This spring while we were doing parts of the planning together. Nivaun asked if I would like to join his friends and wife on a leg of their journey.
Being up for the challenge for some additional miles to the original route set back last October. I had already been to some of the place in the route the year before; however this would be a chance to do some side trips.
Last time through the area my Backpack started at 70lbs. No way in heck I wanted to go scramble a few peaks after going over the Mountain Passes; when it took everything in the gas tank just to get up the thing.
This year was a different story with my Backpack Base Weight just under 10lbs. I had plenty of energy and by the time the group was ready to pitch camp. Had plenty of energy extra to burn; at times even grew restless.
Peak #2 of the day - Looking over to '1,000 Acre Meadows', Mt. Anderson, Sentinel Peak (later that day) and behind the Pack lies the Bailey Range. Product testing my Luna Sandals Leadville Pacer on new MGT foodbed w/ updated ATS Laces - Sawyer Squeeze Filter w/ Aquafina bottle - DIY Tyvek Rain Jacket
Suggested Listening:
5 Mountain Passes - 3 peaks scrambled - 6 Black Bears - 20+ Marmots with some babies - Grand, Cameron, Lost, Hayden and Constance Passes
My office - Mt. Olympus from the East in the distance
Some of the group headed down the trial - Moose BM (center) holding a few summer cornice's
Moose Lake in the Grand Valley as the sun goes down
Marmots playing in Grand Valley - later seen a Black Bear grazing on the hillside
Grand Valley from which we came that morning
looking over to Cameron Basin from Grand Pass - we will stay the night there
Cameron Creek - one of the many hydration destinations this month
Group headed through a very enjoyable section of trail
My bedroom for the night - Gossamer Gear 'The One' - It had been wind all day - late afternoon the rain picked up - that night a cold front pushed through bringing with it wind and rain
Upper Cameron Basin after the storm
the two main thing done this month - walk and drink water - everything else is just extra
Pass #1 for the day - Ascending Cameron Pass in Huaraches - got a real crazy look on top from a guy in Mountaineering Boots
Peak #1 for the day - Letting the feet get some sun - views of Lost Peak and Basin - 1,000 Acre Meadows - Sentinel Peak and Mt. Anderson
Descending into Lost Basin with views of Lost Peak
Pass #2 of the day - Lost Pass - wildflowers barely alive and Autumn color starting to show its face
After descending steep switchbacks - Seems like the Black Bears like the sign to Bear Camp
Hayden Pass under evening light
Pass of the day #3 - Hayden Pass - my favorite because its remote
looking into the Eel Glacier of Mt. Anderson from the south shoulder of Sentinel Peak
Mt. Fromme, Lost Pass and looking back at the Cameron - down below is Hayden Pass drainage from Sentinel Peak
looking northeast'ish from Sentinel Peak - 1,000 Acre Meadows below and Mt. Constance way out there (later)
Peak #3 of the day: some homeless dude on Sentinel Peak
Headed down the Dosewallips River Valley - last view of Alpine for awhile - rain clouds moving in
'Let the spiritual powers of water in untainted form; cleans my body and purify my soul' - Barefoot Jake
Time to ascend to Constance Pass - got to see what all the fuss is over this trail - I found it nicely maintained, graded and even a few spots to get water on the way up
found the water and it even brought its friend mud - time to test that MGT footbed on my new Luna Sandals to see if their worth the hype
group headed into SunnyBrook Meadows
bed for the night - woke up to the first frost of the Autumn season for me - I refuse to pack Down Jacket in this soon tho
'as the sun goes down over the valley of my heart'
looking down at the Dosewallips River Vally Fork - this month I walked both those
Not since the Native American has a human been up here in the original form of Hiking Footwear - connecting with those that walked here before me - Looking into Mount Constance and Warrior Peak
headed down Constance Pass into the mist
The pass
Home Lake on the base of Mt. Constance
Autumn Color starting to show its face above Home Lake - Winter is near
Royal Creek
Decided to Hitch Hike out of the Upper Dungeness area. Which isn't an easy task in the beginning of a 4 day holiday weekend. Everyone was coming and no one seemed to be going. Took me almost 7 hours of standing around in 38 degree temps to get a lift down the hill.
Thanks to the nice family that was willing to give me a lift.
I wrote this blog, resupply now and head back into the Wilderness. Have a craving for more high country before the snow hits.
Disclaimer/Comments: One should train their feet for some time for this type of trail conditions. Biking, Hiking or Backpacking in Minimalist Footwear takes strong feet. Since as we aged wearing shoes have lots most of our natural foot muscle. Give you body time to adjust to this type of Footwear before attempting anything you see on this Site. Don't forget to Follow Me; I like to use the Hashtag #BarefootBackpacking - Tweet me your Questions.
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