Shade

  • GET 2024 day 5, Oct 5, Saturday
  • Start basecamp
  • End basecamp
  • Lopping and clearing logs

After lopping on exposed mountainside slope, it was a relief to move into shaded oak and conifer forest near Myers Spring, where several blowdowns needed to be cleared.

Finished audiobook Planet of the Damned, by Harry Harrison.

Finished audiobook The Gem Collector, by P G Wodehouse.

Progressish

  • GET 2024 day 4, Oct 4, Friday
  • Start basecamp
  • End basecamp
  • Lopping and some cairns

Early in the morning while still dark, I make out in the starlight an animal with a white brushy tail approaching camp. My first thought is “skunk”, but later in the day I notice squirrels with a light gray patch on the tail.

The lower half of this section of trail to the ridge is finished. I worked towards the car, and resupply food at the car. Hiker hunger is kicking in.

I hear an elk bugle at 9am. Later I hear an odd clinking. It is an elk, male, on top of a talus field way high, dislodging rock. My camera is not fast enough for a photo.

Finally I can start working the upper section of trail for half the day. It helps to be working towards a water source. I do somehow get off trail and onto a game trail on my way back to camp. Oops.

Finished audiobook Retief Intergalactic Diplomat in Space

Brushier

  • GET 2024 day 3, Oct 3, Thursday
  • Start basecamp
  • End basecamp
  • Cleared 10 blowdowns, added cairns, lopped less trail than expected

The hope wns to complete the second quarter of lopping, extending up to basecamp, but a lot of Gambel oak had grown close to the trail and needed to be removed.

Before
After

I toss the cut vegetation as far from the trail as practical, but it is a lot. The area does not have a lot of ground litter in general, but I sure added plenty today.