS7Jau4hLoXyb8uAPAVBn3gIAOu72rGiom9n_CGH_3oY/s1600/IMG_20150204_133753_562+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb1_4vMxuQePufsmC2Z_kR6N2lOwLJACnqogw1E6fA36M-JfRGMLfNUfI9D-bT58RC_C5ICLjkwBcxoIIgDoYLCivTPK8sdsjS7Jau4hLoXyb8uAPAVBn3gIAOu72rGiom9n_CGH_3oY/s1600/IMG_20150204_133753_562+copy.jpg" height="229" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK???</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgB8mIqXY7KLjm9htvoYXF9T7M1_rvfo0lVFJuPPJUl_E0Fp8VRd0IDDckpVC7yYiSKYa9TpBPRyexu3TX7gdVNoE5l08-HMGThajHbOoX7XQL2CY4R1hJYsuZPyx6WrfjAjd6mGQEP4/s1600/IMG_20150204_074357_303+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGgB8mIqXY7KLjm9htvoYXF9T7M1_rvfo0lVFJuPPJUl_E0Fp8VRd0IDDckpVC7yYiSKYa9TpBPRyexu3TX7gdVNoE5l08-HMGThajHbOoX7XQL2CY4R1hJYsuZPyx6WrfjAjd6mGQEP4/s1600/IMG_20150204_074357_303+copy.jpg" height="298" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Blue Bag - waiting for a chicken bus - Belize</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgEqGS1GS5dVzFcPvByT2ApOHJNoItSULCaG0uxAd8YIL91X-ZpcqgFj9dLLKbFoAE2qTqbbq9YmjcQ1bAusgpPHhIJJHip1j19z1daKkU8iVezTML63DypzD_6frmy74u2GcbSVYJxw/s1600/IMG_20150201_183839_121+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgEqGS1GS5dVzFcPvByT2ApOHJNoItSULCaG0uxAd8YIL91X-ZpcqgFj9dLLKbFoAE2qTqbbq9YmjcQ1bAusgpPHhIJJHip1j19z1daKkU8iVezTML63DypzD_6frmy74u2GcbSVYJxw/s1600/IMG_20150201_183839_121+copy.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWwHyB2tOcDmpI1ZQRaUSQpjacgHeZahtRtMuUcnpIp3MBQBVdHuzf51K94JVdHgqru_SnuWiDSsBN8nR8ouaDXylphaRKmP5F72qGJzwTHvzKhYAHt1dLJq8_SnAhWdClcv8l5Aq2ns/s1600/IMG_20150201_080103_129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWwHyB2tOcDmpI1ZQRaUSQpjacgHeZahtRtMuUcnpIp3MBQBVdHuzf51K94JVdHgqru_SnuWiDSsBN8nR8ouaDXylphaRKmP5F72qGJzwTHvzKhYAHt1dLJq8_SnAhWdClcv8l5Aq2ns/s1600/IMG_20150201_080103_129.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tobacco Caye, Belize</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnBOBNvNCFDNRITpT2IJwvhBqf-FNb8Mc8oIa8yrq680dRQKLtO4k__dVaZwRHflAP_iT8tK9oDzkTPovvkme3a6E-WsKf1n7SgHpvCgEdbe67KzTDAPvv9smASZlSGfNO76vUvm6fpk/s1600/IMG_20150206_143628_117+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbnBOBNvNCFDNRITpT2IJwvhBqf-FNb8Mc8oIa8yrq680dRQKLtO4k__dVaZwRHflAP_iT8tK9oDzkTPovvkme3a6E-WsKf1n7SgHpvCgEdbe67KzTDAPvv9smASZlSGfNO76vUvm6fpk/s1600/IMG_20150206_143628_117+copy.jpg" height="132" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sailfishing tournament while we were in Isla Mujeres</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isla Mujeres, Mexico - water better than Belize</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One Barrel Rum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">$35/night Dangriga, Belize</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa's first fish ever; a 15lb Barracuda</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mahi Mahi for dinner: Tobacco Caye, Belize</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cahal Pech - San Ignacio, Belize</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC2DTeInQAMr6Ee6F_Qsd5kx-CXkyuzdiBJaMDvTYfZ2N-SoQPxGiP-8smV_Z3tHWIiiwmChu0kk9QRy1jGQolxPc3lb3Oh-oQ3NBkNN8H0n2OymmddnL1wcBZmNok8-6S29URGrjE-Q/s1600/P1290139+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC2DTeInQAMr6Ee6F_Qsd5kx-CXkyuzdiBJaMDvTYfZ2N-SoQPxGiP-8smV_Z3tHWIiiwmChu0kk9QRy1jGQolxPc3lb3Oh-oQ3NBkNN8H0n2OymmddnL1wcBZmNok8-6S29URGrjE-Q/s1600/P1290139+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5BAtSCgC3xleMRLCfxe9jFB5dlrW_MQoDZLW05wVXb_iBNkatfmxjkoMlwYIDINY3VQPTl1RSGnCUfyZ6K53pKQ_JuIvyYJMKZ0bOfXOtZqEBCgZWROg38N38HhA-r_NXMNAHVjDXWA/s1600/IMG_20150212_140801_748+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5BAtSCgC3xleMRLCfxe9jFB5dlrW_MQoDZLW05wVXb_iBNkatfmxjkoMlwYIDINY3VQPTl1RSGnCUfyZ6K53pKQ_JuIvyYJMKZ0bOfXOtZqEBCgZWROg38N38HhA-r_NXMNAHVjDXWA/s1600/IMG_20150212_140801_748+copy.jpg" height="332" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a boat...then a cab...a bus...a plane...then home...boo-hoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_PvdoExf8aH1Ex7XmcvnvlFxfSvZX1vt6q8EodPPe2TQGfyipfDAyV2J7BOr0dJcKjwoZ-RI5oiiAA09AsuIdMYqHrHYvwjtgY_yPLLwI_XOHr3qoW9YzpHzTxQ_1D9LdiYIZ206b_w/s1600/IMG_20150211_184327_421+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_PvdoExf8aH1Ex7XmcvnvlFxfSvZX1vt6q8EodPPe2TQGfyipfDAyV2J7BOr0dJcKjwoZ-RI5oiiAA09AsuIdMYqHrHYvwjtgY_yPLLwI_XOHr3qoW9YzpHzTxQ_1D9LdiYIZ206b_w/s1600/IMG_20150211_184327_421+copy.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not goodbye, it's: <i>until I see you again</i></td></tr>
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-31537242416319924852014-10-29T19:20:00.001-06:002021-07-31T17:10:55.260-06:00A Deso Ranger Life<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i>a deso rangers life is as jolly as can be</i><br />
<i>like George Bradley‘s fellows – happy go lucky</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>jolly as can be just like the rat</i><br />
<i>only more like huck finn up on his raft</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we punch no time clock</i><br />
<i>nor tie our boats to a dock</i><br />
<i></i><br />
<a name='more'></a><i>we boatman dance</i><br />
<i>and we flip flop ranch</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we fix trailer springs</i><br />
<i>and buy wedding rings</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we clean the shit houses</i><br />
<i>we catch the damn mouses</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we tear out the floor</i><br />
<i>then get cursed by the whore</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we make oars not squeak</i><br />
<i>we curse a blue streak</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>a deso rangers life is a jolly good reason</i><br />
<i>to come back to this shit season after season</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
the BLM gives us no course on DOI learn<br />
to quickly click through a certificate to earn<br />
<br />
a certificate to cope with the office in town<br />
the droids will retire with hearts still un-found<br />
<br />
we’ll wait them out at the cost of some sleep<br />
cause no one else will before the ranger boat sinks<br />
<br />
we load our truck then drive to Sandwash<br />
on Tuesday night before they look<br />
<br />
looking for whiskey – the bishop hopes he does find<br />
his law has been blessed by the angel moroni<br />
<br />
we plan and we shop the beans and the stew<br />
then heat it and mix it and feed it to a crew<br />
<br />
a crew we do feed – for it’s been determined a danger<br />
to do a solo patrol as a deso ranger<br />
<br />
we cuss the three’s we’ve not seen for days<br />
then drink the beer they said we can’t take<br />
<br />
we sleep in the dirt cause that’s where we’re home<br />
here where it matters; our epitome<br />
<br />
morning sun in July the heat that it brings<br />
happy to discover the cool of the stream<br />
<br />
we fix our tents, and boats, some elbow joints<br />each other with grogg on Tuesday night<br />
<br />
we wear out shoulders, and curse the dumb luck<br />
that we didn’t swim when we fucked that last one up<br />
<br />
the wind at low water, not an inch is free<br />
the boaters slap bugs that they swear they see<br />
<br />
another day in the sun is done at dusk, not before<br />
a pad made by paco is our bed on the shore<br />
<br />
the ribbon of stars are above, they help us sleep sound<br />
between the walls that saw the Major float down<br />
<br />
we’re out here in the sun and the bugs and the space<br />
not a better place to parking lot officiate<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>a deso rangers life is as jolly as can be</i><br />
<i>like George Bradley ‘s fellows – happy go lucky</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>jolly as can be just like the rat</i><br />
<i>only more like huck finn up on his raft</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we punch no time clock</i><br />
<i>nor tie our boats to a dock</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we boatman dance</i><br />
<i>and we flip flop ranch</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we fix trailer springs</i><br />
<i>and buy wedding rings</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we clean the shit houses</i><br />
<i>we catch the damn mouses</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we tear out the floor</i><br />
<i>then get cursed by the whore</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>we make oars not squeak</i><br />
<i>we curse a blue streak</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>a deso rangers life is a jolly good reason</i><br />
<i>to come back to this shit season after season</i><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-28556198262951027562014-09-21T14:59:00.000-06:002014-09-22T16:04:44.343-06:00Wasatch Plateau Aspen Color Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If wonderful-ness were a tree....</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NfjooogRWl5Gxaw3ATxqO_tu2qGBG-UE0AOyHXmwp6ScIhCMNodW-vqcCeb5bnpxoGz3UMHaeR5_fibcMVNJYMY5Eid2APsl_KHcHB7aYlKgqcA4lthcpNjeOAmCdVg9-N5RpSo9qwo/s1600/IMG_20140919_085530_343+copy+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NfjooogRWl5Gxaw3ATxqO_tu2qGBG-UE0AOyHXmwp6ScIhCMNodW-vqcCeb5bnpxoGz3UMHaeR5_fibcMVNJYMY5Eid2APsl_KHcHB7aYlKgqcA4lthcpNjeOAmCdVg9-N5RpSo9qwo/s1600/IMG_20140919_085530_343+copy+3.jpg" height="162" width="400" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>...it could be a Bristlecone Pine having hung onto a slab of granite at 13,000 feet for 2,500 winters. Or, it could be a Fremont Cottonwood along the river that watched John Wesley Powell float by in his rickety boats. It could be a stately old Ponderosa Pine growing tall and proud having avoided the axe of a settler looking for lumber. Just as likely, pure wonderfulness would live in a grove of Aspen trees, who prepared all year, for the annual splendor of the fall color.<br />
<br />
This past weekend Lisa and I took a trip to see some Aspens in fall color. Just as importantly to camp under them where we could smell the loveliness of the fallen leaves, and awake to the unique singing of the tree canopy stirred by the midnight breeze. If Utah had anything close to the Great Smoky Mountain Parkway it'd be a place called the Skyline Road. Skyline road is a rough dirt road that traverses a wonderful plateau region called the Wasatch Plateau. The plateau forms part of the eastern boundary of The Great Basin and lies at about 10,000'. It is sparsely covered by Aspen trees with an unobstructed view in almost every direction for miles and miles. Our original intent was to make it far enough south to camp under the cover of the Pondo tree; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pando_(tree)" target="_blank">the worlds largest living organism</a>. As it turned out I was sick with a cold and it seemed Lisa was getting it too so after the second night out we headed for home. We didn't make it to Pando, but we did get to a wonderful place called The Grove of Aspen Giants. Thankfully, at some point in time there was a romanticist working for the forest service who was unabashed about naming this grove a name that it deserved. Truly huge Aspens! I thought we saw big Aspens a couple years ago on Table Mountain in Nevada, but these were much bigger.<br />
Despite 100 miles of dirt road I was glad that the old '77 ran like a faithful steed yet again, carrying us to the hinterlands of Utah for a dose of fall color tailgate camping.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwLEhW9nkmtB897USIhenrghSUzms314Vh_-FeinCdr28IhR80Hi1KWGpw1VRrU2HG6lCHHiUdlmy4cFVyX6QdGvUb_8-TKDJkSGORZ-eb9t89N0vdKAj8KJUR8uDwlqMkaU4Gn03fXQ/s1600/IMG_20140918_192218_776+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwLEhW9nkmtB897USIhenrghSUzms314Vh_-FeinCdr28IhR80Hi1KWGpw1VRrU2HG6lCHHiUdlmy4cFVyX6QdGvUb_8-TKDJkSGORZ-eb9t89N0vdKAj8KJUR8uDwlqMkaU4Gn03fXQ/s1600/IMG_20140918_192218_776+copy.jpg" height="233" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">dinner ala tailgate</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRrcDqc_u0vvLZ3UoGisbVjnZRM-J69FDzLNj261Dwp5wMzmwkC-kxN_deYRF64Ql93QRnQZ2PmKtyZ_hDmRHVT0HdqWaLva38T2WQ7loXTPZsg2TdQL6YCdeZM5rN8seavUxU3LbNi0/s1600/IMG_20140919_085530_343+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxRrcDqc_u0vvLZ3UoGisbVjnZRM-J69FDzLNj261Dwp5wMzmwkC-kxN_deYRF64Ql93QRnQZ2PmKtyZ_hDmRHVT0HdqWaLva38T2WQ7loXTPZsg2TdQL6YCdeZM5rN8seavUxU3LbNi0/s1600/IMG_20140919_085530_343+copy.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm99Lo1LnAg33hos5BqIm7L_j77ChyFHWc4cUXzkvCU5iNS4MyqC4JNhSQ5DA_c8JwRXtzsa6aPyndmXv10-Kvkp4wXzkHfIema0RCq5u5qAyhRtuTUXgEiLAYJNjRuXPC5UuvVA9cg04/s1600/IMG_20140919_090647_461+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm99Lo1LnAg33hos5BqIm7L_j77ChyFHWc4cUXzkvCU5iNS4MyqC4JNhSQ5DA_c8JwRXtzsa6aPyndmXv10-Kvkp4wXzkHfIema0RCq5u5qAyhRtuTUXgEiLAYJNjRuXPC5UuvVA9cg04/s1600/IMG_20140919_090647_461+copy.jpg" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the Skyline Drive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosKddoJ4oIR2eZJ6mB5ehNPy2WJsaLFOGJUwr7i1t5EbLB8eGYxkU_Tc4nbui01DXJCaCC7Fer2jwtnbOyFDWiVNcf9ism0O-lxOg5Yx7zAZ4qjWbIT-h1JJeDgmchqNL2uXUt38uPPo/s1600/IMG_20140919_142607_621+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgosKddoJ4oIR2eZJ6mB5ehNPy2WJsaLFOGJUwr7i1t5EbLB8eGYxkU_Tc4nbui01DXJCaCC7Fer2jwtnbOyFDWiVNcf9ism0O-lxOg5Yx7zAZ4qjWbIT-h1JJeDgmchqNL2uXUt38uPPo/s1600/IMG_20140919_142607_621+copy.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">big tree...little hugger</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8kciF_hKUYysO27TqaOE8rx9MZIDC7MGx42yJbwWVldPt4-ZqnZ_BDgvkI4J0Tcj1N63uDkEXAaMWkcDS-iWOtlIMh7GP9pWXKmfKdmFt0wzG5RxO_gJ-AWsTu6IFT-BGe25hq3iXRI/s1600/IMG_20140919_171748_447+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8kciF_hKUYysO27TqaOE8rx9MZIDC7MGx42yJbwWVldPt4-ZqnZ_BDgvkI4J0Tcj1N63uDkEXAaMWkcDS-iWOtlIMh7GP9pWXKmfKdmFt0wzG5RxO_gJ-AWsTu6IFT-BGe25hq3iXRI/s1600/IMG_20140919_171748_447+copy.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">official tailgate camping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzkGFq2gy6QySMZFVxyqDIJZHVgbgtPUwRdx8alAOJgU4oJi6nErA4tCUGMUYH7-aQygX1Ftq_mR980pNHKU4dQElGQjFn7yfQxREgHkuW469rnSTdMHFteP7jSsWUEYoicTuJGXO9-U/s1600/IMG_20140919_185509_941+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOzkGFq2gy6QySMZFVxyqDIJZHVgbgtPUwRdx8alAOJgU4oJi6nErA4tCUGMUYH7-aQygX1Ftq_mR980pNHKU4dQElGQjFn7yfQxREgHkuW469rnSTdMHFteP7jSsWUEYoicTuJGXO9-U/s1600/IMG_20140919_185509_941+copy.jpg" height="260" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMJ3bTLFATbxBMUitdH7dqApDM3kjS-myYBnOpRJaq3pBb0hMofuk1AWt6szQbbNaLGk9DKSfpWPT_hM4p2NqAaQasqAFKl1O6JnU4YBQUbHJ0ZLe-jqJ7JidoPCQSZz1Z4VId6-bXbA/s1600/IMG_20140919_190217_627+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdMJ3bTLFATbxBMUitdH7dqApDM3kjS-myYBnOpRJaq3pBb0hMofuk1AWt6szQbbNaLGk9DKSfpWPT_hM4p2NqAaQasqAFKl1O6JnU4YBQUbHJ0ZLe-jqJ7JidoPCQSZz1Z4VId6-bXbA/s1600/IMG_20140919_190217_627+copy+2.jpg" height="320" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the faithful steed waits</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ume_grojvPCTxzE2xt3ynQ4ZLwgMSNU4xO9T5i2MG771HKkNN5B8yisCFd_M4h2X1AQvNDY2AnPnyhZy0qlcyGjgcAPHC0NZ1TfAPBpsTKf0gbXAvASH93Tk9abkRr-y38dxB2xb_aE/s1600/IMG_20140919_190403_802+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ume_grojvPCTxzE2xt3ynQ4ZLwgMSNU4xO9T5i2MG771HKkNN5B8yisCFd_M4h2X1AQvNDY2AnPnyhZy0qlcyGjgcAPHC0NZ1TfAPBpsTKf0gbXAvASH93Tk9abkRr-y38dxB2xb_aE/s1600/IMG_20140919_190403_802+copy.jpg" height="640" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">biggest aspen I've ever seen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grove of Aspen Giants</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">graffiti turned hieroglyph</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd2QO4cnIyKJXV-l3fuabUoplaEcz0tyJVjvuhQ-zBbJfajBEcZc4ITY8KMqmgl2StRBJa9Rx3tXNiYYM3KEnc9vBw-69Df_Jw9oihhcnDp0SquUjr90psMbMyf6_xeXBlHsSVTVP0RU/s1600/IMG_20140919_142655_413+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEd2QO4cnIyKJXV-l3fuabUoplaEcz0tyJVjvuhQ-zBbJfajBEcZc4ITY8KMqmgl2StRBJa9Rx3tXNiYYM3KEnc9vBw-69Df_Jw9oihhcnDp0SquUjr90psMbMyf6_xeXBlHsSVTVP0RU/s1600/IMG_20140919_142655_413+copy.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a><br />
<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-65203191988805517612014-09-03T07:10:00.000-06:002014-09-18T05:56:01.294-06:00Wilderness in the Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">This summer, as the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act approached, I was reminded of a trip I did a couple years ago when an interesting aspect of wilderness first occurred to me. </span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Cambria;">Much of the time people associate Wilderness with the cold hard ground, something that is easily quantifiable in acres. My years have taught me that Wilderness is not only the landscape or the wildlife, or the constellations of a dark sky. To me, Wilderness is the sum of the way with which wild things relate to each other. If our civilization removes a species, or dams a river then a critical link in Wilderness is gone and the land is not as wild as it once was. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">When a river swells with highwater in the spring it is usually due to snowmelt running out of the mountains. This melt water, hurried along by gravity, soon turns to a torrent gathering what ever is in its way; trees, bison, houses, the very earth itself, everything, tearing downhill like a wild beast. The dam builders would say it’s "<i>out of control</i>". I would say this is the way it's supposed to happen, but all too often in our day and age this annual wildness of the rivers is tamed by the placement of dams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><i>Where we are tonight the river roars and foams like a wild beast</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><i>George Bradley - June 11, 1869</i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The Flaming Gorge dam on the Green River is a long ways upstream of Desolation Canyon. Far enough, actually, that the Green has a good chance of gathering it's steam again, with some help, before it flows into Desolation Canyon. The "help" of which I speak is that of the Yampa River. The Yampa is not dammed, or damned, however you choose to look at it, therefore, the wildness of the Yampa water is intact, and tearing downhill like a wild beast, when it collides with the Green at Echo Park.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">The wildness that the Yampa gives the water in the Green is a very special thing about the Green River in Desolation Canyon. The river water is wilderness. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I floated a ranger patrol trip on the Green River through Desolation Canyon in June of 2011 at ~50,000cfs. </span><span style="font-family: Cambria;">I thought the character of the river was fascinating in several ways. The current was very fast and filled Desolation Canyon from bank to bank and then some. When there were eddies they were nothing I wanted to be associated with. Most had aggressive eddy fences and were full of the surging weight of fifty foot long trees. There was wilderness in the water, and it made me shake with nervous anxiety, but it made me smile too. There were eddies within eddies that made trying to read the water a unique chore. Occasionally I would get an oar violently snatched out of my hand. Some of the eddy fences, like at Dripping Springs, were 6 or 8 feet high and easily big enough to flip a 16’ raft. I didn't think things were washed out, as I've heard in the past the river gets at high water. Waves were not as numerous, but when they were there they were big ocean looking swells followed by building and breaking wave trains, with awful eddies full of debris on each side. Some of the biggest rocks in the river corridor such as at Moonwater, Joe Hutch Creek, Wirefence, and Jacks Rock, usually way out of the water, were submerged, creating terrible looking hydraulic holes as big as a greyhound bus lying on it's side. I noticed that while camping below rapids, and watching the river, it appeared that the water piled up in the middle of the river, below the rapid, like there was too much of it to flow downstream at one time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">As I spend years in Desolation Canyon it has begun to occur to me that my work to provide for the continued wild character of this place has become reciprocal. The river and the canyon bring me much joy. This trip, while I slept on shore, I could feel the vibration of the river, through the earth. It seemed to me that the river was having fun, like it was experiencing much joy. The water in the river was in the full colorful regalia, of its undammed wildness. The river was muddy, full of debris, and proud. I sat like a spectator at a rare sighting, because it was, and watched the river go by and I was proud of its wildness!</span><br />
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-14890045094199779682014-08-25T21:14:00.000-06:002014-09-08T07:14:49.013-06:00Yellowstone - Shoshone LakeWe made a plan this summer to meet Lisa's parents at Yellowstone for some car camping and thought it'd be a swell time for a hike and a hitch back to the car. After a rainy, two night hike into Shoshone Lake we met them at Old Faithful Village then rode to DeLacy Creek Trailhead where we left the car. When the four of us got to Grant Village we set up a rainy campsite for a couple nights of cold camping. The next day topped out at 45 degrees which was a bit cool compared the 95 degree Utah we left behind.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my silly ballerina</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camp 8S3 - Shoshone Lake - night one</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a soggy 8S3</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">steely grey morning - thank god for coffee!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluff Campsite 8R2</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Descent into Old Faithful Village</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of the photographers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">someone brought Doritos and Rainer</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a vat of chili</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coffee and fire</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Yellowstone!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Hotel at Lake Village</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">someone brought northwest wine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow last night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">s'mores</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-76878349166504545482014-08-13T18:24:00.000-06:002014-09-04T18:40:28.994-06:00High Uintas - E. Fork Blacks Fork<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
While Lisa and I were crossing the Highline Trail our favorite part was what we patched together between the East Fork Blacks Fork and Red Castle. To put it all together was a memorable trip of fantastic scenery....and a reckoning of sorts with the lightning that scared me senseless in Oweep in summer 2013.</div>
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....will write about that, and more, later this winter when I have some time. </div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-e2JEMnfkCRAq7wWKGX0P3qubeuctATV7P0PlW9cLlrDlAibfGbYPIcaJp7RDHz2MbUlUaCS23a32IiTS1AFV5GBx5aVZpZlCFKr18QYOQUMo45M_BnA_ovYUOlTXijE9vTJA79_pEw/s1600/P8110115+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj-e2JEMnfkCRAq7wWKGX0P3qubeuctATV7P0PlW9cLlrDlAibfGbYPIcaJp7RDHz2MbUlUaCS23a32IiTS1AFV5GBx5aVZpZlCFKr18QYOQUMo45M_BnA_ovYUOlTXijE9vTJA79_pEw/s1600/P8110115+copy.JPG" height="373" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">these boots are made for walkin'</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVO8UFPoG2-Ukc2M3C1rF3cw-wtbD2gm-S1Iweff6gbyDAdtJrCYfzMcz25iOsN0nYemAAL_Rk_defVScFPu3kkSBTl_ZSLOUZzsFhtB2eBSEYNhrtpUTaXu4vCVybvNOfYrZw4d8-eU/s1600/P8080002+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVO8UFPoG2-Ukc2M3C1rF3cw-wtbD2gm-S1Iweff6gbyDAdtJrCYfzMcz25iOsN0nYemAAL_Rk_defVScFPu3kkSBTl_ZSLOUZzsFhtB2eBSEYNhrtpUTaXu4vCVybvNOfYrZw4d8-eU/s1600/P8080002+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mile 0 of 46</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVffUVazvVvcesaDwkgtBSBoiBU9MNPfUUV8NqumdcD5t4SFg6QK6HNc0p8Og5uWGmoSqacYuW2IcLYV-4jJQ4yGU6z2J4UnWb4BcwFARpZ7akmXzEau5iEaah7ieOU45Xa7vSXzlURsU/s1600/P8080003+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVffUVazvVvcesaDwkgtBSBoiBU9MNPfUUV8NqumdcD5t4SFg6QK6HNc0p8Og5uWGmoSqacYuW2IcLYV-4jJQ4yGU6z2J4UnWb4BcwFARpZ7akmXzEau5iEaah7ieOU45Xa7vSXzlURsU/s1600/P8080003+copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Fork Blacks Fork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsVYXbYLIil8QhxUz2b5cmTP8I0VIxLn3frxQp2fUiyHsADLc-uDXiNcEuZwDWJJEtdNHjTs-Rvi7Sh0uIVCLnSoxpymJg1wcGfx38ydwFk5lfO8kXZfFh4HMa8fqm1wyZ8rNVTdM60M/s1600/P8080007+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsVYXbYLIil8QhxUz2b5cmTP8I0VIxLn3frxQp2fUiyHsADLc-uDXiNcEuZwDWJJEtdNHjTs-Rvi7Sh0uIVCLnSoxpymJg1wcGfx38ydwFk5lfO8kXZfFh4HMa8fqm1wyZ8rNVTdM60M/s1600/P8080007+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East Fork soggy walking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX8_ybPBT-A32tAbN5Ijn3WofOmxbvN8EF_2XL0aOhc8rn9kbVrbmHfT5PcQ1pl7spQ8tIjkaQRnU7-9eXOjwhOcL2Y2p451k_IhwbGLX02pZ0NCH4SzC3-TjQLtJ_HqpQcExnznOYLk/s1600/P8080012+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxX8_ybPBT-A32tAbN5Ijn3WofOmxbvN8EF_2XL0aOhc8rn9kbVrbmHfT5PcQ1pl7spQ8tIjkaQRnU7-9eXOjwhOcL2Y2p451k_IhwbGLX02pZ0NCH4SzC3-TjQLtJ_HqpQcExnznOYLk/s1600/P8080012+copy.JPG" height="320" width="285" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjAHo8VShfL8mKsqRW5lkFPlaM8lvWT_iwt18kXp9by3iX4BlYncGIuv_dBzPrjQ7ApkoORHroDsX2pgKZdQZeFD825Z5Af2rv2XKgZskAe0vXvMG1RuzrKIHtUKWWTwFUZXqfBBY2gk/s1600/P8090017+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjAHo8VShfL8mKsqRW5lkFPlaM8lvWT_iwt18kXp9by3iX4BlYncGIuv_dBzPrjQ7ApkoORHroDsX2pgKZdQZeFD825Z5Af2rv2XKgZskAe0vXvMG1RuzrKIHtUKWWTwFUZXqfBBY2gk/s1600/P8090017+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">top of East Fork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTALy9yKFOe44rdLZFhfTiWojApzbEKDcfXEokodrBctGRJ0d6t18vUeDtxHn46TiuKFPU0bS3kH370HrpDj0P4sSGrPP4Hk0FT41jomyjZi9x3yu9yu1VLbAVp39b9yX2vovV3nxxKWg/s1600/P8090025+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTALy9yKFOe44rdLZFhfTiWojApzbEKDcfXEokodrBctGRJ0d6t18vUeDtxHn46TiuKFPU0bS3kH370HrpDj0P4sSGrPP4Hk0FT41jomyjZi9x3yu9yu1VLbAVp39b9yX2vovV3nxxKWg/s1600/P8090025+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Filtering tundra water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5TUlLO-8u3xxR3QMbs8XLMp_ToJ8_h9CLzotmBAbV6G_AAv8m4wZxbF1fxHojZy1EcQ0UEe_zBR5KkVZ3W9fQSOSMLNkRGp_yD5seahGI_YBD9-nAbxC6l1PV-llbsfHGwdlS7VNu4s/s1600/P8090033+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5TUlLO-8u3xxR3QMbs8XLMp_ToJ8_h9CLzotmBAbV6G_AAv8m4wZxbF1fxHojZy1EcQ0UEe_zBR5KkVZ3W9fQSOSMLNkRGp_yD5seahGI_YBD9-nAbxC6l1PV-llbsfHGwdlS7VNu4s/s1600/P8090033+copy.JPG" height="186" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Explorer Peak from Red Knob Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEZ2Oe_E3tN_7BODwoQAETQdxZDXXLQQxkF-yr0AttUPQkZ-6erYl5hJj8Ln9OlgP91dm_N8Pq3obBLMRwGv3q8tCgK82HQeUyMGsIasYnR7NmQwX5JTJpmTAH0j3Ks4P1pPqAqO-D70/s1600/P8090035+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEZ2Oe_E3tN_7BODwoQAETQdxZDXXLQQxkF-yr0AttUPQkZ-6erYl5hJj8Ln9OlgP91dm_N8Pq3obBLMRwGv3q8tCgK82HQeUyMGsIasYnR7NmQwX5JTJpmTAH0j3Ks4P1pPqAqO-D70/s1600/P8090035+copy.JPG" height="156" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead Horse from Red Knob Pass</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMBKa20RM0vbsaCR_5yHRn-LROlaqxobJ6totSR5TAvnGloGiPcw_wMv3m00zeofTzDkum0ApLWjV4-gwmIhQoejoRgJoR_C6bKnUMzS1VG_2mEDt8qazgUSrVPOjsPCN5mSdplTJtlU/s1600/P8100039+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMBKa20RM0vbsaCR_5yHRn-LROlaqxobJ6totSR5TAvnGloGiPcw_wMv3m00zeofTzDkum0ApLWjV4-gwmIhQoejoRgJoR_C6bKnUMzS1VG_2mEDt8qazgUSrVPOjsPCN5mSdplTJtlU/s1600/P8100039+copy.JPG" height="228" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">alpine water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_DS0YjrmuKSNJddrMGHzmVo4xPPsBnYM71qg8agGdAlELx8blHW7fYBVtISGeSLbRFJ5FVu2F8S3WcpbJVmNFMOg_YPsYKy2JWB0zGL-Xt0i9j9gZ8mWPsINi99tIqmDyioMn9WtObA/s1600/P8100041+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_DS0YjrmuKSNJddrMGHzmVo4xPPsBnYM71qg8agGdAlELx8blHW7fYBVtISGeSLbRFJ5FVu2F8S3WcpbJVmNFMOg_YPsYKy2JWB0zGL-Xt0i9j9gZ8mWPsINi99tIqmDyioMn9WtObA/s1600/P8100041+copy.JPG" height="164" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite in upper Lake Fork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvMb9cvbPTUfWpbfg7TP1NdCSffDuJ3RImEEefmXruvC00875v_V42TsY-S8IbJgvn4TX6Dh1ELC5Ztvbc4mwMA8FyNSzrMmNggSAmrgFo7hvOMcwhPYAAihq51H1EbaWSA_rj5vul2w/s1600/P8100045+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbvMb9cvbPTUfWpbfg7TP1NdCSffDuJ3RImEEefmXruvC00875v_V42TsY-S8IbJgvn4TX6Dh1ELC5Ztvbc4mwMA8FyNSzrMmNggSAmrgFo7hvOMcwhPYAAihq51H1EbaWSA_rj5vul2w/s1600/P8100045+copy.JPG" height="320" width="297" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Door Ranch - Oweep Basin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y5mZM9tk9YLlGwOq7H1015we51SA4VXXw7Lc_xLTThyrf3NIPPrs5pf2j3Twg4wbxgRbliES-_ZErSn1YM1ZuLNwJvFK8NrFSG6QVgbfsPFl4KcXUkR0sIrfdIykLwNL_y8rbZMbmRM/s1600/P8100047+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y5mZM9tk9YLlGwOq7H1015we51SA4VXXw7Lc_xLTThyrf3NIPPrs5pf2j3Twg4wbxgRbliES-_ZErSn1YM1ZuLNwJvFK8NrFSG6QVgbfsPFl4KcXUkR0sIrfdIykLwNL_y8rbZMbmRM/s1600/P8100047+copy.JPG" height="320" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thoughtful construction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMSaeUsdgfbinWgMJinnBP8B9ShGuPLVS-0W4Tn9XMlaMejkNPMqOCsjPEk7JxQKYNqsJiJ13jOvWFjcD7ky39gQOsoEglXgZeG1AWPyVSwPr3mc4xP7plTZdJ06eP6lbIn9MASfwaNM/s1600/P8100050+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMSaeUsdgfbinWgMJinnBP8B9ShGuPLVS-0W4Tn9XMlaMejkNPMqOCsjPEk7JxQKYNqsJiJ13jOvWFjcD7ky39gQOsoEglXgZeG1AWPyVSwPr3mc4xP7plTZdJ06eP6lbIn9MASfwaNM/s1600/P8100050+copy.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcXXo1-HRlAFDQQldinu8nsDXNSXbO0tcIJOjR62BgP4ZJAFKK5kyJ_Uo12AZOJmQijhPcC37-SUkLQPtnGdQO0DFYCd4usqKuK1AKaDHKMAjuLYPFxFIDpnUkB093V7R32-fbNw9GN0/s1600/P8100054+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVcXXo1-HRlAFDQQldinu8nsDXNSXbO0tcIJOjR62BgP4ZJAFKK5kyJ_Uo12AZOJmQijhPcC37-SUkLQPtnGdQO0DFYCd4usqKuK1AKaDHKMAjuLYPFxFIDpnUkB093V7R32-fbNw9GN0/s1600/P8100054+copy.JPG" height="172" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing the Wonderful Oweep</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8JrasqkBiQEh9SkHRwLm3n8oM0wWoNx8-5J51nRKgmcpF_C9SUuoMn4N99PLQbXj4NOATt85WHW4fnpcWJxOJ780t6_FFGw4rfWXpbgQ3n5mFKh5OjXc5aYbJ_aQfSgHpN7AuNO8uVU/s1600/P8100059+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8JrasqkBiQEh9SkHRwLm3n8oM0wWoNx8-5J51nRKgmcpF_C9SUuoMn4N99PLQbXj4NOATt85WHW4fnpcWJxOJ780t6_FFGw4rfWXpbgQ3n5mFKh5OjXc5aYbJ_aQfSgHpN7AuNO8uVU/s1600/P8100059+copy.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chasing a storm to Porcupine Pass</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5yes0TljCNc39KD4isREWNq-Y_BRaMIpVz67Ga7g1Ru-lnE3jdTZpUWZBD_SHcLxGZhnU_q8MLCL9pgCMexw-FiDcw_A99Yt9yuP0j3NJ2hyoUYNxyJbMKQX5E6SFGUmvBZYQgYBbCI/s1600/P8100060+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5yes0TljCNc39KD4isREWNq-Y_BRaMIpVz67Ga7g1Ru-lnE3jdTZpUWZBD_SHcLxGZhnU_q8MLCL9pgCMexw-FiDcw_A99Yt9yuP0j3NJ2hyoUYNxyJbMKQX5E6SFGUmvBZYQgYBbCI/s1600/P8100060+copy.JPG" height="263" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Porcupine Exposure</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfuXzJ87aVWV-fR_xFPWmahsOxwWLGJ2Rqx-trjutHawYFcz2XFc2YrfNDSyvwkih-M5NRX_GkzrapNrCA6a9LuuAsT1EZQcVmag1eOo1100l-VQsMq2ThR9SFT7lPOuR21l_7Mi3w2E/s1600/P8100064+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfuXzJ87aVWV-fR_xFPWmahsOxwWLGJ2Rqx-trjutHawYFcz2XFc2YrfNDSyvwkih-M5NRX_GkzrapNrCA6a9LuuAsT1EZQcVmag1eOo1100l-VQsMq2ThR9SFT7lPOuR21l_7Mi3w2E/s1600/P8100064+copy.JPG" height="376" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/2 way up Porcupine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Billygoats on Porcupine Pass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting out a hailstorm above North Star Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">tough little Columbine</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">happy and free</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely Red Castle</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bullwinkle and crew eating theyselves some grass</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Mountain Trail</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bald Mountain</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossing 11,000' Bald Mountain tundra</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two little cuties</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-60566251241479442612014-07-30T17:12:00.000-06:002014-09-08T07:12:48.635-06:00Backpackin' w/Cody the KidLast summer Lisa and I were chatting as we walked along the crest of the High Uintas Wilderness when she suggested we take Cody on a backpacking trip.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKjBlzZZH4QCiiHQTPr3wg_cRw8VGpCH79_7KYqlh4OMhTkP2ed5rgcdNxquUqyljSveF0pHGcrGtS2OFTmxGrcoIkmSEP0WBJSu_cX3HFBE3e2x79QWY32_n0-jJmU_9qKUKJZ-Ilrs/s1600/P7260256+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKjBlzZZH4QCiiHQTPr3wg_cRw8VGpCH79_7KYqlh4OMhTkP2ed5rgcdNxquUqyljSveF0pHGcrGtS2OFTmxGrcoIkmSEP0WBJSu_cX3HFBE3e2x79QWY32_n0-jJmU_9qKUKJZ-Ilrs/s1600/P7260256+copy.JPG" height="320" width="267" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>Since Cody was 6 months old he and I have done most of our trips with no one else along. Once I was accused of child abuse when we pulled the canoe off of a blustery lake in Glacier Park. When he was just beginning to talk I had him saying "hey bear" from a baby backpack as we walked through the low lying Grizzly bear habitat of the Mission Range. We used to spend a trip a year on Deso before my managers decided that too was reckless and unsafe. We sat beside a campfire roasting marsh mellows at 10pm when it was still 100 degrees, because no kid should allow a seven day trip to pass without at least one campfire.<br />
I quietly hoped that Lisa would accompany Cody and I some time, but I wanted the subject to come up at it's own pace. After she mentioned it the Highline trail the miles clicked off while we walked and talked about how we hoped the trip would go. I was excited and so was she.<br />
The next summer I rigged things up a bit different so we could make the most of our time off and I wouldn't have to spend as much time driving. Cody wasn't used to hiking with a pack on so we planned a slow and leisurely walk in the Notch Mountain area of the High Uintas. We started at 11,000 feet and took 4 days to go 14 miles, which was definitely the slowest trip Lisa and I have ever done, but was just what we needed at the time. We had fantastic weather and the wildflowers appeared to be at their peak. We relaxed in the green grass of a high alpine summer while SLC baked at near 100 degrees. Cody spent a fair amount of time fishing with a broken fishing pole which annoyed him, but amused the hell out of me to watch.<br />
Anyway, it was one of the more relaxed trips I've been on. In recent times it has occurred to me that since Cody is about to finish high school these kind of trips are bound to get harder to do as his world becomes busy with life. I'm sure glad Lisa brought up the idea when she did.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">takin' a gander at "The Notch"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notch Mtn. Trailhead ~11,000'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">chillin'</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lisa raidin' the whiskey stash</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-33207451724068566342014-07-22T16:22:00.000-06:002014-09-04T16:23:23.455-06:00Lower Salmon 2.0Another trip with Cody the Kid. Just as beautiful, and a good way to hang out with the kid and talk about the future plans when he graduates in a couple years. Summer time in the west wouldn't be summer without the smoke of wildfires.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along side Idaho Hwy 55</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Easy Chair</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water front cooking</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping with Oregon in view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loading up at Heller Bar</td></tr>
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<br />mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-89694273533030250442014-06-01T15:48:00.000-06:002014-06-02T20:40:09.700-06:00Mt. Moriah Wilderness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Have you ever noticed that epic trip ideas are sometimes born on epic trips? In August 2010 Lisa and I sat on top of Wheeler Peak, in Nevada, at 13,000' looking across Hwy 50 at the obscurity of Mt. Moriah Wilderness when the idea to "check it out" was born.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mt. Moriah from FS road #469</td></tr>
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<a name='more'></a>A couple years later we set out in September on a last peak bagging trip of the season starting with Notch Peak. After Notch peak we headed west, bound for a high trailhead off the shoulder of Mt Moriah. We made the long and steep 4x4 ascent up Forest Road 469 to the Big Canyon trailhead where we car camped at nearly 10,000 feet. It was cold so we sat close to a fire and sipped red wine while the pasta sauce simmer on the stove. The reason we were there was to set ourselves up for an early start on what would be the final work of peak-baggery during a summer that wasn't long enough. Instead of getting prepared for an early morning start we filled the cup too many times, and let the pasta go too long.<br />
Sometime in the wee hours it began to rain. I lay awake and listened to the rhythmic pitter-patter of rain on the tent slow to the distinctive sound of snow. At first light the alpine sky was the color of wet concrete and snow flakes were blowing around. The snow hadn't stuck yet, but it looked like the clock was ticking on our escape plans. Lisa packed our stuff while I made a couple cups of coffee. I cranked the old '77 to life and we got out of there before the steep road got too slick. We stopped on the floor of Spring Valley at about 5,500' and had a look back up at Moriah. She was enshrouded in her house of sky, and although we couldn't see her, we knew that we had been denied. It was just as well because the linger of the wine made us feel not, like lithe peak baggers anyway.<br />
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Two years later we would make our second attempt. After a patrol float with a crew of archaeologists I wasn't ready to be at home wasting good weather. I thought for a bit about a float on the White River in Eastern Utah, but I was about a week too late to beat the bugs. I checked out the NOAA snow data site and it showed the higher country of eastern Nevada to be bare of snow. This was a surprise for sure. I knew they had a pretty bad snow year over there, but it's pretty unusual to get bare ground access to 12,000' before the first of June anywhere around here. I called the Forest Service over in Ely and they didn't know anything about access. That's what I like about Nevada. It's so obscure over there that nobody knows shit...not the FS, not even the internet. It's obscurity is part of the allure. Even what I write here will be obsolete and useless in a few months.<br />
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We rolled out of SLC around noon and after a quick stop at Baker, Nevada for some non-Utah microbrews we turned off the pavement, headed for the Fourmile Road #469 road out of Spring Valley. The 469 was as I remembered it; that is very steep, loose, and rocky. The granny gear low range of the '77 was designed for just this kind of road, although it made a pretty slow trip up to 10,000' where we camped at the trailhead. I was surprised to find no snow or mud on the road, and the closer we got to Moriah we could see the NW ridge was free of snow. Amazing to be able to drive to 10,000' and hike to 12,000' without snow on May 31st!<br />
We got to the TH about 6pm and set about mixing up an order of Mexi-Slop. I must digress. Mexi-Slop was invented on the tailgate of the '77 in Spring Valley actually. It's a good dinner when your in a hurry or when the wind is blowing a gale and it's a big pain in the ass to rig up the stove. It can be done a bunch of different ways, but the way we do it is to mix a can of refried beans and a jar of salsa. Add fresh cilantro, jalepeno, and green onions, then eat it with tortilla chips, and a few beers. Sitting on the tailgate under a ga-zillion stars, or with a 60 mile view out across the Great Basin doesn't hurt either.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexi-Slop on the tailgate</td></tr>
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This time when we sacked out the weather was beautiful, although windy, and looked promising for the next day. I was looking at the quad and studying our route for the morning when I realized one of the most dreaded mistakes of packing for a camping adventure. Somehow I'd forgotten to pack the coffee....again, having only ever done it once before. After getting up to rummage through the food box, using severe profanity to express myself, I discovered that it sure as hell wasn't there. I was glad I'd made the discovery the night before. Having tried it both ways I can say it sucks worse when you don't figure it out until the next morning when the water is on the stove. I think the thing that pissed me off worse was that we were planning on spending two nights at the trailhead because it was such a slog to drive there in the first place. I guess I'm an addict...so what!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee b'none campsite and the faithful steed</td></tr>
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The next morning as a distraction for not having the coffee I wanted to get going. We ate a powerbar and a couple pieces of leftover birthday cake and headed out by 7:30, probably our earliest departure ever. We were on the trail for just a few, then we headed off trail for a traverse of the ridge that would lead us to the NW approach ridge to the summit.<br />
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Although the peak was only 2.5 miles from the TH it was about 2,000' gain so it was slow going. Once on the summit ridge, and before we left the treeline, we saw some wonderful old Bristlecone pines. They looked like they'd been standing there for 4,000 years singing the song <u><i>On Top of the World</i></u> by Imagine Dragons.<br />
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The wind had blown all night and into the morning, and would prove to be the biggest crux of the whole hike. As we approached timberline I anticipated the wind to be pretty hard, but not a problem. Luckily we were able to stay off really exposed edges and away from the still frozen snowfields. A couple times the wind blew Lisa off balance, and once started to peel the sunglasses from her face. I was in really bad wind on Wheeler Peak in 2001 where I had to grab the ground and hold on. On the way down I met the Park Service ranger who was coming up to close the trail. He said it was gusting to about 70mph. It wasn't blowing that hard on Moriah, but it was close. We took a short break in the lee of an outcrop and discussed turning back, we were 400' short of the summit. We decided to go on and it seemed to get a little better near the top. At the top we cleared some debris from the rock shelter wall and huddled into it to eat some nuts and cheese and look at the summit register. We signed in, pretty sure that we were the first on top for 2014. The views were amazing and clear in all directions. I particularly enjoyed the view down onto the Mt Moriah Table, which is a flat bench at about 11,000' off the north side of the summit. Originally we talked about going down onto The Table enroute back to the trailhead, but as bad as the winds were blowing we decided we better get down sooner than later.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Table - and north to Deep Creeks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South to Wheeler</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West to Schell Creeks</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">East to Notch peak and Zion</td></tr>
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mickeykreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851907867721853613noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4292711144658473919.post-37273261555693061172014-04-19T05:00:00.000-06:002014-04-22T12:15:51.492-06:00Bib # 1202: my first marathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">grinding up 600E at mile 24</td></tr>
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<b>May of 2008:</b></div>
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I sat in a doctors office at the Huntsman Cancer Hospital being told some bad news that included numbers that I don't remember now. Somehow I had a tumor in my gut that was the size of a football. As if it could've been worse, they went on to say, that it was obviously in it's 4th stage. For those of you that, thankfully, don't have reason to know, stage 4 cancer is kind of a big deal.<br />
<br />
As I approached 40 years old in March 2010 my hair had hardly grown back after a chemotherapy regimen that taught me that I was stronger than I thought I was. As a show of spite for this notion of being "over the hill" I thought I'd run a marathon. <br />
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40 came and went, but I ran no marathon. I propped myself up with a handful of excuses I'd created. The most popular of which, being that "<i>I'd give myself an overuse injury and suffer it the rest of my life</i>". Over the next few years I slowly acknowledged that even my best excuse wouldn't hold. I always loved running when I was younger. I was familiar with what a "runners high" was. I knew the benefits of it. I knew that if I didn't try I'd never know, but quietly, I knew I could. <br />
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<b>April 20th 2013:</b><br />
It was cold and rainy. I stood under an umbrella at the finish line of the Salt Lake City Marathon. The mayor was there, as were about 15,000 people. I watched the runners finish their race. Some cried, and some laughed. A couple runners were bleeding from abrasion to the achilles tendon. Some were bleeding from their nipples with streaks of blood all the way down to their waist line. None of girls wore makeup. Nobody was trying to maintain a hair style. Women and men cried on the completion of a work, months in the making. It was a scene of unabashed and raw, human determination on a scale like I'd never seen. To be a spectator here was a special occasion for me. There was no us against them. The entire crowd stood in the rain, ringing cow bells, and blowing big horns, cheering for every runner without regard for who they were. One by one, runners reached their goals and I was very inspired by what I saw. As the spectacle went on I was surprised by some of the people crossing the finish line. Not everyone looked like a marathoner. I thought of all the people out there that would love to run a mile, but couldn't for whatever health issue. I told myself that my excuses were pathetic, and I was shamed.<br />
I suppose every marathon finish line has spectators that are inspired to be runners. Standing there in the rain with thousands of people I distinctly felt the moment the inertia of my inspiration took hold and I became a runner. I didn't resist, but I swallowed a lump that wouldn't budge, and I shook under the weight of the pact that I'd just made with myself. I knew it'd take months of work and that I'd accomplish things I'd never done almost on a weekly basis.<br />
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<b>Jan 14th 2014:</b><br />
Got new Hokas today at SL Running Co. For some reason the $160 price tag gave me a feeling of commitment. It felt good, like it shored up any subconscious prior instability of commitment that I may have had. Did the over/under pronation analysis at the store, which was very interesting to see on video and to see the results of the arch support correction. <br />
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<b>Feb 4th:</b><br />
I have decided to start this journal now, in draft, to have a way of keeping track of things other than the miles. The weeks have turned into months and I have a lot to keep track of. It also seems that this Marathon thing is really going to happen now that I'm running about 25 miles per week and increasing 10% per week.<br />
Below is the spreadsheet I started to document this weird idea I came up with. I also did this to give the training program some needed structure.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" src="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?key=0AgzhhzvK5WhhdHpJZ1l4Z1VjazVGZ0FhUHd0UWgxOHc&output=html&widget=true" width="700"></iframe>
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<b>March 1st:</b><br />
Not sure whats going on with my pace. I started on an 11mm pace in November. Got it down to 10mm pace on my 13 and even 9:30mm some days. Now it seems to be slipping away. HR is happier at slower pace over distance so I guess I'll go with it, but WTF?<br />
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<b>March 15th:</b><br />
Guess my pace is what it is. Too late to tweak anything now. Slower than 11mm is weird. I would think I'd get faster as I go. Maybe the miles are taking their toll now. Kinda frustrated now. Not gonna count, guess I'll just keep running how it feels good!<br />
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<b>March 27th:</b><br />
44 years old today. Ran 20 miles and feel awesome! Better than ever...<br />
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<b>April 2nd:</b><br />
I completed my peak week last week with 41 total miles. My high day of 20 miles was my 44th birthday. It was kind of a masochistic way to spend my birthday, but I'm glad I did. It was great for my confidence. When I started this journey I thought I would wait until "something went twang" then quit. So far nothing has gone twang. Not only that, but I feel stronger than ever. Not just stronger than ever, but stronger than ever on orders of magnitude! So now that I'm past the peak of 22 weeks of running I guess I'm really going to do this, although I'm still not sure how I'll ever run that far. I have enjoyed the unique feeling of going far. By far, I mean out there in no mans land, past two hours. I'm not sure how to put the feeling into words. I just know it's nothing I've ever experienced before. Maybe a mix of awfulness combined with joy on an equally awful scale. It's almost as if it's only possible to experience while there, even for me. To recall the feeling later seems impossible.<br />
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<b>April 5th:</b><br />
Probably gonna sound crazy, but I got this thing I call the 12 week syndrome. I think there's a perceptible change that happens at the 12 week mark of a steady training plan. A level at which a prior plateau is ascended from. I felt it this week I think. I'm counting from after the Christmas break and maybe it's just crazy talk, but I just feel stronger than ever right now. Really don't feel like tapering. Kinda want to hold the mileage at 40 for a few weeks and see what happens with the pace. Ah well something to experiment with later.<br />
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<b>April 12th:</b><br />
Every time I run I feel better. Every time I get to my daily goal I want to keep running cause it feels great, especially during the taper phase when miles are being decreased dramatically. The other day I finally did the deed and actually dropped the $125 entrance fee to run the 11th annual Salt Lake City Marathon. Little did I know how that was going to spike my nerves! I was putting it off for so long because I thought I’d hurt myself in training and not be able to go through with it. I’m really surprised I’ve come all this way and have not had any real issues with injury, or persistent soreness. I blame my foam roller for that! It’s the best thing since ice cream.<br />
Here’s my foam roller sales pitch: When my miles started getting over 20 miles a week I developed a weird twinge on the outside of my left knee. After my runs I would ice it for an hour or so and it was good. Over a week and a half it got a little worse so I looked up a YouTube video and found someone suggest foam rolling the outside of the lower leg for knee pain exactly like what I having. That day I laid down on the floor with a distinct pain in my knee and after about two minutes per side on my foam roller the pain was gone and hasn’t returned. Most of the time I spend on that thing I’m searching around for knots like an investigator. It’s been my most useful purchase for sure!<br />
<br />
So after finally signing up I started looking into some of the details of the event, beyond just running for a long time and I have discovered a few beginner mistakes. The newfound nerves combined with obvious mistakes are making me feel out of control for the first time. I just found out that the marathon aid stations don’t provide energy gel, just water and powerade so that sent me to SL Running Company for a new pair of shorts that have pockets for carrying gel. I also discovered that I should’ve been using energy that contained amino acids for runs longer than 1-2 hours. So the mistake is that now the marathon will be my first long run in those shorts. I got a thing of body glide too so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the dreaded chafe stays away. I chafed really bad during my 19 mile run, bad enough that it was bleeding. I knew it was bad, but I didn’t look until I was done. Now I’ve got scars and a good fear of it happening again.<br />
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All winter I’ve been free from any distractions so I’ve pretty much planned the entire winter around running. It’s been nice to devote the time necessary without any stress. Last week I returned to work for a hitch at the river ranger station so I’ve been getting in the taper runs on remote gravel roads. It’s been in the high 70’s and sunny, so I’ve been enjoying the shirtless running, but for some reason I chafed under the armpits. I hope it’s because there’s nothing in place to wick the moisture away from the skin. Also the dirt roads are more uneven and with more vertical than what I’ve been used to. So far it feels ok, but just another reason to freak out I guess. Everything I read says don’t change anything in the last couple weeks, and it feels like I’m changing and tweaking a lot of things. I’ve gotta trim the insoles in my Hokas too. I should’ve done that weeks ago! I’ve read much about taper phase and everyone says its just nerves, which is so true. The decreasing miles are really making me chomp-at-the-bit to go. Still a week to go and I feel the recovery big time. I’m 44 years old and I feel like superman actually. Just gotta hold it together and not let anything stupid happen.<br />
I’ve also been getting a playlist ready for my iPod. Hopefully I actually listen to it. On my 20 I ran the whole thing with ear buds in and never switched it on. Crazy! I’m excited for the long distance of it, but since I’ve never been in a race of any kind I know I’m a bit vulnerable in a couple ways. So far my strategy to tune the world out is to pull my hat down low and turn on my music, especially for the first 10 miles or so. So far I know of two things that are going to kick my ass.<br />
1) Getting distracted by the crowds and the overall madness of everything, and letting my heart rate/pace get away from me.<br />
2) Not getting enough water.<br />
It’ll be fun to hear the crowd near the finish though. I’ve been thinking for a long time about what the finish will be like.<br />
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<b>April 17th:</b></div>
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Crazyness continues! Nerves are going nuts!<br />
New shorts ripped out in the crotch. Ended up getting a new pair of Patagonia Striders. Ironic because I was going to get these last winter and never did, just forgot about it I guess. Worked out cause I had a $20 off coupon to REI. I like them so far, but the marathon will be my first run in them so fingers are crossed for no chafe problems. Been freaking out about chafe. Got some nip guards too while I was back at <a href="http://saltlakerunningco.com/">Salt Lake Running Company</a>. They don't look like they'll be of much use once I start sweating, but I'm guessing that SL Running Co wouldn't sell them if they were useless. Today I was going to run 2 or 3, but I decided not to. Weird because this is the first time since January that I've departed my running plan, and it's beautiful outside. I need to just force myself to chill and probably figure out how to eat as many carbs as possible the next couple days. Also gotta force myself to get up during the night and drink water so I have a good hydration base come Saturday morning.<br />
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<b>April 18th:</b><br />
Went to the expo today. Picked up Bib 1202, got a new foam roller, and a sweat band that I'm going to wear on the cuff to wipe snot and eye sweat on. Found out GU will be available at 7.5, 13.5 and 19.5 which is great. Came home posted on the couch and pigged out on carbs all day...blah worst part of marathon training by far. So don't want to eat right now!<br />
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<b>April 19th:</b><br />
Woke at 1:30am and couldn't sleep. Finally went back to sleep around 3:30 for another hour. Alarm sounded at 4:30 and I was up for coffee and eggs and toast which I had to force myself to eat. I knew it was important to change nothing about the last four months, of breakfast before a run, so I didn't. As my unappealing breakfast cooked I thought about the only other time I woke earlier than this to run. It was for my 18 miler in Palm Springs, which was one of my most enjoyable training runs. Did some yoga and went over a few areas with the foam roller while Lisa got up to take me to the starting line. As soon as we left home we found the streets had already been closed, but the cops were letting people pass through on the major streets so we had no problem getting up the hill. Lisa dropped me off under the Olympic village bridge and as soon as I got out of the car I could hear the music and sounds of the starting line announcers. I walked in the direction of the sound, bright lights, and flow of other people doing the same thing! Lots of people were also descending on the starting line from the TRAX station up the hill. As I walked towards the early dawn festivities I thought of all the times I used to come to this area for my radiation and chemotherapy. It was a wonderful feeling of winning and I hadn't even crossed the starting line yet. There were people warming up, eating breakfast, drinking coffee, rubbing the sleep out of their eyes, and lots of people shivering while waiting in running clothes in the cool pre-dawn hour. I was glad I dressed in sweats and brought a backpack to check in. The whole street was lined with portable toilets, and lots of big lines waiting for them. I got my turn with about 10 minutes to spare. Made quick work of a piss, and a dose of some stuff called body-glide, which I'd highly recommend. During the half hour I waited around I drank a quart of water and did some very basic stretching after the porta-potty, then took off my sweats and checked my bag. It was actually the most pathetic stretch session before a run in the whole 22 week training period. People crowded into the starting area as the announcer counted down the minutes, then seconds, and finally a loud horn let loose a crowd of 6,500 runners, 850 of which were running the full marathon.<br />
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The course wound it's way up a couple hills and into the Avenues. It felt great to finally be running again after the long taper session. Area residents stood outside in their pj's drinking coffee and yelling at the crowd going by. The first mile was up and down a bit, then the next four miles were mostly downhill. At 5 miles I was a little fast on my pace, but I thought it was due to the long downhill through Memory Grove so I didn't worry about it. Climbing towards 900E I was able to regulate my heart rate at less than 80% which was a good confidence boost. So far I was running exactly like I had trained. The part of the course we shared with the half marathoners was a basically a big party. The spectators were handing out all kinds of stuff to the runners; pretzels, bananas, orange slices, gummie bears, even coffee in front of a coffee shop. I took a banana which I had to force myself to eat. People sat in their front yards in lawn chairs with coffee, and horns, and cowbells, while they yelled. I enjoyed it greatly, and to my surprise I wasn't really thrown off on my pace by the spectacle of it all. I was pacing right where I wanted to at slightly faster than 11mm. At mile 9 or so the marathon split off from the half marathon party and turned into a long climb.<br />
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At once the crowd dispersed and I was on the road with just a few runners in front of me. The sunshine was lovely, and I pulled my hat down low. I listened to my breathing while we climbed towards 15th E. My HR monitor was starting to go wacky so I concentrated on the RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) Scale to regulate my climb, which felt like it worked good. Approaching Sugar House Park I started to look for a place to piss when I realized that I had never been through the park before, despite having lived in SLC for quite a few years. The aid station at mile 12.5 had an empty porta-potty so I took advantage of that. After a piss break, some water, and very salty powerade I was more comfortable and eased back into it. The course climbed a little more then turned south on 2000E. where I could see for a long ways to the south. This is gonna sound crazy, but at about mile 14 I had a weird feeling, that I've experienced before on long runs, where it feels good to be a long ways from the end. In other words, I felt so good that I didn't want it to end anytime soon, and it wouldn't! Anyway I settled into the unique "zone" that I experience with long distances. I turned my music up and ran down the yellow line and just kinda zoned out, even now, one day later I don't remember what I thought about. When I woke up from my daydreaming zone out session I was crossing 4500S. and it was almost time to turn around and head for home.<br />
<br />
After the turn we went down a long hill on 4500S where I could see another spectacle that looked like an aid station way up the road. As I got closer I could see the orange wedges covering the road. There was a huge crowd handing out orange wedges. I tried to eat one, but had to spit it out. The juice was good though. A bit later around mile 18 was the actual aid station that also had banana halves. Again I had to force myself to eat it, but even after carrying it for a while I couldn't eat it all. At the time it didn't occur to me that my lack of appetite was different than any of my training runs. During my 19 miler, at about mile 16, I almost stopped to pick up what looked like an unopened candy bar on the ground because I was so hungry. Weird distance runner stuff, I guess. The info I got from the pre race expo said there would be GU at 7.5, 13.5, and 19.5. With this info I left 3 of my GU's in my checked bag. As it turned out there were none at 13.5 so I was really hoping that 19.5 wasn't sold out. They weren't so I grabbed two. We turned onto Highland Drive where the last aid station with energy GU's was located. I walked the length of it to get as much water and powerade as I could, which proved to be a mistake I think. The long climb up to 2700S. had most of the people walking. I almost did, but told myself that I didn't have a good reason to. I was tired, but I wasn't anymore tired than I was on the flats. Energy level felt ok, relatively that is. I settled into a concentrated breathing and tried to relax everything but my legs. During my training I experimented with relaxing my face and neck which I found would reduce my HR by as much as 3-4 BPM.<br />
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Before the marathon I thought that the turn onto 2700S would be the beginning of the end and it kind of was. Lisa rode her bike down the course, to meet me, and to ask if I needed anything. As I approached 700E she saw me coming, but I didn't know it yet. After I crossed 700E I saw her sitting in the middle of the street, on her bike, taking a photo of me. She rode with me the next 4 miles to the finish. I apologized for not being very social, but having her there was great. I didn't know it at the time but, I was getting sick. I was so freaked about not getting enough water that at most of the aid stations I took at least three cups of water or powerade. Most folks that know me know I like salt, but this mixture of powerade was so salty I could hardly drink it.<br />
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As I approached the aid station at mile 22.5 I could feel the surge that happens right before a cramp. It freaked me out because it was in the big hip flexor, and quad muscle. I decided I needed more electrolyte, not water so I took two more cups of powerade and my last GU pack, hoping it wasn't too late. It was amazing how fast the cramp <i>that almost was</i> went away. The only problem I had now was that all the liquid I had for the past several hours made for a pretty sloshy gut so it made me want to puke. I was talking with an employee at the Salt Lake Running Co. about GU pacs. I said I didn't real feel any different after taking one. She said that if I successfully ran an 18, 19, and a 20 and didn't have a bonk experience they were working. After feeling GU and Powerade pull me back from the brink at mile 22.5 I couldn't agree more! As soon as the Powerade was down I was off again.<br />
Before the marathon I fantasized about how it'd be to run up 600E into Liberty Park. Mostly because that is where I spent so many hours training, and gradually felt myself get stronger.<br />
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I remember looking at my, then blank, training log after the new year, and thinking how impossible it'd be to run 9 miles, then 13, then 20, all of which I've now accomplished without injury, or even any real soreness. I remembered the run I did in a blizzard where I was the only one out there. I remembered the snow removal worker at Liberty Park giving me a thumbs up on a 12 degree morning. I remember running in Palm Springs at 4:30am, to beat the heat that I wasn't acclimated to. I remember the mail lady stopping me with a big, arms out WTF, and commenting at how she did half her route and I was still running (that was my 20 mile day). I thought how 600E, past our house, and into Liberty Park was the perfect final leg of the marathon, a personal celebration of sorts. A celebration of determination and luck I guess, but to be honest I ran because I was unemployed and I refused to sit around. So I ran...and it felt good...so I ran more....then I was committed and there was no turning back. It turned out to be one of the best winters yet. I drank less. I never got sick. I felt great. As I ran up 600E on the home stretch I thought of all these things, but I couldn't really relish the thoughts because I just wanted to puke.<br />
<br />
My friend Arie came out onto the course near his house and cheered me on then I entered Liberty Park exactly in the tracks that I had for the past 22 weeks. I didn't feel the surge of cramp again, but I was looking for the 25 mile aid station and hoping I could get one more Powerade down without puking. Out the north end of Liberty Park and a left on 800S. took me to the final turn at 200E. As I made the turn onto 200E I could see a spectacle several blocks north. I could hear the voice of the same announcer dude that counted down the seconds nearly 5 hours prior. I could hear a band and see arches of balloons over an orange banner that had the letters F-I-N-I-S-H. Someone held a sign that said "<i>just keep running</i>" I smiled and thought back to the day I bought my Hoka running shoes. When I opened the box the insole of one of the shoes said "<i>keep running</i>" the other one said "<i>it's time to fly</i>". I smiled and told myself that I didn't have a good reason not to keep running. Lisa turned off the course on her bike as I entered a narrow chute crowded with cheering people on both sides. I thought of one year prior when I was on the other side of that fence and all the emotion I felt as a spectator cheering for people I didn't know to succeed in an effort I was unfamiliar with. Up until this point the course was wide and open. When I went into the finish chute it narrowed down dramatically. With the closed in sides my delirious brain had the illusion that I was going faster than I was; that I was flying through the crowd. There was only 100 feet left out of 26.2 miles and it was "<i>time to fly</i>".<br />
<br />
<b>After the finish:</b><br />
I started feeling worse. First I got a bad headache, then when ever I tried to stretch my quads, ham strings, and hip flexor, would cramp. I continued to drink the powerade and water, but I couldn't eat anything because I didn't want to puke in front of all those people. I got in a decent calf stretch, but I couldn't stretch anything else without cramping. The loud music was making my headache worse so I grabbed a couple more bottles of water and Lisa and I started walking home to the other side of Liberty Park, about 8 blocks away. My feet felt ok, and it felt nice to walk. On the way home my headache went away. It was fun to walk through Liberty Park and think back on all the training runs I did there. We crossed 1300S and someone in front of Park cafe asked me if I ran the whole marathon (I was still wearing 1202). I proudly said I had and he offered a hand shake and a congrats, which was nice to get from a stranger. Once we got home I started getting my appetite back. I took a shower and ate some cold pizza, then tried some gentle stretching. My quads still wanted to cramp, but slowly I was able to stretch all the big groups. I spent 10 minutes on my new foam roller, which felt great, then a bit more stretching, then it was time to post up on the couch for a quick nap.<br />
<br />
Lisa and I met a few people that were in her class, including two fellow marathoners, at a burger joint and ate a huge pile of calories, but the beer didn't sound very appealing. At one point during the winter I remember reading an article that said the favorite post run drink was a beer. I don't know about this. I really like beer, but not after a run. We went home and I chilled out for while. That night Lisa and I walked a lap around Liberty because it felt like the right thing to do. Little did I know how the next day I would feel like I was 100 years old. I was surprised how different I felt compared to how I felt after my 20.<br />
<br />
<b>The one thing I'd do different:</b><br />
My goal was to finish and not feel dead afterwards. I accomplished my goal with no injury, or even any real problems so I'm very happy about that. I ran the marathon exactly how I trained; long, slow, and steady so I have no regrets.<br />
In January I was looking into running at the Kearns Olympic Oval on my long days to avoid the shitty air in SL. I saw that they were hosting a running club that gathered one night a week and it included a running analysis. <b><i>Not doing this coaching analysis was the single biggest mistake I made</i></b> because it would've corrected the heel strike in my stride that killed my efficiency. I didn't notice that I was heel striking until I started getting a bad wear pattern on both pairs of shoes I trained in, and then it was too late. I also think this was the cause of my pace slowing down around week 16. Either that, or the miles were wearing me down more than I thought. Probably a combo of both. I'm almost sure that correcting my stride inefficiency would knock 2mm off my pace. I know I can run 13 miles at a 9.5mm pace, but my HR is too high to do it any longer than that because of stride inefficiency. 80% HR is too high for me to hold for a marathon distance.<br />
<br />
A few times I told myself I'd never do this again, but I'm pretty sure I will. Not because it's a marathon, but because I like the feeling I get after about 2 hours of running. What I know, for sure is that I can't just go run 16 miles off the couch without being injured. I know I'll continue to crave the long runs so I'll have to stay fit enough to do them. If I'm going to stay in shape enough to run 16 or 18 then why not run another marathon.<br />
<br />
A big gratitude is due for Lisa. Thanks for tolerating this obsession while trying to finish your masters work.<br />
<br />
Also thanks to the many volunteers along the course. I especially liked the words of encouragement. Late in the course, I can't remember exactly where, when I was delirious a volunteer handed me a cup of water and said "your doing great". As I left the aid station I thought to myself about her simple gesture and said ...yes...yes I am!<br />
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