May 7, 2007

Brrrr!  The shading pines and firs at Jackson Flat Campground (an elevation of 7,480 feet) made for a chilly night's sleep.  I slept a little uneasily anyway awaiting bear activity.  I prepared a warm breakfast of lasagna, hot spiced cider, supplemented with an Oatmeal-to-Go bar, and a NutriGrain bar.  Lots of calories, I know.  I needed them for today's climb plus I was trying to lighten my load by eating my food.

I began hiking at 9:30 a.m. in a brisk morning air.  My morning was spent ascending Mt. Baden-Powell (elevation of 9,245 feet).  I took a rest break and ate two packs of Sport Beans and a Promax bar.  It was during that rest break when Bison Ed hiked up.  We ascended the mountain together shedding and adding layers every 500 feet.  The cool wind combined with the high altitude chilled me.  The hot sun and my body's exertion made me sweat.  Bison Ed and I enjoyed a break at 9,245 feet by resting on a hunched, gnarled 1500 year-old conifer.  During my rest, I felt 1500 years old as well!

Today, the mountain kicked my butt.  The altitude had me gasping for air and left me with a feeling of physical defeat.  Anyone who knows me well understands how my attitude will respond to such defeat.  I will work harder tomorrow. Ed and I hiked 12.5 miles today and we are camping at Little Jimmy Springs Campground.  This campground has a lot of reported bear activity so Bison Ed and I put our food/toiletries/backpacks on top of the pit toilet's roof. We couldn't climb up so we hurled them up on the roof.  Hopefully a bear won't bother looking on the roof of a privy.  As I settled in to sleep, Bison Ed and I were wondering just how bad our packs were going to smell in the morning.