Saturday, July 26
Day 14
Middle Rae Lake to first
tree stand below Forster Pass
18 miles
"When I got tired, I slept. When I got hungry, I ate. When I had to go, you
know, I went."
~ Forrest Gump
First off the only thing
that matters today is I got to talk to Karen and Cade and they are both doing
great! In fact they' were going to get ice cream with grandma and grandpa when
I called, not something I want to hear about miles from civilization. Their
voices brought great relief. A giant fear has been lifted off me it made this
huge day worth it! |
| Middle Rae Lake |
The plan at the start of
the day was to get over Glenn Pass, then push on to Bubbs Creek, to set up for the
Big Daddy of passes tomorrow. If only I would have known what was actually to come,
maybe I would have not gotten out of the sleeping bag this morning. I
left camp just before James and Z to try to get ahead of them as they are much
faster hikers than I am. Today's hike started off gentle as I worked my way
past Middle Rae Lake and on up past Upper Rae as well. Expanding circles dotted
the surface of both lakes as I walked passed. Fishing seemed like it would have
been easy, but I had to get over the pass and make miles today.
 |
| Upper Rae Lake |
 |
| Looking up at Glenn Pass |
From camp I was just
over 2 miles and 1,200 feet of elevation gain to make Glenn Pass, The pass
itself was easy to spot from below, which was both good and bad. Good because
you knew where you're going, bad because you could see how much of it was left
to go. From the base of the last big push to the pass it took me 38 minutes, I
beat my prediction time by 22 minutes. I must be getting stronger, though I
often times do you not feel as if I am. Two hours and thirty minutes from camp
to summit. I know, very slow for two miles, but at least I made it. Glenn Pass
is very cool because once you top out you have a narrow ridge walk to its exit.
The ridge was only 15 to 20 feet wide, which made for an airy traverse.
 |
| Glenn Pass |
The descent off of Glenn
Pass turned into another long downhill. Right now I can't recall the scenery as
I was focused on making miles. Not a good thing I know. The trail dropped about
2,500 feet in four miles to Bubbs Creek Trail. Unfortunately not the one we
were heading for. From there the trail climbed a little into Vidette Meadow.
This area stuck in my mind as having bear problems last year so I kept my eyes open
as I passed through. It did not meet my idea of a meadow, as it was not a large
open field as I expected, but rather a broad flat forested area. I took an hour
break, relaxing next to stream with my head propped up on the log for a pillow.
The rest helped some, but I still was feeling tired in the legs and in the mind
as well.
Shortly after leaving my
break I ran into James who was also taking a break. He figured Z must have
missed him and continue on ahead. We pushed off together to see if we could
find him. James leading the way, with my eyes locked on his heels, trying to
keep up as usual. After 25 minutes or so I dropped off his pace and continued
on at my own. He had mentioned that he had talked to a couple on the pass from
Florida who said that our intended campsite was just a rocky outcropping and
that it would better to stay at the last site at tree line. So I thought that
was our new plan.
 |
| James and Z leading the charge! |
When I made to this site
I was beat so I sat next to the stream relaxed a little and cameled up on some
water. A nearby camper pointed out James and Z to me, 100 yards ahead. They
were slinging on their packs as I arrived. I asked what the plan was and they
said pushing ahead. This surprised me as it look liked some weather was blowing
in. However, I figured I'd follow them up to a higher campsite, as they are
good guys and I enjoy their company in camp. Z kept us entertained, and our
mind off the climb, for almost an hour playing a rhyming game. Even though our
pace had slowed, the game helped the time go faster.
Eventually I learned we
are not going to camp at the upper site, but were going to push on over our second
pass of the day, Forester Pass, the Big Daddy. This is when I began to think
that I should listen to the old hiking saying “hike your own hike”. I was not
sure I that had the legs, or willpower to make it up. But Z said it was too
late to turn back now. So I trudged on behind them both.
 |
| Weather on the horizon |
Reaching the pass I
quickly dropped my pack and scrambled about 15 feet up the right side, from our
perspective, of the pass so I could try to get a cell signal. It was such a
relief to here's Karen's voice and Cade’s in the background. Suddenly
everything was alright and I will begin. My body relaxed, I no longer felt
tired. Life is good! I was able to text them photo of me from the pass, and I
got one back from them, which was the greatest gift ever! Z used my phone to
call home as well. No luck getting hold his wife but he was able to leave a
message. James had already started down before we reached the pass so no call
for him unfortunately.
 |
| Z taking a break before the final push up to Forester Pass |
The rock work along the
side of the trail on the way down the pass was amazing. I can hardly imagine
all the work that went to the section the trail to make it possible. As we neared
the bottom James was down there and said there was no camping so he was moving
on. When we arrived we
found several campsites right next to the trail and
wondered why James has continued on. But once again we trudged onward and
downward after him. The phone call give me a partial second wind so I did not
mine. Thirty minutes later though I began to find all sorts of sites where I
could set up my single tent. I think Z was beginning to think the same thing as
well. He picked up his pace try to catch James. Eventually I saw that he had
caught him as James rested on a rock. I slowed my pace a given time to have a “discussion”
without me present. When I got there I could feel a little tension in the air.
It had been a looooong day and we are all tired.
 |
| We have a signal! |
James felt that he had
to move on to a lower rate elevation or he would be too cold for the night, as
we were still 11,500 feet or so. Z just want to be done for the day and take a
lake bath! I thought that I would like to get a little lower as well. Z stayed where we were and James and I moved
done. He quickly outpaced me as he raced to make it to the Shepherds Pass
Trail. I just want to a place with a little more coverage and wind blockage. I
found it 45 minutes later in the first stand of trees below the pass. I saw two
other guys camped in here and found the spot a couple hundred yards later. It
is a good spot.
 |
| Amazing rock work on the trail! |
I ate entire pot of rot
rice and mixed veggies for dinner, and putting up camp as it rehydrated. After
dinner I got into the tent and quickly passed out, exhauster from two big days
in a row.
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