20.5 miles of hiking • 1750' elevation gain •
For some reason, I really like Indian Heaven. But for some reason, I can only seem to get there when it's in a big raincloud. Today, I think it was a combination of our weather, plus what seems to be the perennial fog that just doesn't leave that place. That being said, it was still great.
I got to the Sawtooth Trailhead around 10:30—things were pretty crowded for a rainy day. I saw at least 5 groups (but no PCT hikers) on the trail. I decided to do a loop down to Junction Lake, back up to Clear Lake, with a detour to Deep Lake, and then back up to the trailhead, via Sawtooth Mountain.
Of note were several bow hunters seen on the way in, and an incessant shotgun being fired at Clear Lake. I couldn't see who it was because of the thick fog, but it seems like they were probably target shooting. Kinda makes me wish I was wearing orange.
The trail up to Sawtooth Mountain is in okay shape, but there are several blowdowns. Also the USGS maps are inaccurate for that section.
The huckleberries are coming in great right around Sawtooth trailhead. Still too early for the rest of IH, though.
Comments
Chris
September 18, 2011
No mosquitos.
Then again, it was daytime, 45º and raining.
Kyle Meyer
September 18, 2011
The thirty bites I got on my face are jealous of your wet and cold. I saw the sun, sure; I saw it through a fog of DEET and winged devils and pain.
Chris
September 19, 2011
Oh well—I was going to post a picture of headnet. It didn't work.
Kyle Meyer
September 19, 2011
Haha, my email showed it. Essentially, you have to use markdown syntax to post images. Like this:
Chris
September 19, 2011
Scary.
Digging the weather sidebar.
Kyle Meyer
September 19, 2011
I'm hoping to turn Went Hiking into as much a place to plan a trip as to record one. This is the first of many small changes I'll be making as the hiking season winds down.
Chris
September 19, 2011
Winds down?
Kyle Meyer
September 19, 2011
Yeah, you know—that time when it rains constantly and you keep hiking? A lot of us stop :)
Chris
September 19, 2011
I don't know what you're talking about.
I still have to do 18.2 mi/week to make my 1000 :/
Kyle Meyer
September 20, 2011
You'll get there! That's a pretty awesome goal to hit in a year.
Kyle Meyer
September 18, 2011
How were the mosquitoes? I'm biding time until I can head back out to Bear Lake and camp on that peninsula bug-free. Doesn't look like it got much below 40º there this weekend, though.