Carne Mountain to High Pass (page 10)

Looking back as Mica and I leave Spider Meadow

Friday, September 7, 1990
Day 6, Lyman Lake (5587')

I said goodbye to the girls this morning under the first overcast skies of this trip and set off up the trail, turning occasionally to see if they were still gazing up the trail after us. I felt the separation with both sadness and joy. I really do enjoy their company on the trail, but I also value the quiet, reflective times experienced only when you're comfortably alone with yourself ... and your dog.

I can go as fast as I want, or as slow as I want. I can hike all day with no break, or stop every hour if the urge hits me to do so. I don't have to explain anything to anyone, urge, cajole, or mentally push anyone else. All I have to do is get my own butt up the trail. I am responsible for no one but myself and my dog, and whereas she does carry her own food, she knows who has her tent and the doggy treats.

So, with that out of the way ...

As we start up, a quick look back down to Spider Meadow

The view from the valley headwall back down U-shaped Phelps Creek is simply fantastic. The trail climbs over 1,000' to the foot of Spider Glacier, passing a spectacularly situated campsite right on the edge of the cliff. The glacier itself is a narrow, steep snowfield occupying a deep notch between cliffs rising sharply on the north and south sides. It would be a wonderful glissade down, I thought, noting with envy the long, sweeping heel marks of someone who had enjoyed just such a ride.

Mica climbed higher effortlessly while I struggled on laboriously, pausing often to turn and look back down our route. I stopped for several minutes to talk with a couple of fellows on their way down. Their appraisal of the route on the other side was "steep, but do-able." Sounded good to me, at least the "do-able" part.

I plodded on, climbing upward surrounded by monotone colors of the high mountains -- dirty snow below me, dingy grey sky above me, lackluster brown and grey rock walls on either side. Yessiree ... a veritable cornucopia for the visual senses.

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