Gary-Summer: June 2022

Saturday, June 25, 2022

June 25, 2022 - Jennie Lake to Big Meadows

Title: June 25, 2022 - Jennie Lake to Big Meadows
Hike Info : Description : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals : Flowers and Plants

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Trail head: Jennie Lake

Trail: Jennie Lake and Weaver Lake Trails

Destination: Big Meadows Trailhead

Distance: 6.68 miles

Start Time: 9:39

End Time: 3:09

Travel Time: 5:29 (1.29 mph)

Moving Time: 3:45 (1.78 mph)

Elevation Rise: 883'

Descent: 2,221‘

Maximum Elevation: 9,177'

GPS Tracks

Description:

Empty campsite

So much for this new talent of sleeping in. I woke up at 6am with Korra sensing me moving around, so she wants to get up. Actually, she in her eagerness blocks me from getting my clothes. So we snuggle for a while until Steven rescues me. I finally emerge from the tent with Korra following me. Until everybody else gets up, I read for a while and do a few chores, such as get water, and gaze at Jennie.

Same menu as yesterday: oatmeal, granola and whatever toppings we bring. We get packed up. There is no long and interesting discussion like yesterday. I ask Steven if he is wanting to carry the tent today-yes.

Rachel's Wake Up Call

We are off before 10am. This time we will follow the trail all the way. Most of it is downhill. But after a third of a mile, we hit the uphill I was dreading. I take my time. Even the large steps seem to work out OK for me. We stop at one place on this uphill. There is a good view. Rachel has been trying to get a reflective view looking into her sunglasses. Between Andrea and her, they get it together and take some pretty good shots. Even I look half way fashionable.

Reflections

Andrea and Rachel

When we reach the top, we stop and rest-I do not know if they needed the rest, but I welcomed it. Now we start out on our long descent. This area seems to be so much more forested than what I remember. Is my memory going? Or has all of this grown up in the last 8-10 years? Or maybe the trail has been re-routed. Whatever it is, this top area is a lot more pleasant. I remember the trail junction to Stoney Creek being sandy with only a few stunted trees, not providing any shade. Today it is a ways down from the top among some respectable sized trees. Someplace back there, we went over Poop Out Pass-this pass has never been a favorite of mine. I like my passes to be definite and to have scenery. Poop Out fails on both counts.

This is a Saturday, so we are seeing more people. But we are going out; they are coming in. I wonder if the people who put the blaze marks on the trees knew how many people would travel their trail? Rachel had asked about what the cuts in the trees were: a square with a rectangle below it. The early rangers-I think they were mostly Calvary men-would mark their paths with these. Looking closely, you can still see them on the older trees.

Steven following the slow guy

The trail pretty much is a long down hill. Most people think this is easy. But after a while, the pounding on the legs gets you tired. So after a couple miles, we stopped in some shade for lunch. Korra is very interested in our food, particularly the salmon. She eventually gets a taste.

We continue down the trail, which eventually starts to round one of the flanks of Shell Mountain on the west side. First I see Big Baldy

Lunch Time

come into view. Right beside it is the radio tower on Forest Service land-you can see it from the Park as well, but just the top. Next comes a point which Sherri, Steven, Korra, Rachel and I hiked to a year ago when we did the Starlight Trail. Fun looking down on it. Finally, we are able to look down on the Big Meadow area. But across the way, just behind the ridge is Buck Rock Lookout. You can see just the top of it.

Knob where we walked to-Starlight trail

After passing Poison Meadow, we come back to the junction going to Weaver Lake. We stop here for 15 minutes. That seems to revive me a bit. And then we are off. It is about an hour more of walking. But the goal is in sight. After crossing Big Meadows Creek, there is a sight which is a bit disheartening-a small uphill section. But I make it and get to the car, where everybody is waiting.

I guess Korra will be driving

There is the feeling of tired goodness. A very enjoyable trip, seeing so many wonderful views and lakes. I am afraid my body is not what it once was. But none of that is the biggest blessing-it was three days with Andrea, Steven and Rachel. Korra gets counted in there as well. Thanks kids.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Ritz Crackers, Tortillas, Peanut Butter, Nutella	Hamburgers at home	Clif Bar, GORP, Jelly Belly

Extra Photo's

Jennie Lake

Campsite

Jennie Lake

Breakfast Time

Andrea

Gary

Steven

Looking for Truth

Break time on top of Poop Out Pass area

Rachel, Steven and Gary on the trail

Gary

Exiting Jennie Lake Wilderness

Animals

Flowers and Plants

Friday, June 24, 2022

June 24, 2022 - Weaver Lake to Jennie Lake

Title: June 24, 2022 - Weaver Lake to Jennie Lake
Hike Info : Description : : Menu : Extra Photo's : Animals

Hike Info:

Type: Backpacking

Trail head: Weaver Lake

Trail: Cross-Country, Jennie Lake Trail

Destination: Jennie Lake

Distance: 4.42 miles

Start Time: 11:19

End Time: 4:40

Travel Time: 5:20 (0.83 mph)

Moving Time: 3:28 (1.27 mph)

Elevation Rise: 1,505'

Descent: 1,158‘

Maximum Elevation: 9,282'

GPS Tracks

Morning Light

Description:

Last night was interesting. I was sleeping pretty well when I realized there was a flashlight shining through the tent’s vestibule. After a short dialogue, I found out that the hammock was not working out for someone-too cold. So I now have company in my three person tent. I think it is Rachel since she had expressed concerns earlier. But I am assuming since she is snuggled in her sleeping bag and has her back to me.

Discussion around a non-lit fire pit

I slept in until 7:00am. Even at home that is pretty late. Out backpacking, almost unheard of. I go off up the ridge a short distance and read for a while. A little while later, Korra comes up and greets me. I return back to camp and find Andrea and Steven in the eating area. We talk for a while and Andrea talks about sleeping in the tent. But I am convinced she is talking about Rachel. She finally gets it through my head, she was the one who was in the tent with me. You would think I would know my own daughters.

Start of going cross-country

When Rachel gets up, we have our breakfast. We have a group discussion. One thing which I am interested in is if they are seeing anything which says I should not solo backpack. The concern is as I age, I may not be able to respond as well. We came up with several things:

Get a PLB to let Sherri know my status
Stay on trail, the more popular the route, the better. This is just in case something does go wrong
Do not push or approach my limits, but leave something in reserve

Rachel and Mitchell Peak

When we started our trip, We did not really have a plan for today. But we decided to go on to Jennie Lake. I had talked about a cross-country route, which all seem to be interested in. I show them on the map how we will be going.

We get packed up and ready to leave Weaver Lake by 11:30. Seems a bit late, but today should not be too strenuous.

View from a break area

Instead of returning via the trail, we head more along a diagonal of our imaginary triangle for about a third of a mile. Walking is pretty easy until we meet the trail. It looks like a bit of a water run off. But Steven asks the key question: how do I know this is the trail? I had spotted a log which had been cut.

We go along the trail just a few minutes when we meet a couple of hikers-the father from Missouri and the son lives in California. The latter is the first time away from his wife and one year old child. We talk about Weaver Lake. They are appreciative when I tell them they can get cell service from on top of the ridge on the west side of the lake.

Clouds over Goddard

Korra watching over the resting travelers

We continue on, to a little saddle and then take off cross-country again. This time, we will travel a bit further. Our first task is to climb up the present slope. While our route has a pretty good slope, it does not present a problem. Korra just takes to going up it without breaking stride.

We reached a nice place to stop and have lunch. As Babs says, On a clear day, you can see forever. And that is how this spot is. We spot Mt Goddard, Mt Reinstein and many other far away peaks. We take this opportunity to take many pictures.

Looking eastward

But Jennie Lake is not getting closer, so we thow on our packs and start going up. We have been aiming for a gradual shelf about a hundred feet above us. So it is up, up and away. We hit the shelf and it is even above where I think we need to be. The shelf is a bit above Poop Out Pass. So just walk on some fairly even ground and head south to where the trail should be. I do not want to go east yet as there is a bit of a drop off.

We hit the trail and take a break. Then we follow it east. We actually have come out a bit east of Poop Out Pass. So we will save going over that until tomorrow. And now I know why I never really liked this trail, even though there is a lot of beauty. We drop, according to the map, about 300’-pretty much the same 300’ we climbed cross-country. But the climb has a lot of rocks which I have to let my old legs gently lower down. I wonder how it will be tomorrow going up? I really slow everybody down now.

More clouds

When we come close to the bottom of the drop, I need to rest a few minutes. After that, I tell Steven and Rachel to go on ahead and find us a spot to camp. Andrea is stuck with the anchor. Fortunately it is not far now to Jennie Lake, about a third of a mile and a hundred foot climb. When we get to the lake, Andrea and I stop and wait for Rachel and Steven to lead us to a campsite.

Rachel resting in comfort

They have found one on the west side of the lake which looks comfortable. It is warmer, so Andrea will try the hammock.I pitch my tent. And we all get to rest for a little while. Well almost. Steven’s hammock experiences a failure. So Steven and Korra will sleep with me tonight.

Tonight’s feast is Beans-Rice with Fritos & Cheese. Sherri did real good as we had very little in the way of dehydrated beans. So she did a couple of different types. Mixed together, quite tasty. After that I think we are ready for bed. Korra is not quite sure what to make of a tent. She marches back and forth, but eventually settles down. By now it is about 9:00pm. I read for a bit and then close my eyes.

Breakfast	Lunch	Dinner	Snacks
Oatmeal and add-ins, such as dried peaches, strawberries, nuts, granola. Tang.	Ritz Crackers, Tortillas, Peanut Butter, Nutella	Beans-Rice with Fritos & Cheese	Clif Bar, GORP, Propel, CytoMax, Scratch, Coffee Candy, Jelly Belly