The Blog of Don Sessions

Friday, March 14, 2014

The Backpack 7 Down the stream and up the trail

The next day we hiked down Arapahoe Creek from Caribou Lake toward Monarch Lake for about 10 miles.

There were some bridges and some challenging stream crossings.

When we stopped to cool off, Gordon, our fisherman, always had a line in the water.

Just this side of Monarch Lake we reached a junction with the trail to Crater Lake. We turned right and hiked uphill for several miles and camped by the trail near some massive boulders. We were fortunate then because these days camping is no longer allowed at this spot.
It was a 13 mile day.

The Backpack 8 To Crater Lake

The next day we hiked up about 3.5 miles from our campsite to Crater Lake.

Initially the trail goes by Buchanan Creek and then alongside Cascade Creek and over several bridges.

Cascade Falls includes four sets of falls. We arrived at Mirror Lake and then Crater Lake (elevation 11,920 feet) in mid afternoon. We have become better acclimated and stronger as the days advance

Lone Eagle Peak towers above Crater Lake. A stunning tour de force of granite, it was formerly called Lindburgh Peak after aviator and adventurer Charles Lindburgh. It is a sublime place to camp.

It is one of the most peaceful and inspiring places on the planet.

The Backpack 9 Thoughts on climbing Pawnee Pass

Bob has obviously asked us to point in the direction of Pawnee Pass.

The Backpack 10 Ascending Pawnee Pass

Leaving Crater Lake we are to go through these impressive spires on the trail to Pawnee Pass.

The trail is an extraordinary construction of switchbacks. As we took a break before the steep climb there was a small puddle in the middle of the trail. Gordon threw a fishing line in and to our collective amazement he caught a 6 inch fish.

The Backpack 11 Pawnee Pass

On Pawnee Pass, elevation 12,542 feet.

The clouds rolled in to cool us off - back to long sleeves.

To the north over my shoulder is the western slope with Granby Reservoir (now Granby Lake), Shadow Mountain Lake and Grand Lake. Its time to start down hill.

The End of the Backpack 12

It is 4.5 miles from Pawnee Pass to our pickup point at Brainard Lake on another great CCC trail (from the times of FDR).

We hiked down past Lake Isabelle (shown) and then along the one mile length of Long Lake arriving at Brainard Lake where our ride was awaiting us. It was on this trail that Bob picked up the piece of granite that he dedicated for us for us.

It was the time of our young lives.

Below Lake Isabelle.

Re: The End of the Backpack

MORE...MORE....MORE !!!!!!!

Nice Job, Dr. Don. When can we expect the next series?

Some notes from the past:

Dome tents were relatively new thirty-five years ago. Surprised Don w/o telling him that I had purchased one for our expedition. Don's response after seeing it for the first time ever ..."What the hell is that - The Franke Hilton?"

Prior to our trip I called Don at work to discuss some details. When his receptionist asked,"Whom may I say is calling?". I said Dr. Franke, being cute. Her response was, "Hold on Dr. Franke and I'll put you through to the OR". Hence for a while I was known as Dr. Franke.

The mosquitoes at our overnight camping spot in Kansas were as big as half dollars.Got eaten alive trying to put the tent up that night.

Nice trip down memory lane, Don

Dr. Bob, AKA AB-Bob, MU-Bob, IBK-Bob, Sponge Pants- Bob, ... :-)