Aaron Unscripted A blog about technology, the great outdoors, and other musings…

Day 3, Walking on Trees

18 June

Today I woke with much higher spirits then I had gone to bed with, and my feet seemingly had forgiven me for the day before.

Today's goal was to concur Piegan Pass. We headed off up the creek basin as the mountains begin to wall us in, towering massively above us. The scenery was great, as the walls where spotted with long waterfalls. The morning was a bit cloudy and overcast, the nights rain clouds hadn't cleared yet. It was soon apparent that this valley didn't get much sun, as we started to see more and more snow. The trail coming and going, was soon gone, and we came upon a giant snow meadow with a waterfall in the distance. Freefall and I where soon detailing  our route up the mountain using our maps. Trail lost, we found ourselves ascending  our own steep snow chute right up the side of the mountain. At the top we found ourselves in an alpine medow, and could see the trail we had missed off in the distance. We chose a path down a small ridge that would run us back onto the right path, but first we had to get through some wicked alpine trees. I soon found it was easier to try and walk on the stunted trees then to try and push myself through the tough unforgiving limbs. 3-5 feet off the ground I kept my balance between treetops and stepped carefully across the small barrier. We where soon on the right path, and caught up with Chance, George, and So-Far.

The top of Piegan Pass was pretty chili so we didn't stop for too long. The other side of the pass turned into another field of snow. My feet became wet, and the going was slow. Slipping, sliding, and postholing became frustrating, and me feet where beginning to hate on me again. It was amazing how well we managed to descend, hardly a trail in site, yet time after time we would round a bend and come across a man made log crossing, as if we knew exactly where the trail was.

Soon the trail was hard underfoot, and we descended to Going-To-The-Sun Road, where we stopped for a break. Our break was made short, as the weather started to turn and rain began to fall. Reynalds Creek Camp was just over a mile away.

In camp I started fire and tried to dry my shoe's and socks out. Wet feet made for more blisters, but I was trying not to dwell on the grief my feet where giving me.

Other interesting notes for the day; So-Far's pack blew out this morning. He was squezing the air out of the dry-bag after putting his sleeping bag in, and the fabric split open. He spent the rest of the day trying other idea's he had concocted in his mind, and watching his tail to make sure he didn't drop anything.  Minor entertainment, and he seemed to take it all in stride.We also met another CDT couple Brian and Brenda.