Hiking with Legends Don Nelsen and Mayhem

29 miles of hiking • 7000' elevation gain •

Started from Herman Creek TH with Don and Mayhem at about 7:00 am.

Don promptly took Mayhem and I up a short cut to go around something and get up to Gorton Creek Trail a little faster. Headed up Gorton Creek to hit Indian Point. Got some good pictures and movie of Don scrambling up there.

Cruised up Gorton past Deadwood and Ridge camps and met a nice trail runner on the way and had a funny on Mayhem when we all exchanged names, he thought Mayhem introduced himself as Maam. Nice trail runner gentleman had ear buds in so it was all good. When trail runner guy took our picture he told the lady, Maam, to get in front of the men so she would show up in the photo :D

Got around North Lake which I didn't really see, I was lagging behind already and it was only 10:30 or so. Watered up Maam and Don with my Katadyn Stream XR filter, was pretty funny I was operating it like a dunce squeezing just tiny amounts out for Don and Mayhem when I should have just let them get what they wanted, lol. Oops, hope you guys weren't too dehydrated or nothin'. :)

Got to the junction with the backside? of Defiance Trail 413, too cool. Saw a neat wooden T-Pee structure and did the photo ops as usual. Really slowing the day down you guys.

Finally got up to Defiance at around 12:30? Met the coolest dude ever up there. LUKE you rock man!! Thanks for carrying up 4 gallons of water in your backpack for your Adams training! Don and Maam really needed the water, well, so did I and should have grabbed more! Also saw a guy both Don and I knew from different scenarios, Larry from Woodcrafters. I met Larry once last year when filling in on drums with the Michael Curtis Project big band, nice seeing you again Larry, he's a trip.

Backtracked a bit and Don led us down/up old Wahtum Lake Road. Hotter than heck, dusty and rocky. Thanks Don! :D It shaved 4 minutes off the day I think, jk Don.

I thought we went past Rainy Lake but the Topo is showing something different. There is a picture of the Rainy sign/log though.

Headed up to Green Point MT on some trail? Really getting delirious at this point. But the old structure we have pictures of me in is around here somewhere. :D Thum probably knows exactly where since he was also recently on his killer backpack through here and got shots I think. It's a 3 way junction is all I remember now not sure I even marked it with my GPS...

So now we are heading up to Green Point MT. another place I have never been and the views today really rocked!

Somewhere along the way down Don took us off trail just a wee bit to check some cool rock structure, I did mark that one on the GPS but too lazy right now to provide the mark. Awesome structure, there's a picture Don took of me and Maam on top. Kind of giving Maam and pretend air man hug for Thum, and anyone else who cares :D

Don led us down Casey Creek trail. Ok, someone needs to blow that thing up and hide it. Killer 2 miles of almost killing yourself on the steepest downgrade I have ever done. Sweet stuff Don :)

At this point since I was really slagging behind on Casey Creek, Don split and it looks like he made it back to his ride around 6:15.

Mayhem stayed behind to help me get back to the cars, thanks dude!!

Ridge Camp campers wouldn't share any water and told us to keep moving or push on because there was a nice stagnant stream ahead. They said there was also a dried up stream too.

Found some water and Mayhem and I chilled for about 15 minutes at least watering up with my filter, ahhhhhh.

I took a half shower in the waterfall later on after watering up. Got nice and wet just in case I had to sleep over night in the woods, good move Eric! :D

Got back to our rides where Mayhem had a bladder of Sessions Red Top Ale on ice waiting, OMG, you really rule now dude, no more Maam for you!!!

Don kicked but arriving a hour before we did to the cars too!

Saw some other hiker name Justin while driving home on I-84. Nice seeing you Justin, I wasn't yelling anything from my car dude! Tell your GF I was just jokin' though man. :D

Too much fun hiking with the legends Don Nelsen and Mayem.