Wednesday, 27 July (Part I) 6.0 miles, 2:53
One of the Red Cones
I am 44 years old today. Chelsea bought my breakfast in the cafe this morning and a man gave us each a piece of fruit (I got a red plum!). In the cafe the manager heard it was my birthday and brought out cupcakes with funny little decorations on them. I couldn’t eat them but had fun giving them out to other hikers in the cafe. We ate with Dave and set out together shortly after 9:00. Early on we walked through an obvious burn area. The only trees were dead and blackened stumps, vegetation was thick and fresh and green below about one meter and virtually non-existent above that level, save for a few trees that survived the flames. This is due to the Rainbow Fire in 1992. In the first three miles we gained a thousand feet over easy switchbacks. It took us less than ninety minutes. We stopped for a snack and pee break and considered the view of Red Cones that we got from the trail. The volcanic summits looked interesting but we declined to climb one because of a great haze that obscured the great view that they are said to provide. As we proceeded the smell of smoke became evident and we knew the source of the haze. I began to feel the smoke in my throat and lungs and stopped for an inhaler break. We reached Deer Creek just before noon to wait and see what the smoke would do. I wet my bandanna and put it over my mouth and nose. The smoke is not getting worse here but some northbounders said it was thicker to the south and at higher elevations. Splendid. Dave left at 13:30 to go to Duck Creek. If conditions improve by 16:00 we may join him. Until then I am poring over maps planning various bailout options.
Wednesday, 27 July (Part II) 5.5 miles, 2:38
Camping at Duck Creek
The smoke seemed to be clearing so we packed up and set out again at about 15:00. We had an initial climb of about a thousand feet over two miles and we took it slow. The terrain was uninteresting but we were definitely hiking toward clearer, bluer sky, and away from the thick, grey, hazy sky. We leveled out and contoured into and out of some ravines with nice wildflowers. At last we entered the ravine of Duck Creek. The creek tumbled at intervals over steep drops but our trail was mostly level. The stream crossing was wet but only ankle deep. We looked around for Dave but he must have moved on. We set camp on the south side of the stream in a small clump of trees with great views to the headwall and the cascading stream. Tired, we settled on a cold supper and went to bed early.
