Hitch2

Pioneer Day

Our second hitch is complete. We are now in the process of readjusting to ‘normal’ life. The 8 days in the field went too quickly.

We started with a group of 13 (leave no trace) and ended with 4. After the big wigs and jokers left things improved rapidly. Everyone and their dog was there for training and (unfortunately) discussion about the protocol for the campsite inventory. At times it was long, drawn-out and boring. Other times, it was worse; far worse.

It’s terrible to be out in a beautiful place having a rotten and boring time. It’s also terrible to go out into the backcountry and end up socializing and talking to more people than you normally do. I tend to keep things simple and avoid large crowds. 13 people just doesn’t make much of a backcountry experience.

I contrasted this experience with many solo (or duo) mountain bike rides I’ve done in Tucson’s backcountry where I typically don’t see anyone out on the trail. It’s striking.

Gimblett was the hero of the day; butting heads to get the group of 13 disbanded cutting the four of us loose to get started on the inventory. So they left a day early, none too soon.

We hammered out a number of lakes–scouting for campsites, inventorying them and matching them with old photos and inventories. Besides collecting garbage (tin foil anyone?) and cleaning fire pits we also helped two other rangers move a Forest Service toilet that had been full for quite some time. It was actually kind of fun.

The four of us (now Team Coghlan) had a great time together. I quickly realized that these are all moments to enjoy to the fullest. This is going to be a short lived summer, unfortunately.

We hiked back out to the Crags campground on Tuesday. After checking out the campsites at nearby Golden Trout lake we were done for the day. We spent the evening chatting with Roy and Karen, the hilarious and kind campground hosts of some 12 years running. They fed us s’mores and ‘funnies’, as Roy calls his tall tales. The whole evening I was dreading the next day–the descent back to North Fork, head and normal civilization. After a few hands of a game called Russian Idiot (taught to us by Alyosha Efros) it was time for bed.

In the morning we helped Roy and Karen clean fire pits, then began the journey back to town. We began hearing things on the radio–normal fire chatter, except that roads were closed. Then, worse, two fire-fighters were killed.

We rolled down Panther Creek and were soon hit a wall of smoke. It was everywhere and we were still nowhere near the fire. The drive overall was horrible and it effectively sucked the life out of me. A stop at the Shoup store for fries and shakes provided some recharge, but it did not last long. Back at the station our boss was too busy with the fire to badger us, so it was up to us to prepare the new crew that was heading back out to the Crags. I was drained from the drive but somehow dribbled through it.

The road to the Divide trail is closed, so there is nothing here for us but smoke to ruin our lungs. We’re planning to head back to SLC soon, but there may be something to stay for in Salmon. We shall see as the day plays out.