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| Backpack | 6.00 Miles |
3,187 AEG |
| | Backpack | 6.00 Miles | 1 Day 2 Hrs | | |
| 3,187 ft AEG | | 35 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Conquered this beast. 6 hours down on Saturday. 6 hours up on Sunday. Brutal! 3 of us went in with 35-40 pound packs. I learned what it feels like to be a 200+ pound man attempting to navigate a steep 3000 foot deep gorge. The water looked like chocolate milk from up top, but we took on the challenge anyway and made our way down into the canyon. We cached a gallon of water about 1/4 way down and another gallon at the halfway crossover point. We brought in iodine tabs and treated the horrible tasting water from a creek near the helipad. Mixed some of the water with gatorade powder and boiled some for tea and hot apple cider (mmm...good). My buddy Dean from Pittsburgh camped in his two-man tent, Rand used a bivy, and I in my hammock. The weather was so warm that the sleeping bags were really not necessary. Its funny how you think about the things you carried in that you should have left in the car, and the things in the car that you wish you would have carried down.
We started our hike out at 7:30am on Sunday, enjoying shade for 1/2 the way. We crossed the mid way point in sun, but enjoyed more shade from the east cliff for another good portion.
Near the mid way point, I glanced down at what looked like remnants of two balloons, one blue and one yellow. This seemed out of place as there were zero signs of litter along the trail. About 1 foot from the balloons was a scrolled up piece of paper. I carefully unrolled the dry brittle paper and read the following note. "Whoever finds this letter could you please pray for me and my two children to please find a home soon and for me (mom) to be able to quit smoking so that I can recover from my imphazema and be here to watch my kids grow. Please God please help me get out of the rut I'm in. And last of all bless everybody thats hurting inside. I hope for peace on earth. I love God." I don't consider myself much of a religious person, but I feel compelled to satisfy this poor woman's request as the finder of her letter. Maybe others who read this triplog will do the same.
The final climb out was almost 100% sun exposure except where we took our final break at the last water cache. As hard as this hike was, I plan to make a few adjustments and give it another go in the future.
Special thanks go out to Bruce for the great driving route through the maze of reservation roads. I loaded a few gps points at key intersections and arrived at the trailhead quickly and without issue. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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| This is my gym. I have to travel down a bumpy road to get there. There are no treadmillls, no machines, and no personal trainers. I walk..I run..I breathe the fresh air. I can go any time I want, as much as I want and there is no membership fee. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
