Snow and Ice at the top
We started down the trail around 9:40, well behind our 7:00-7:30 planned time due
to the problems with the permits. The top switchbacks were covered in old snow
that had been packed and refrozen. We found ourselves almost wishing we had
crampons. After about 20 minutes, the snow became patchy and a few switchbacks later
it dissapeared completely.
The top of 75 Mile Canyon
About 10:30 we crossed over a spiny ridge that was the top of 75 mile Canyon.
(approx 111deg50'30"W x 36deg2'30"N, but that's an estimate.)
It would be interesting to go back and see if it would be possible to go down the canyon from here.
Lunch
At 12:00 we stopped for lunch at the point where the trail levels out for
a bit before switching back toward the south. There is a very large (>1000ft)
cliff here that afforded excellent vistas.(Probably around 111deg50'10"Wx36deg3'45"N, a bearing to the Watchtower was 164deg true)
Warning:The full size image of this picture is 2M
The bottom Half
After lunch, we continued on down the trail. This section got very steep in places and
my knee began to really bother me. The steep downhills also caused me to blister on every toe,
despite the polypropylene liners and heavy outer socks. Around 3:30-4:00 we reached Tanner beach.
We had planned on hiking an extra mile downriver to try and shorten the next day's hike, but by
this time I was exhausted (probably because I was slightly dehydrated). So we made camp, ate, and
crashed since we'd been up since 3:00am.
Prev
Home
Next
