1982: The Pasaytan Loop, page 15

Micki on the trail.

It seems Elizabeth had heard about us from some hunters over by Goat Lakes. My, my … we're famous! (Really, it’s just Micki.  Everyone thinks she’s so cute.  Mostly because she is.)  These were some hunters I met on the trail coming in. They were riding on their tall horses while Micki and I were struggling by at ground level with our packs.  I of course took the opportunity to point at Micki and tell them, “Now, this here is what a real pack train looks like.”  They evidently thought that was really cute and shared it with Elizabeth when they met up with her a few days later. So when we came strolling down the trail next to the airstrip, she spied us from a distance and stopped to wait for us.

It turns out that she lives with Linda the Ranger in the off-season, along with some other Forest Service employees.  I guess they don’t make much money at this seasonal job.  Now that I think about it, I wonder what they do the rest of the year.

Anyhow, speaking of horses and trails… At times the Frosty Creek trail was ankle-deep in mud and horse poop.  It was just ‘Yuck! City’ all the way – my boots would sink in almost to the tops and then make rude sucking noises when I tried to pull them out. They probably stink something fierce, but I'm so odiferous myself that I can't tell the difference between them and me.

Elizabeth invited Micki and me to a ranger party that is being held this night. It seems they are all getting ready to leave for the season, and are having a little celebration. She mentioned the name of somebody who was in charge of bringing the wine. I politely begged off, speaking for both me and Micki, because neither one of us are really wine drinkers. But it was nice to have been invited and I thanked her heartily.

After talking with her, I am thinking about making a side trip to Goat Lakes tomorrow. She says they're not spectacular but that the upper lake is pretty nice. I'll take a look at the map and then consider how my feet feel when I get to the trail junction tomorrow.

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