Day1--get out of the car at upper benson and realize that my prediction of no bugs was WAY off. Start apologizing and hand over a headnet...Make it to silver lake in just over 2 hours and meet two teenaged kids at the lean to. We tell them we made the 7 or so miles in about 2 hours. They tell us they carried in a canoe. I start to feel old. Really old. Make it to an incredible beaverflow area after canary pond but before mud pond to camp. Set up the tent in record time time to hide from the flies. Apologize for the bugs again and eat dinner as the sun sets over moose mtn. a great first day
Day2--Wake up and make coffee then start hiking. Meet folks at Mud lake finishing thier last section hike, I wonder if the bugs were as bad for them, blast out of there, make it to piseco in a few hours, slam a sandwich at the general store and make it to an unnamed lake between fall stream and the Jessup river. Realize again that my bug prediction was sorry at best. My tent was actually black from the layer of bugs as I make a smudge fire to try to get them to leave. Nothing works and I remember someones prediction from here that the bugs would be happy we were out there.
Day3--Bugs. Horrible bugs. Made it to South lake though, an incredible area but it must see alot of hiker traffic due to how much trash we pick up aroung the lean to.
Day 4--Can't it just rain? These bugs are starting to kill my spirit...Camp at wakely dam. Looking forward to getting a ride to mccanes in the a.m.
Day 5--Walk the whole way to Mccanes, the one truck that went by waved and smiled. Great weather and lots of bugs. Bust it to stephens pond in record time(chased by bugs) and find my bearcan that I stashed untouched. Keep hiking and camp at lake durant. Running water and toilets win the day. The lady at the booth is very kind to thruhikers.
Day6--sleep in, take pictures of my gigantic blister...crush the hike to tirell pond, witness salamanders making sweet love in the water. The pictures didn't come out though...These bugs are dampening my will to live...Have to cross a washed out bridge in a field before the climb. Throw my pack over the stream and watch helplessly as it sinks into the water. My nalgenes are floating downstream. This is true comedy...
Day 7--wake up at caitlin bay and wonder how many bugs I've killed so far? At least a zillion...Bust it to cold river and sleep in the lean to right below the suspension bridge. I love this area, and the sound of the river lulls me to sleep as I dream about sugar plums and the nuclear destruction of all biting insects.
Day 8--we decide to hike all the way out. Eat the rest of our food at the oluska lean to in the rain. There are no bugs, I rejoice as I dance merrily in the rain...We continue on thinking about beer and food. In that order. We leave duck hole headed north and slow to about 1mph. The entire stretch to moose pond is a creation of beavers. My feet are now wet, we are out of food, and we decide that we are not making it out. We set up for the night at moose pond lean to. My god I'm close.
Day 9--We make it out. My girlfriend runs into a convenience store and walks back out to ask if I"ve ever heard of Lake Placid beer? I say yes--she comes back out with a sixer each of Ubu and 46er pale ale. What a great hike. Make it home without getting a speeding ticket. Now I'm back to peakbagging. I've also decided to buy a hornbeck. I'm certain I can carry one 7 miles.
Day2--Wake up and make coffee then start hiking. Meet folks at Mud lake finishing thier last section hike, I wonder if the bugs were as bad for them, blast out of there, make it to piseco in a few hours, slam a sandwich at the general store and make it to an unnamed lake between fall stream and the Jessup river. Realize again that my bug prediction was sorry at best. My tent was actually black from the layer of bugs as I make a smudge fire to try to get them to leave. Nothing works and I remember someones prediction from here that the bugs would be happy we were out there.
Day3--Bugs. Horrible bugs. Made it to South lake though, an incredible area but it must see alot of hiker traffic due to how much trash we pick up aroung the lean to.
Day 4--Can't it just rain? These bugs are starting to kill my spirit...Camp at wakely dam. Looking forward to getting a ride to mccanes in the a.m.
Day 5--Walk the whole way to Mccanes, the one truck that went by waved and smiled. Great weather and lots of bugs. Bust it to stephens pond in record time(chased by bugs) and find my bearcan that I stashed untouched. Keep hiking and camp at lake durant. Running water and toilets win the day. The lady at the booth is very kind to thruhikers.
Day6--sleep in, take pictures of my gigantic blister...crush the hike to tirell pond, witness salamanders making sweet love in the water. The pictures didn't come out though...These bugs are dampening my will to live...Have to cross a washed out bridge in a field before the climb. Throw my pack over the stream and watch helplessly as it sinks into the water. My nalgenes are floating downstream. This is true comedy...
Day 7--wake up at caitlin bay and wonder how many bugs I've killed so far? At least a zillion...Bust it to cold river and sleep in the lean to right below the suspension bridge. I love this area, and the sound of the river lulls me to sleep as I dream about sugar plums and the nuclear destruction of all biting insects.
Day 8--we decide to hike all the way out. Eat the rest of our food at the oluska lean to in the rain. There are no bugs, I rejoice as I dance merrily in the rain...We continue on thinking about beer and food. In that order. We leave duck hole headed north and slow to about 1mph. The entire stretch to moose pond is a creation of beavers. My feet are now wet, we are out of food, and we decide that we are not making it out. We set up for the night at moose pond lean to. My god I'm close.
Day 9--We make it out. My girlfriend runs into a convenience store and walks back out to ask if I"ve ever heard of Lake Placid beer? I say yes--she comes back out with a sixer each of Ubu and 46er pale ale. What a great hike. Make it home without getting a speeding ticket. Now I'm back to peakbagging. I've also decided to buy a hornbeck. I'm certain I can carry one 7 miles.
Hilarious commentary on the bug situation this year. I saw your post over on Summitpost, but it failed to convey the incredible depths of despair that the bugs (almost?) drove you to.
MOUNTAINS R MEANT 2 REMIND US OF THE REALIZATION THAT WE HUMANS ARE JUST GUESTS IN A CLIMATE OF CONSTANT CHANGE. FUTILITY ON THE PART OF OUR FERVENT NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE MOUNTAINS MAJESTY
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