To climb, or not to climb? That is the question!

Saturday, July 16

Day 7, 1 week on the trail

Fish Creek Camp site to Lake Addison Trail Junction

"Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts"

~Rachel Carson

Another bad night of sleep. I kept waking up all night long. I finally woke up before 5 AM, but laid in my bag trying to stay warm until first light. Eventually I heard some of the other guys stirring and I quickly began to pack up. Hearing the others motivated me to get out of the bag I guess.

I hit the trail at about 6:20 AM. I had been fearing the 2000 foot climb up to Silver Pass all night, but to be honest it was not bad at all. I never felt like I was close to pushing my heart right into the” red zone.” Once again gentle grades all the way up. There are a couple lakes up top that would've been great for camping at.  As soon as I crested Silver Pass I began to descend the backside. After crossing the creek beneath a beautiful cascade, the trail dropped steeply. I was glad I did not have to come up this side. Larry and Tom passed me just before this point. I am a very slow hiker!

Currently I am in my tent at the Lake Edison Trail junction. I arrived here just as Tom and Larry were setting up the tents. I decided to take a break and have lunch, then to decide at 2:30 if I was going to tackle Bear Ridge or not today. Just before 2:30 drizzle started to come down, just about the time Jesse and Avery came in. Feeling a little chilled I decided to put up the tent for some protection from the rain. Twenty minutes later so the rain to seemed the stop and I have not heard any thunder and over half an hour. Part of me wants to pack up and take the challenge of Bear Ridge today. Someone I passed earlier today made it seem like one of the hardest climbs on the trail; lots of switchbacks. I am trying to decide if I will gain anything by tackling it today rather than tomorrow. Either way I am hoping to get to Sallie Keys Lakes tomorrow; either a 9 or a 13 mile day depending what I decide.

Evening –

I decided at I 5:00 that if I was not going to do the climb I should go fish. Why not? Working my way upstream from the bridge I managed to bring six or seven fish to hand, rainbows and browns. All but one were of a keepable size. The biggest fish of the day got off my line just as reached my feet. It look like a nice fish. Real nice! Still no golden trout yet. Really looking forward to catching one of those, they sound really pretty.  I fished for over an hour. When I get back to camp, Tom and Larry had moved their tents to a smoother, flatter area across the bridge. I decided not the move even though I am laying at a slight angle on my site.

The excitement of the evening was a bear in camp, or rather circling the camp. I saw people across the trail pointing and grabbing their cameras, I figured it was a bear. Five minutes later I went to put my bear canister away and a nearby hiker said “there is a bear.” I thought he meant across the way, but as I began to move forward he became more insistent about the bear.  When I looked up 20 yards away was a smallish, light brown bear. After somewhat recovering from the initial shock of seeing him so close, I did what I was supposed to do: yelled, shouted, waved my arms. The bear did what he was supposed to do, wondered away. An exciting and innocent meeting. This first encounter though had my heart racing. Hope I can sleep tonight and get no more fury visitors.

Feeling lonely tonight! I was really down for an hour or so, but after the bear incident I went to talk to couple hikers of across the trail from me. The simple act of conversation help to bring my spirits up. My eyes are dropping as I write this so I guess it's bedtime.

Seldon Pass