One Last Fifty Miler

Ian/Jack had his 50-miler last week, and of course Jann said I must go. It is really a lovely hike, but there is a lot of bushwhacking, and elevation change. The last day is particularly brutal. I said to Daniel Dewey, whose route this is, that it's like bashing yourself in the thumb with a particularly lovely hammer.

We started out in Paris Canyon, above Paris, ID, near Bear Lake. Ten kids, four old men, and a young pup wanting to relive his youth.

On the second day, one of the kids got sick for a few hours, so Dewey had to be manly. We all offered to "share the load," but he was the dude.

I was a little off-put by the fact that the kids preferred sitting (and throwing things) in the dirt to sitting anything having to do with grass.

On the third night, our home teacher, singing cowboy, and BYUI religious instruction dude, Curtis Castillow drove eight hours round trip just to give us a musical spiritual thought, and pat his boy Cutler on the head.

The fourth day, we played at White Pine Lake for a couple of hours, before ending up at Tony Grove.

White Pine is a lovely cirque lake between the crags Gog and Magog. Nice and scenic.

They all ended up like turtles, sunning themselves on a log.

My most flattering self portrait ever.

Last day, after passing under Mt Elmer, and before pounding down and down Green Canyon above Logan. It seemed never to end.

But eventually it did, and we all invaded Five Guys and ate "Mmm... Burgers..." and fries drenched in fry sauce. And Coke, for the drive back home.

I came away from this one practically unscathed. Jack and I day packed it, since there was a truck in camp every night with out tent and food. This is my third hike along this same route. First time, with Sam, we carried all our weight. These last two times, with Adam and Jack we wimped out. Makes the hiking much more enjoyable.