Wet Feet

July 10th

Although it did not snow, there was a light drizzle. Oddly, I actually sleep pretty good with a little rain on the tent.

I reached the trailhead.  The most amazing thing was a fantastic new, clean pit toilet. Previously, I had no need, but I was drawn to this beauty.  Inside, spotless.  

I trudged through the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness  (APW) in the rain.  I attached my umbrella to my backpack and kept my upper body dry as my feet got soaked.

The big highlight was ascending from a lake  up a steep series of switchbacks.   It was scary but beautiful. The further up I went, the closer I hugged the wall and the clouds were momentarily disintegrating.  It was beautiful when I finally reached an area known as Goat Flats. Although flat, it is slanted down.  I saw no goats.

The short cut through Anaconda rejoins the real trail here.  I was walking across the high alpine grass when a dark cloud rolled in, dropping visibility to ten feet.  It was both cool and eerie. 

I managed to wind my way down.  First through a Larch forest, then a sketchy, muddy decline.  The trail went along through mostly old forest.  I witnessed a freak event.  At Flower Lake, an old dead tree suddenly collapsed, partially into the lake.  The was no strong wind.  It just chose that moment to topple. It was weird.  Hard to put that thought out of your head as you walk through the forest. 

I was going to push for miles and clear Cutaway Pass before camp, but increasing rain with the introduction of lightening persuaded me to set up camp a few miles short.

It was a wet, cold camp after 19 hard miles.  As I got into my sleeping bag I was depressed by how soaked my feet, socks, and shoes were. My other pair had no chance to dry today. Maybe tomorrow would be better.