Steps in the Right Direction: Lost Creek Trail Backpacking Final Day

It is our final day of our trip. We are pretty certain we are 2.5 miles from the trailhead. The water crossing on the detailed topo map is a reliable source to make this determination.

We sleep in a little bit. We can see both hands, and if I had my contacts in, I'm fairly confident I could have seen the wrinkles in my hands. It was 6:30 when we began our morning process. Today for breakfast we are having eggs and polenta. Pat was debating between pancakes or oatmeal. We helped her decide. I wanted to see the master making cakes in the backcountry. While making our final preparations for a sit-down breakfast, Kathi looked up to see what the clomp, clomp, clomp noise was...A BULL MOOSE! He was cruising down the path going towards the water. ("Hey, buddy, make sure to get a good drink there as water is pretty scarce above") He stopped in his tracks, holding his breath, and we were all holding ours... Slowly, we all came to the conclusion that we were not a danger to each other. I sooo, wanted to walk over to the tent to retrieve my camera, but he was close enough to us that "moving" could have caused him to think we wanted to challenge him. I waited until he was moving away before going to the tent to grab the camera. I did get some nice butt shots, and one side view with the camera. At his closest point, I put us about 60 feet apart. After the moment passed, we had to pass the pop quiz from Pat. What would you have done if he charged? The answer is, get behind the closest tree. Moose are dangerous but have a difficult time changing direction quickly. They have good power, so pick a sturdy tree :) This moment was a special moment. Besides for some dried up poo we had not seen any real wildlife other than a few chipmunks.

Now back to breakfast...Pat was in the process of making her pancakes. She just tossed her ingredients into a ziplock, added water and started to squish it up. Add some cinnamon for flavor, pour into medallion sized drops in the hot pan...flip with a spatula and wha`laa....backcountry cakes. We had a little medallion as a taste test. They taste perfect! After breakfast, we break down camp slowly taking out time. and chatting about our trip and future trips. Pat provides us with a lesson in triangulating our position using a compass, topo map, and the environment. I like lessons out on the trail that are not"hard luck" lessons. This is just the way I like to learn...no pressure! This is a skill I would like to learn and not have to rely on a gps unit that requires batteries. Batteries are heavy and carrying any extra weight is not a happy place.

We broke camp at 11:30 and leisurely hiked the 2.5 miles out to the trailhead. As we hiked this last few miles we crossed running water many times. Lost Creek is very abundant down here, not so much higher up.

Our final lesson was to learn the pacing of gaining elevation when hiking with a backpack and group. When hiking uphill slow step, breath in, straighten leg until standing bone on bone, before taking the next step, breath out. Walking at this pace will lessen muscle fatigue especially with a 40 pack. Pat had led us through the whole hike, and at no time did I feel out of breath. Even with a heavy pack! Love it!

At the car, we changed shoes, put all of the packs into Pat's car and began the 15-mile spaghetti, washer board, dirt road out. As you might remember from our drive in the road is mostly 1 car wide with occasional bump out for 2 cars to pass as long as one is standing still. Imagine our surprise when we met a school bus coming up the road...followed by 5 cars and a Fed Ex truck. We tucked into the side wall bump out and held our breath as the school bus squeezed by. Somethings you just can't make up!

We drove back to Pat and Wendy's Denver house. There we opened everything up in the garage to dry out. I think the temps were around 90 degrees. We then went in the house and had a tour of their beautiful home. Everything seemed so clean and white when you are five days removed from a shower you try not to touch or bump into anything! We enjoyed a welcomed shower. The trail grime and sweat washed away but the memories of the trip forever imprinted in our minds.

Cleaned and refreshed we were ready to join Wendy for a dinner at Famous Dave's. Over some tasty barbecue and beers, we rehashed the trip. Moose, lifeguard Pat, midnight hikers passing by, FBC's, the names of our Packs, and setting our sights on new adventure possibilities.