As what's becoming the norm for me, starting with the found: July 2, I found an item of value in the middle of the Gladys Divide trail that afternoon around 5pm when I did a day hike up to the Divide and across three snow fields. Reach out to describe and possibly connect for return.
The lost: July 3, I left behind a 60 cm yellow rock climbing Dyneema sling I'd hammocked from at the campsite beside the melt stream off the Gladys Divide flowing into Flapjack Lakes.
Note to self for next time: It would be good to research how you know if you've actually reached the end of the Gladys Divide trail. It is beautiful, but too easy to find yourself ill-prepared in the snow fields, and lured by what's over the next hill, or around the next bend. The hike to the lakes itself is quite vigorous, worth the memory-making experience, and the bugs made me glad I stayed one night only.
I followed the advice of a ranger to save my knees and avoid the trail up to Black and White Lakes and then a steep arrow down to the North Fork trail near Big Log. Instead, per the ranger's advice, I back tracked to Spike Camp. I got a peek at part the ranger was recommending against, and I spoke to others who had also undergone the shorter bushwhack climb: shorter is not always easier.
Much better conditions along the river for peaceful time away from holiday fireworks noise at Nine Stream. In the morning, I found shortly after a neighbor and his party continued their way up to First Divide, that the hammocker in the party had left his Atlas strap attached to the tree he'd hung from. I left his name on it. I wonder if the owner ever got his strap on the way back down.
I was ill-prepared for food, so I cut my hike short and made it out the night before the fire closed the Staircase entrance.
Comments