Day 7 - Get ‘er done

Mar 12, 2017

Segment: Hwy 66 to Brush Mountain, 16 miles.

Weather: Low 30 degrees, high 60 degrees, mostly sunny.

Both posts for the 2 days of this section will be short. I confess my head and heart are just not in it right now. I needed this trip to help with certain issues, but I am finding my mind wandering/ fixating. I made a rash move across the country years ago and it set off a chain of events that caused people a lot of pain and that pain is heavy on my heart. I am thankful to be forgiven by both family and God, but once again I am reminded that forgiveness does not cancel consequences.

This is why I am thankful not only for nature, but also for nature’s God. It is trips like these, that combine physical exertion with self-examination so that I can be truly improved. If I was just sitting around or trying to distract myself with the typical activities I would not grow and I would get depressed and guilt ridden. I would then perpetuate my mistakes and continue to hurt instead of help. God knows what He is doing when He asks us to join Him outside.

So...

Rhonda dropped me off about 9am and I walked 3 miles to get to enough snow to put my skis on. I was trying to avoid this a couple weeks ago with my rim trip, but if you remember, it was a cold, slow powder, so I could not get this far. Can’t win for losing this winter. It just won’t quit!

Rough ski conditions near Little Hyatt Resevoir

Once the snow started it was great! Consolidated, firm but not icy, fast! Made it to Hyatt Resevoir by lunch.

It was nice to hear wildlife some of the time instead of silence all day

The good snow continued all the way to the overlook above Howard Prairie Lake. Then the snow almost disappeared as the bare patches became as big as the snow patches. I didn’t realize it in the summer, but now it was obvious that Howard is lower than Hyatt (by 500’) even though Howard is farther east and closer to the crest.

Looking NNE to Mt. McLoughlin on the left and Brown Mountain on the right. My goal is to be in between them tomorrow.

I was hoping to make it to Brown Mountain Cabin tonight, but the late start and the stretch of low snow kept me over 3 hours away. I set up camp on the side of Brush Mountain. I found a logging road that served as a dividing line between managed and unmanaged forest. The managed area had the trees thinned and downed logs eliminated. It looked healthy and fire resistant. The unmanaged area was a dark, overcrowded mess of spindly trees. It reminded me of country living vs city living. Crowded conditions are not good for any species.

Today I am thankful for God and faster snow.