A Day Hike with the Backpacker Girl
People often ask if Kel fly fished before we met. The answer is no, but she was a pretty serious (and just pretty)Â backpacker girl. She wasn’t shy about doing two weeks out, so it comes as no surprise that part of our together life includes some more significant hikes back into various places (fly rods often strapped to the packs, of course). So, is it really worth 15 miles in an afternoon to get out-and-back to a little lake with a big waterfall? I’ll let you decide after looking at the photos below (you already know my answer). Indeed, I am quite sure that a few other FF&W readers have done this exact 15 miler, too (you have to include the bit up to the saddle between the two peaks in the second photo to get it all)….
SO, SO, SO pretty. Looking at these my mind immediately races back to the quality of the air, the stunning views in every direction, the vanilla-pine smell…my throbbing, n/v-inducing migraine…my attentive and caring husband…:-) Can’t wait to be on the trail again with you.
Been there… love to hike and FF. I do lodges every 4 years, my favorite FF trips are on my own (and relatives/friends/girlfriend) with a tent and a sleeping bag. I do like the idea of a campfire, but I do use stoves instead… At least I got the feeleing is more “Green” and less dangerous to the wilderness
Kel–Yes, it was a great afternoon getting up there, indeed, and the “candy pine” scent near the lake was the best I’ve smelled in a long time. Of course, your sudden migraine at elevation was not much fun (especially for you). I have to admit that you are tough if you are anything! 7 1/2 miles out with your head exploding wasn’t exactly what either of us had in mind that evening….
Simon–A tent, a bag and fire make for great times. We’ll run a fire if at a dedicated campground (national forest, etc.), otherwise the stove. We camped some miles down below the trailhead that heads to the peaks shown above, and awoke the next morning with the tent fully iced on the inside. Clear nights up in Montana canyons can get a bit cool! Even a 20-degree bag felt a bit on the lukewarm side. The flip side was a nearly deserted campground, and a star show that was the best I have seen in recent memory in the lower 48 states.