Trail Thoughts

12:00. Can't stand this office one more minute. It's sunny for once. I know! I'll go check on the SCA trail crew. I'll sneak past my minions down at the barn. Hahahahaha escape! Oops. They saw me. Oh well, I'm the boss.

1:30. Finally at the trailhead. Sure are a lot of tourists at the lake. Thank goodness I didn't buy that cabin here. They would have driven me crazy. Look, there's some people walking slowly. Must overtake. This trail looks so different now that it's summer. I'm used to seeing it in winter, when the snow covers over all the rocks. Shorts at last. It's late though, I'll turn around at the junction, crew or no crew.

2:00. Where is that trail crew? Check out the river. It is really racing down the canyon, all whitewater. You could never cross it right now. We are in a state of flood emergency--roads washed away and everything. The main byway is gone--we're cut off. I like it.

2:30 Here I am at the Ice Lake junction. That bridge is slowly deteriorating. It looks much sketchier than it did last year. Earlier this winter we hiked in here and felled a big dead tree that we will use to make a new hiker bridge. Hey! There's the SCA camp. Looks nice and tidy. Maybe they went up the main trail. I'll just go up for a half hour and see. Why is this stupid Cher song stuck in my head?

3:00. There's the crew in their bright yellow hard hats, taking a break. Can't remember their names immediately. Can't get a read on them, if they're excited to be out here. They should be, look at this place! Big snowy mountains, a meadow to camp in. listen to the river all night long. Why did I ever stop doing trail crew? I guess I'll just hike up another half hour and see if I can find the wilderness therapy group that is up here someplace. Maybe I shouldn't have told them about all the ticks at Indian Crossing. They didn't seem too thrilled about that.

3:30. The therapy group is elusive. Did they go all the way to Six Mile? I want to go to Six Mile. It's still another mile and a half though. Better not. Wish I had brought some food. Look at all these big trees the trail crew has to cut. Now I remember why I stopped doing trail crew. Better turn around. Look, fresh bear poop. Where's my pepper spray? Should I go to Costa Rica? Our day will come...and we'll have everything. Think of another song, quick.

4:00. There's the SCA crew again, sawing a tree with the crosscut. Better warn them about the bear poop. Also talk about what they should focus on. They won't get all this trail done, not with all the work there is. Okay, bye trail crew. Have fun out here.

4:30. Here I am at the Ice Lake junction again. Still looks snowy up at Ice Lake. Wish I had some food. Only 3 miles back now. Drink more water, it's hot. Still stuck with Cher song. I wonder if I should follow the track my novel seems to be taking. A character is hijacking it. Oops, almost did a face plant.

5:00. Here comes Wes and five tourists on a day ride. They look kind of nervous, clutching their saddle horns. Good, now I can check off an outfitter inspection too. Wes says the river's too high to cross at Seven Mile. The guide in back asks if I want a horse. No, I'd rather walk. Sure are a lot of rocks in this trail. Wish I had some food.

5:30. There's the hydro plant and the road. I'm back out. What will I eat first? Wish I could stay out there forever. Our day will come..Curses.