Oh yes. We're lost. Now, back home after this ordeal was over, I was informed that we in fact were not lost but simply off trail. I'm not really sure I understand the difference...
Anyway, since lunch we've been "off trail" and are hiking what I would consider very steep grades trying to find the trail again and moving in what we believe to be the general direction of Diamond Lake which we've now decided is going to be as far as we'll probably get tonight.
Man was it slow going!! The snow that started out as intermittent and refreshing is now several feet deep and quite a challenge to walk through.
A few hours after lunch, still not 100% sure where we are we run into another group of hikers who are similarly "off trail" due to the snow. We decide to join forces continue together, still aiming to make Diamond Lake to make camp.
It is at this point that I begin really feeling the hike. As I mentioned I'm athletic but everyone else with me has done some sort of endurance sport at the collegiate level and suddenly I'm looking really out of shape. Not to mention that I'm at least 6" shorter than everyone else. I wouldn't have ever thought this would be an issue but when you're taking up the rear on a slippery, snow covered trail it's really difficult when your stride is significantly shorter than everyone before you. This is the suck part of the hike. I'll breeze over it.
We hiked, it sucked. We didn't make Diamond Lake before dark. We camped in the snow. For dinner we made pocket stew's and mine didn't get fully cooked so I ate raw potatoes and onions. Well I nibbled on, not really ate. I went to bed early so that my foul mood didn't spoil everyone else's evening.
Everyone else however had an awesome time. They saw the day as an adventure! The only really down side was that they had to camp on snow because no one really packed anything warm enough for that. But in general fun was had by all and they capped off the long day with the tequila K brought.
The next day was much better. I slept off my bad mood and morning brought warm sun shine and promise of a better day. We leisurely got up and had breakfast and I made up for the lack of dinner with lots of oatmeal cocoa and smores :) M got a little more creative. M decided that since she likes apples and she likes marshmallows that she's LOVE a marshmallow stuffed apple!!!
Before
After
She's a little disappointed that the marshmallow melted out and she ended up with a very sticky baked apple. She said that it was good though.
Here's K tending our incredibly deep fire pit. I think this illustrates just how deep the snow was.
Much happier hikers around the pit. The group that joined us already headed home. We think they were jealous that we had real food. They ate dehydrated MRE type food for every meal (powdered stroganoff was their dinner the night before). It looked like it sucked. We had real food. We might have kind of rubbed that in their face a little
My fiancee, A, in the PIT OF MORDOOR! It was kinda cool.
Next we took a little hike to see if we could spot this mythical Diamond Lake. 5 miles in my tokous!
Legolas what do your elvish eyes see??
Not the lake, that's what!
M! Step away from the edge!!! Your senior design project isn't that bad!!!!
But they think they have good idea where it is...
(Doesn't it look like B's up to something here??)
"Well? Cummon guys!! Lets get movin'!!!!!"
To be continued...