Happy Panther

August 6, 2018. From stealth camp on Ross Lake to Big Beaver Camp.

Excited to resupply and get my electronics charged, I was up early and moving. I crossed beautiful blue Ruby Creek and found a series of educational displays that gave the history of the Skagit valley before the dam.

On the “Happy Panther Trail” i passed a few waterfalls. I recorded a video of the downhill portion and was amused to see the video makes it actually seem like a backwards-flowing waterfall. I am easily amused.

I approached the dam with some excitement and just a hint of fear about heights. It was an amazing structure. I learned over to take a picture looking down…stupid.

After I crossed the dam, I immediately detected two smells from Ross lake Resort: cooked food (yum) and fuel (not yum).

I eventually made it to the resort. It is unique because the whole resort (office, cabins, boat facilty) floats on the lake and is only accessible to boat or walking. It has an exclusive reputation, with reservations often needing to made two years in advance.

They had my package, and let me charge up my gear. It was interesting when around 10:00 all the guests showed up and wanted their canoes. Kayaks, motor boats. After an hour, it was calm again. The resort was friendly with one lady offering me many delicious strawberries. Later, she cooked bacon for BLTs for the staff lunch and I was close to offering o e of my internal organs in exchange for some bacon.

I was able to call home and work out a way to get some shoes to replace my disintegrating pair.

Eventually, I packed up and left in the afternoon heat. It was just a four mile hike to my designated campsite at Big Beaver Campground. As I approached, I first passed the equestrian campground with places to tie up stock. Past that, I approached the boat campground. There were about 20 frenetic teenage voices. I had heard some employees discussing a boy scout troop when I was at the resort. I immediately turned around and went back to the isolated, empty, and quiet equestrian campground.

I swam in the reservoir and rinsed my clothes. That felt great. The hot, dry air quickly dried my wet clothes. I stored my food and backpack in the metal bear box. I was easily off to dreamland despite being able to hear snippets of teen noises from the boat campground far away.