ET's Info-Stew

16:24 - This year's trip is another return to Rockbound in Desolation Wilderness. Since we now live in Colorado, I flew in for four days of backpacking and a couple days of work. Yesterday Carl and I left for Ranch Cicaca in the evening after gathering last-minute items. We got there around 11 PM and had to be up at around 5 AM. We slept on the floor and my sleep was not good. I think I need something to support my head and shoulders like pillows at home, not just my head. My neck was very sore and so I didn't sleep well.

This morning we hit the trailhead at 9 AM. We took a half-hour break about halfway there just as the trail leaves Loon Lake. We also stopped a few other times to rest for five minutes. We made it to camp at about 12:45 PM. Living in Colorado has had a beneficial effect on me physically. Where before I would get winded doing simple tasks around camp, now I'm getting along without much problem. I won't say the hike in was easy, but I was certainly not huffing and puffing like I used to. I feel like I'm doing ligament damage to my feet, though. And I can feel a good sunburn on my back.

I've already gone swimming twice, once right after reaching camp and a second time after a short hike to Buck Island. The water is cool enough to feel refreshing but not so cool that it shocks you. It would be nice to be able to get cold water for drinking, so I think it is going to require me to take a swim to get water from deeper areas.

The only new piece of gear I have this year is a non-folding knife with a four-inch blade. Knifes have never been too useful out here yet, since there's much I need to cut. But it may provide me some entertainment.

So far it's a good trip. To make it a great one I'll need to figure out how to sleep again. I brought the self-inflating mattress because I had to check my pack at the airport. My other sleeping pad system would not do so well. So getting good sleep and not getting too sunburned are my main goals.

21:31 - After my last log I took a wonderful and deep two hour nap. Bill woke me up because there were chores to do and less than an hour until sunset.

After hanging rope I went off to take care of some biological needs and as I'm sitting there I hear the thumping of a helicopter there. It appeared to be doing passes in the area, possibly looking for someone. I decided to finish my duty before they came around for the next pass. Sure enough just after I finished they spotted me and flew right over my head. They were so close I could see the CHP lettering.

Boiling water got a little exciting. For my dinner I didn't keep an eye on it and water started boiling over and onto the stove, so getting burned trying to turn off the stove was a significant probability. Thankfully the water was able to put out the flames, stop the boil, and I could shut off the stove. Then later, when we were looking at stars, I had my stove out boiling water for hot chocolate. I didn't have it in a stable position so when the water started to boil it tipped over the stove spilling it all. Fortunately it spilled away from me. I decided to give up for the night, which means even stronger hot chocolate the next two nights.

Tonight I'm trying a new sleeping arrangement and so far it feels real comfortable. I have my pack filled with mostly soft stuff and stowed to support my shoulders and head. Coupled with using my fleece under the pad to support my knees I'm hoping to get the comfort necessary for a good night of sleep.

I don't know if Jenny remembered to do it, but I looked at our star at 9 PM tonight.