We made it from Humboldt Bay to the Trail Gulch trailhead in 3 1/2 hours, and used the remaining twilight hiking up to the lake.Headlamp hiking? Fun. Setting up camp in the dark? No problem. Setting up camp when it's freezing?
Things you need working fingertips for:
1. Zippers
2. Tent poles
3. Stakes
4. Lighters
5. Stoves
...and so on. It was snowing lightly while we set up.
Secondly, freezing water is a drag. I think that's why my water pump popped a crack. Plus, sleeping with all your unfreezables (contacts, Nalgene, saline, etc) sucks.
Shawn thought it might have been in the teens overnight, including wind chill. Oh yeah, it was windy, too. A tree blew down overnight.
I had a zero degree mummy zipped/cinched up with only a periscope hole to breath through. Charlie was on a mat, under a blanket, which was inadequate. Sorry, Charlie.
Shiver, almost sleep, shiver, cover Charlie, stay awake, cover Charlie, sorta sleep, check watch, think, doze, wake. That was the night.
Charlie popped my Thermarest that morning. I guess we're even.So, the next day was beautiful. And cold.
We hiked up to Deadman's Peak (7200 ft) and spent the "warm" part of the day up there. This made up for the night, and then some. The view of Shasta was exceptional, the vodka was just right, and the dogs got to rest.
We discussed the difference between misery and suffering, and decided that we were only suffering that night.
On the hike down from Deadmans, discomfort (both general and specific) gave us the kick we needed to say "No seriously, let's not repeat that."
In the end, it was fun. And cold.
4 comments:
That is a fabulous picture of you and Charlie. Makes me think of those wild wild west photos from centuries ago.
No thank you.
Title for that picture:
American Popsic(le)
The first thought that comes to mind is that you have saline, etc., at the foot of your sleeping bag and all around your sleeping bag? That does sound like it sucks.
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