August 27th
Got to traipse along some high, narrow ridges today. Great names like Poison Ridge and Troublesome Pass. I went around Haystack Mountain instead of over. I wanted to save my strength for Parkview Mountain this afternoon. I found some ripe raspberries along the way, which was a sweet surprise.
Parkview Mountain rises to 12,300 feet above sea level. The approach was above treeline with amazing views. One of the views was of clouds thickening in both color and size. The last half mile came down to me counting 50 steps and then letting my pulse calm down. Man, I truly wish I had not smoked for 27 years.
Eventually, I did reach the top. There is an emergency shelter there in case of lightning. Massive amounts of rodent feces and graffiti were the two dominant interior design themes.
Maybe it was the downpour that finally occurred, but I missed my turn. Rather than climbing back up or bushwacking, I chose to follow the forest service road as it swept back and forth downhill. I made a last stop for water when I dumped out onto a two lane highway.
I had about a mile walk uphill on the highway until I reached Willow Creek Pass where the trail crossed. It was almost dark enough for a headlamp. There was hardly any traffic. As I neared the Pass, a little old lady in a Subaru stopped. She rolled down the driver’s window, her chin barely above the door, and asked if I needed help. What a sweet, fearless lady.
I ended up putting my tent up in the dark on a wet piece of what I thought was level ground. This guaranteed a night of discomfort and fidgeting with the tangential benefit of a wet tent to carry tomorrow.
backpacking over the hill 