As it's now our tradition, my beautiful daughter and I do a multi-night backpacking trip for 6 days/5 nights to honor the life of her beloved brother/my beloved son, who was born on a July 17 and died on a July 22. This is our ritual for the second anniversary.
Due to COVID-19 and many of its consequences, we couldn't plan a multi-night trip that covered the six days, so we broke it into two sections: from July 17 to July 20 (4 days/3 nights) in Trapper Creek Wilderness, and from July 20 to July 22 (2 days/2 nights) in Panther Creek, just 7 miles from Trapper Creek. The former hike (Day 1 to Day 4) can be found in a separate report (Trapper Creek Wilderness - Trail #132, Observation Peak, Trail #192).
Day 4 – Mon Jul 20, 2020 – After concluding our Trapper Creek Wilderness trip on day 4, we drove seven miles down Wind River Highway to Panther Creek Campground. This campground is excellent with potable water at the entry and mid-way, and super clean rest-rooms. It has thirty-three campsites with plenty of privacy, to the point that you can barely see the neighbors. After setting up camp at our spot #31, we went to explore the campground and the routes to the PCT for the next couple of days. We have read a report that we could go through campsite #28, but if it was occupied, we would need to exit the campground and walk about 200 yards on Forest Road #65. We were not interested on doing this. As #28 was indeed occupied, logic told us that there had to be a trail inside the campground. Indeed, there was. Just a few feet from #28 there is a path that took us right there to the PCT. Taking right will direct you PCT southbound, and the bridge in front of us will take us north all the way to Canada!!! After collecting water and preparing dinner we went to “bed” at 2100, but the conversation had us up for four more hours. At 0100 we fell asleep.
Day 5 – Tue Jul 21, 2020 – We slept-in!!! The common morning ritual, pee, coffee, back to tent, out of tent, oatmeal, and yoga. We enjoyed a complete state of quietness and leisureliness. At 1320 we started the hike on the PCT southbound. The plan was to do northbound today and tomorrow southbound but, the former had a bunch of switchbacks, and though a good hike per reports, we were inclined to do the southbound which seemed easier. It was a great decision. The trail was extremely pleasant, easy, and flat. Don’t get us wrong, we like challenges, but we were tired and wanted to have the last two days of our ritual as relaxing as possible. We took the mandatory PCT pictures with Diego’s hat and t-shirt having his presence with us along the way. All of a sudden, we heard tons of shootings. We froze. Are they hunting? On the PCT? In the woods next door? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Constant. Obnoxious. Annoying. Uncomfortable. More, more, and more shootings. On our ears. Where are they? Not being familiar with guns we hoped they were air rifles, and that the people were in a shooting range shooting at cardboard targets (there were not shooting ranges).
We had planned to turn around after a two-hour hike, but after 1.5 hours, before 1500 hours, the PCT got to a gorgeous bridge over Wind River, immediately after crossing Wind River Highway. We decided to snack and soak ourselves there for an hour or so before returning back to camp. This experience was delicious. Gosh if we love moving water… What a gift from nature. Our return was uneventful with no shootings. At camp, we collected more water, and started collecting branches, sticks, and all sort of wood we could find around. The bonfire was a little bit stubborn and took its time to start, but with daughter’s perseverance we had a good bonfire for the night while we ate our delicious freeze-dry Pad Thai dinner. With coffee back in the tent we admired the opening among the tall trees which were making a shape similar to a heart with many stars inside. It was hard to sleep. Reminiscence of our beloved Diego and the second anniversary of his last night on Earth.
Day 6 – Wed Jul 22, 2020 – Daughter got up earlier and kindly brought me coffee about 0900. After breakfast I honored Diego doing a WOD that has his name while daughter picked up camp. Though the plan was to do PCT northbound, we simply walked to Panther Creek where we stayed for a couple of hours soaking our legs in the water, and living the moment. At 1530 we went back to our car, changed clothes, and left camp.
We fulfilled the journey that we have set for life. Six days and five nights to be in the wilderness with the soul of Diego, the love of our lives.
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