So there you have it. The plan, Stan. I spent months planning it out, looking at different scenarios, remembering things from last year, really remembering where things that went wrong. I was NOT going to get lost this time!
Funny how things don't always go as planned!
So we get to the entrance at Philpott road. We could see the differences from the fires of last August. There was still a little bit of forest at the very start, but around the area was wide open. Once I got in there a little, I could see the damage that had been done. Wow, a huge field of ascending dirt. The dirt is almost like sand now. I kind of felt it was worse than snow, but that was just while I was doing it lol. This picture doesn't look like that's how it was. Maybe it's not as bad as I remember. *shrug* I swear it was quite awful.
"We just had our glitch for this mission."
100 points for whoever knows this movie quote.
Then it continued. I turtled! Fell straight on my back. Thankfully the pack saved me from any injury I think that would have really hurt. Not that things didn't hurt but I can't imagine what the pain in my back would be like. All I kept thinking was damn, my water supply my water supply my water supply!!!! There is a tiny hole near the opening of my water reservoir and water leaks quickly out of it. I also worried about the possibility that it had burst.
None of this was in Stan's plan. I swear!
I couldn't get up. I was trapped in my pack. I wish I was with someone as originally planned so they could video tape me trying. It must have looked hilarious!! So I had to get out of the pack manually and put it back on. All the while, time is ticking and I'm thinking oh wow how is my water supply going to look? Water is very scarce up there!
I got up, undid the water packing process (difficult) and took a look at my pack. Checked my water supply.
All is well.
Redid the water packing process (difficult).
Got the pack back on my back (difficult).
Bent down and picked up my poles (difficult).
Yep all is well.
Nope, not all is well. I am within my first kilometre and one of my poles is completely bent at a 90 degree angle. Not good. I thought, "well maybe I can bend it the other way and just have a crooked pole." Nope. It promptly snapped right off lol.
So I carry on, holding the two pole pieces in my left hand. This is awkward. It's awkward using one pole, especially in this beach-like sandy dirt. I was so thrilled to get past all of that crap and thought, what can I do with these two pieces?
Then I remembered I wrapped lots of Duck tape on my poles. Tape them together, Nat. Yes, yes that will be what I do. This was a suggestion from my friend "Bob." Know what? Duck tape fixes everything! Lesson learned.
I carry on a little further and realized I was using it even though it was a little short. Ding ding ding ding ding! Why didn't I tape it longer? Nat's not too bright. I did that and it was still shorter than the other pole, but totally useable and I finally came to where the forest "began."
Had some windfall to deal with, but very do-able. Got my water supply replenished at km 4. That's where the little kitchen is. Always thought it was so charming. I don't dare sit on those chairs though. I don't need any ticks on me. it would be so nice to sit on them though. I guess it doesn't matter if I sit on those or on the ground, but whatever. I made it through Cardiac Hill.
Some pictures between km 3 and 5. The plastic chairs at km 5 were absent this time, unless someone hid them to protect them from storms. Heck, a storm in the winter or even summer will do it. Was looking forward to a little spot to sit just a few minutes. You know...fear of ticks.
Some more pictures just because (I think they are out of order because I'm having trouble with my picture drive):
Now to be clear, I'm not afraid of birds and toads lol, but when they jump out in front of you when you are not expecting it while being in nature, enjoying every second of the wilderness or if they full out attack you (don't eff with a mama anything!) then yeah, I'll make some noises of my own and lose my whatever I've got haha.
Just before Goudie Road, I came across the ladder that goes over the barbed wire fence. Picture here to remind those who read my previous entry. I had to drag my pack underneath the fence and climbed over the dicey ladder on my own, which was still threatening to break and hurt me greatly. I think people I know were thinking of fixing it and I'm not sure if they did, they must have done SOMETHING because when I tested it out, I felt ok with climbing over it with my pack. Was still a little bit uncomfortable but at least I didn't have to remove the pack.
Lovely picture of the Goudie Road trailhead. I always like getting here.
Now, when I had hit Goudie Road (always a great milestone, as you are more than halfway to the Grand View) I actually used the water source that was there. Last year, I didn't and was sorry as I almost ran out of water. But I learned the hard way and was smarter about water. It's scarce up there like I said and I knew that last year, but didn't think it was as bad as it is. Bad move.
Anyway, my next topic is supposed to be mosquitos. They weren't nearly as bad as last year. They were pretty good. Until I got to km 10. They literally attack you, you know? But I didn't feel the need for my bug net. I just sprayed Muskol on my wrists, top of my hands and neck and all they did was fly around me but they didn't land. Kept applying as needed. Just wanted to kill all those buggers.
The coolest thing about everything is that I remembered things. I remembered when they were going to happen too. I saw this as a good sign for when I got to the part that I got lost on last year. I think that between that, my newly developed hiking common sense and the wonderfully new trail markers throughout (put in place and maintained by the newly formed Okanagan High Rim Trail Association, yay! https://www.highrimtrail.ca/ Kudos guys!) I would be a-ok.
Video of my progress at km 13.5
Speaking of remembering things. I almost got lost two times (well not totally because this time I always made sure that I knew how to get back to a certain point if I needed to back track). When you get to forestry service roads, you need to really be on your A game and pay attention. The funniest thing about one of these experiences was that I recognized the hill on one of them. Yucky to climb when you are getting tired. But I totally recognized it. I just wasn't sure still. I was doubting myself. And I was losing not only my cell service, but my location service too (we couldn't get offline maps to work at home so I was stuck without for now). I wasted energy by going back and trying to see if I missed something, but no, I didn't. I went back to the road and wasted energy again. Sure enough, I came to the entrance that I needed. This was where I remembered there being an arrow type sign that said "View" last year, but it was washed away this time.
I was planning on actually taking a look at the water source at Frog pond. Last year I didn't even approach it. Bad move again, as I wasn't drinking enough and the water sources were so so scarce. Anyway, I went to check it out, took one look at the water and said out loud, "Not on your life." There was absolutely no way I was taking that water. Ewwwwwwww! I wasn't desperate for it, would just be topping it up and I knew there was a source one or two kilometres away from the Grand View site if I was desperate.
I carried on and eventually got to the Grand View site. It was just as beautiful as I remembered. I didn't hurt nearly as much as I did last year, but I hurt enough. The first thing to do was get camp set up. I was there around 6 I think (took me longer to get there as I took more breaks and I was cleaning my water properly this time).
My notes say that I didn't eat dinner like last year because again I was nauseous and not hungry. Maybe I made it for breakfast? Who knows? It was so long ago and I get a bit kookoo for cocoa puffs when I'm on the trail.
Eating actually made me gag. Now I don't know if I went to la la land or what, but I remember clearly right now, eating my first Mountain House scrambled eggs in a tortilla. I remembering making myself eat it all because you have to carry out your garbage and the last thing I needed was to carry food out. The rotting smell, the smell attracting animals, the extra weight. No, can't do it.
Anyway, the breakfast burritos made me gag. I was thinking that once again I overpacked on my food. I just can't eat that much. I was urged to take more than I planned, but from now I'm listening to my body. It told me the last three trips that I can't eat very much. I just can't.
I tried to do a bear hang for my food. I actually got good at it with the exception of getting the damned rocks OVER a branch that was strong enough and high enough. I gave up. I was so glad I had my bear cannister. I knew something would happen. I also found that the trees aren't really set up there for the PCT method. I'm going to have to look at other methods using two trees for next time.
After dinner or was it before bedtime in the case of no dinner: mosquitos. In the tent.
At bedtime: Mosquito Carcasses. In the tent.
I can't remember what time I went to bed at, but it was early. It was still light out. Hopefully I won't be up at 1 AM like I sometimes am at home. It was probably around 8:30.
Here's a pic of Kelowna in the middle of the night.
Time to sleep away my fears of Day 2. The day I got lost last year.
Get lost in your dreams, not the forest.
No comments:
Post a Comment