Ranger Lake, Silliman Pass and the Shoulda Couldas

I just returned from a two day backpacking trip with Wilson into the Jennie Lakes Wilderness area. This is the same area we traveled in last summer, but there was a different reason this year. Last year we hiked to Seville Lake and back out the next day. This year we were to meet Uncle John, Elias and another father and two sons. I joined at the last minute and drove up early to meet and pick up Wilson at Lodgepole.

The plan was to meet John and crew at Rowell Meadow at noon on Sunday. The most reasonable way to do that was to leave from the Horse Corral/Rowell Trailhead. We drove down to the trailhead and took off a bit late, but arrived at Rowell Meadow just a little after noon. We eventually realized that John wasn't going to arrive at Rowell Meadow. There had been a spectacular lightening storm the night before and figured they had to change plans. We had to decide what we would do. We could go to Jennie Lake and then over JO Pass the next day and back into Lodgepole. Or we could continue on the trail to Seville and Ranger lakes. We chose that option and started off.

We had been on this section of the trail last year so it was refreshing to see the differences. The big change was no creeks running.  Water was scarce with another drought year. We enjoyed the burned out section of forest like we did last time. A fire had burned through an area of the trail about 5 years ago. The trees left standing were like gravestones in a cemetery. It reminds me of a scene from the movie Jeremiah Johnson.

This was just before the turn to Seville Lake. Though unspoken, we realized we wouldn't be seeing the party we were looking for. I was tired at this point and Seville and rest sounded good. But the idea of the hike up and out first thing in the morning was not bueno. We both remembered it from last year and didn't want a repeat. We decided to continue on to Ranger Lake.  Wilson said it was pretty and I couldn't remember if I had been there before, so new scenery would be nice. We also had the bail out of Lost Lake if we got too tired. I didn't want to tell Wilson, but that was fast becoming an option. So it was on to Ranger and the end of a 10 mile plus day.

I'd like to say it was a good decision, but I will say it was a decision. We almost stopped at Lost Lake, but I reasoned that if we were to go over Silliman Pass tomorrow, it would be better to do it first thing when we were rested. So on to Ranger.  The last mile for me was one of those times where the envelope gets pushed and you realize you can do more than you thought. I shuffled into Ranger Lake just before 7:00 and Wilson had started water for tea and was laying out the rain fly.  I lay about for a bit to gather myself and we ate dinner before retiring.

The next day I awoke early, or should I say my fitful sleep of the night was interrupted by light in the sky. We ate and eventually left camp around 8:45.  The two miles up Silliman Pass was a combination of breathless views and breath challenging climbing. We reached the pass in two hours and the views were even better. East was the Great Western Divide and west down into the Great Central Valley. This has always the strange dichotomy of backpacking to me. The effort expended to see sights only seen by those that work to see them.

Regardless of the views, we still had 8 miles to walk before  getting back to Lodgepole. With the trail almost all downhill we certainly would make better time than the slow trip up Silliman. Could my knees handle the trip?

The rest of the trip was reasonably uneventful. Twin Lakes was pretty. The tree roots and exposed rocks that the trail consisted of were not. We reached the trail turn to JO Pass about 1:30 or so. We continued down, me slowly and my knees were talking. Looking down upon Cahoon Meadow was another nice sight. We eventually rolled onto the pavement of the Lodgepole campgrounds just before 4:00. We then had another near mile hike to reach Wilson's cabin.

Two days of backpacking and over 20 miles. Each day was a little over 10 miles. Two of the longest backpacking days I can even remember doing. Sights never seen by me. A wonderful trip with one of my sons where I was blessed to see how he has grown. We may disagree about music, politics and various subjects; but he is a good young man with insight and compassion. I also got to see where his knowledge and passion collide in the mountains.

P.S. After returning home I talked to Tio John. He said that part way into the first day a couple of the boys were starting to struggle with the walk.  They decided to cut their trip short by going up JO Pass and camping at Jennie Lake. They shortened their trip and enjoyed it.

If we had made the "other" choice at Rowell Meadow, we could have met them at Jennie Lake. Even after that they were at the JO Pass turn only a few hours before us on the trip out. Shoulda, coulda, woulda.

Backpacking--Part 2

I have had a few more thoughts after the recent backpacking trip.  It took me a while to have it really sink in that it was just over 25 years ago I was at the same lake. I feel that I am pretty observant, but there were many changes in the appearances of the lake and surroundings.

Two of the final three miles into the lake reminded me of a cemetery.  Within the last few years a fire had burned through the area and the dead trees were standing like grave stones.  Some had fallen, but the charred and partially burnt totems made for an eerie walk. The amazing thing though was the birth of the forest underneath.  Brightly colored flowers were abundant, and a botany lesson was alive showing the life cycle of the forest. The trail sections before and after didn't have as much color because of the forest canopy blocking the flowers.  We were treated to a scene that doesn't happen often with the splashes of color and different shades of green.

The bigger surprise was the time it has taken for me to remember the lake. Or more precisely, the realization that with the 25 years between trips, nature has continued to grow and evolve.  We have been experiencing drier years lately and the mountains show this.  The lake level was down and some of the creek beds were dry as we walked to the lake.  What struck me was at first was the lack of a beach at the lake.  There was once a sandy beach of sorts that was a great way to enter the lake for a swim.  In its place, and surrounding most the the perimeter was a fringe of reeds.  I noticed more trees had fallen into the lake; in fact we walked along the trunk of one to get our water.  Then the thought hit me that we were seeing the "meadowization" of the lake.

That is my term and I don't know if it is really a word.  But the idea is that over time a lake becomes a meadow as the water level drops, fills with sediment and trees fall into the lake further displacing the water.  We had been talking about the process earlier as we walked through some meadows and this lake was an example of the first stages.

If you remember me writing of Mt. Veeder and Lampyridae Vineyards, they appear to have a similar event happening with their pond.  They have a natural spring that feeds a pond. A recent earthquake shifted the underground path of this spring and less water is flowing into the pond.  Reeds have grown around the rim of the pond and it is starting to fill.

The biggest realization for me was I have visited this lake over such a length of time that I can see the differences.  I can see nature happening. It also gives new meaning the my children's nickname for me, Old Man River.

A Thing of the Past--Backpacking

I just returned from a backpacking trip with one of my sons.  This is the first backpacking trip I have ever been on with a child of ours, and the first in over twenty years. The last trip involved a horizontal lightning bolt a few feet above my head, but that story can wait.

All of the children have expressed an interest in backpacking over the years. Though I have to say, Army son declared to us one Christmas that the Army has cured him of any desire to hike with a load on his back.  We have camped with the older sons, but not everyone.  Since my last trip years ago I have had some health issues and then working to support our family have intruded on any backpacking.  One son is working in the local national park this summer and in talking to his coworkers and rangers decided he wanted to try backpacking. He researched and bought a pack and we planned the trip.

It was to a local lake that I have been to before and after about 6 to 7 miles of reasonable trail starting in a national forest we ended up in a national park at a pretty setting and only one other camp taken.  He went swimming and I took a nap.  Then he took a nap.  We eventually fixed dinner, read some and talked about things, then crawled into our bags and tried to sleep.

The next day I was up just before sunrise, and while son slept in I read and watched the lake awaken.  Eventually we loaded up and walked out, thankful that the trip out had only one long climb and then gently was downhill to the trailhead.  It was a great trip that brought back many memories and forged new ties with our son.  I am glad we traveled that trail together.

I learned, relearned and remembered some lessons about backpacking that will apply when I go again, and could apply to other situations.

-Comfortable shoes or boots to walk in. When I first learn to backpack the wisdom was heavy boots for support.  I did that and was fortunate to have good fitting boots.  Today I would say comfort is more important and bulk is out. I wore light work boots that I wear most days and our son wore cross training shoes.  Both worked fine and we had not issues.

-Weight on the back over miles adds up.  I have been walking recently about 3 miles up and down our local hill with Maureen and our dogs.  There is steepness to part of the climb so it's not a walk around the track.  Even with this "training" I hurt after walking with a pack.  The joint aches and pains were felt more.  Muscles that I haven't felt in awhile, announced their presence. I say this not as a whine, but as a reminder to myself to stay in walking shape and to pare down weight to a minimum.
     One example I came across was the discovery of three different first aid kits in my pack.  I found that redundancy is good in some cases, but sometimes not.  Figure out what is truly needed for the trip you are taking, not the one you just came from.

-Rest and sleep are paramount.  If you don't sleep at night, your body can't recuperate.  The sleeping pad I have used for years no longer is adequate.  I never was even a bit comfortable.  And that includes the worn out sleeping bag.  I have some things to add to our list of future purchases.

-I have rethought overhead cover.  We didn't take a tent.  We had a ground tarp that could have been used, but I carried an umbrella.  I had read that some thru-hikers use them so I thought I'd try it.  We didn't need anything, but I'm convinced the umbrella could have multiple uses and be light weight to boot.  For specifics, I carried a large golf umbrella that two people can fit under.

-I will carry a folding aluminum beach chair.  I can see eyes rolling now, but hear me out.  Going back to comfort and rest,we need to help ourselves.  A folding chair doesn't weigh much, but I'm convinced the comfort it would provide is not creature comforts, but something to help you rest so you can take on the next task better. In the past I have used my sleeping pad, but as I mentioned earlier that pad is too hard and unworkable.  Probably I will invest in a good pad and try it, but if it doesn't work, a folding chair is in my future.

I'm sure more ideas and thoughts will be remembered.  I'm glad I went and I think our son is thankful for asking me along.