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
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Morning Light
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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.
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Discussion around a non-lit fire pit
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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.
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Start of going cross-country
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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
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Rachel and Mitchell Peak
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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.
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View from a break area
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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.
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Clouds over Goddard
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Korra watching over the resting travelers
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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.
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Looking eastward
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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.
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More clouds
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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
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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
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Clif Bar, GORP, Propel, CytoMax, Scratch, Coffee Candy, Jelly Belly |
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Steven and Korra
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Lunch Time: Gary, Andrea, and Steven
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Picture taking
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Andrea, Gary, Steven, Korra, Rachel
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Admiring the view
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Coming up the slope
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| Scenic view to the north |
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Mitchel Peak
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Gary picking his way up the slope
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Looking north
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Andrea resting in her hammock
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Gary and his tent (Hotel Duran)
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Steven and Korra
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Animals
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| Grasshoper |
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Woodpecker tapping on a sign
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