Ridgewalking again.

After six days of sun a storm blew down the valley leaving a double rainbow behind.

The head net is fantastic! Don't leave home without it.

The way up

Sea Jazz

 

 Music at sea was part of my preparation for the next hike. It was a privilege to see some of the J-pod Orcas and quite amazing to see those giant Steller sea lions. 'Here's that rainy day' was written by Jimmy van Heusen and Johnny Burke.

  While I was packing for a trip recently I heard that a hiker had fallen off a cliff and died at the very place I was headed. Another person was seriously injured on the same trail at the lower waterfall a few days before that. Shortly after hearing about those, the person who was going to drive me to the trailhead called to cancel. At that moment a quote from Tom King popped into my head, "Stay calm, be brave and watch for the signs". These seemed like enough signs for me to change to another mountain and let that one rest. My alternate plan worked well because it was lower and less strenuous while having no idea the air quality was going to plummet due to the forest fires in Washington, Oregon and California. As the smoke rolled over the peaks I watched carefully and figured it was from far away. Being late in the afternoon the first thing I did was cook dinner in case I had to spend the night walking out,or worse, crouching in the river to avoid flames. If I started to hear a lot of aircraft activity, that would be my que to leave. I found it better to sit in the forest and lay low until I walked out two days later.

 

Treeline [ridgewalkerpete.blogspot.ca]

 It was during a morning walk around camp when I noticed that a bear had crept along the muddy edge of the lake behind the bushes to check me out. It had also walked around the other way to get a sniff. During the previous several days I had seen this black bear feeding on blueberries in the high meadow. Part of me was pumped to get some video but I would have to get closer due the camera I was using. My gut feeling was to leave it alone. I could drive it away from a valuable food source and worse still, I could provoke an attack. I decided just to stay well clear and head up to the rocky lake and the peak, far above the food. 

   Each day at the high camp the ravens would fly over to see what I was up to. It is really great to have a few days above the treeline because it is a tough go just getting up there. Good to have a rest/weather day before doing the final peak.