Up in my attic

[Benson Burner]

Up in my attic I went over details. I manifested a walk about. We did what I call a lollipop hike.
It was me, goforth, mucho gusto, Leloo the dog and Tula the dog.
We came in and left from the same spot. We humped over 4 miles of the same trail (back tracking) but it’s a good one to do both ways.
We camped at a tarn or lake below a mile high peak. It was rainy and dark but the sky had clouds that surrounded us and it was prettier-than periwinkle skies. We camped there and in the morning we humped up to a pass across the crags. One time I went to a Washington trail association banquet and they said there that the Indians used to use the pass. I am not sure if that is true or not but there is an ancient huge footprint up there fossilized. Similar to some other ones I have reported upon. This is a Where the mysteries are mystified.
We routed ourselves to land upon another highland lake which sets upon a basalt basin and overlooks a cliff. What? A lake next to a cliff? Yep. Upon the peaks I rehearsed every peak in the entire Gifford Pinchot. I guess I’m good enough now that I know no one whom can call out peaks names (better) in my home forest.
We ate lunch at a high point where I had missed a switchback on a previous excursion. We then descended upon the lake that we would stay at this night.

Mt. St. Helens, in the distance shrouded in clouds.

Charcoal el dorado
Loco libre 20° UQ
HG 20° borrow
JRB 12’x10’ tarp
And...
The no longer available
MSR waterslay

I brought some new gear this trip
A ULA backpack
And some diy materials
A bushwack rain kilt
A bushwack rain cover for my ULA
I bought the fabric from brandon at warbonnet.
We the next day woke up and walked to the next camp which was a pasture, but we had to walk down hill half the day around 1000’ to lunch. At 3500’ we ate then kept going down to 2200’ at the confluence of a couple of creeks. Then we had to hump up-to 4400’ to get to the pasture I wanted to sit besides. By the time we got to the tops it was pouring and black out. We had to make due with a roughed out camp. No circle. Not grouped together, there was some animal activity next to camp.
I was in full camo to spot wildlife on point. When I crested a hillock I spotted a hunter with drawn bow pointing at me. He said he had just seen two cougars. I think he was trying to get me to move on. I suspect he was telling 50% truth. Cougars are solitary although they can be together usually family like mother and adult sized kittens. I’m not an expert. But I’ve been lied to before. Not saying he was but I suspect he wasn’t being 100% truthful. For up to 18 months or so they can be with mommy.
Here is the video I put the next one up tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c2yIXN0bWPo&t=285s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiSj0Zg6vcs

[dakotaross]

Are those leftover trees still standing that are snapped from the MSH explosion?

[ElMard]

Beautiful photos. What a wonderful trip.

[dkurfiss]

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing

[alifeoutdoors]

Gorgeous, thanks for sharing. My flatlander legs would be dying.

[Carver]

Excellent report. It is great to see an area without a lot of bug kill trees. Thank you.

[Benson Burner]

Are those leftover trees still standing that are snapped from the MSH explosion?

No. We were not in the blast zone. But yes. There are some standing dead, mostly though you will see lying down dead. And the ways that they lay down reflect the blasts rage and you can study the hills within the blast zone to try to desern which way the blast came rolling ver said hill. As if the trees are all connected and they blow down like their neighbors, and how the topography was created.

Beautiful photos. What a wonderful trip.

Thank you.

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing

Thank you and your welcome.

Gorgeous, thanks for sharing. My flatlander legs would be dying.

Thank you sir. We did about 30 miles when said and done. But much hard miles they were. It's motorcycle friendly which means hikers will be walking in a tight V.
I really enjoy the trip you and shug did. That is one of my favorites. With Sadie. I tried to get a pack like sadness but could not find this awesome one. No load lifters but designed well. It's a Wolfpack. I hope to see some more videos with you in there.

[Otter1]

Thank you for taking us along!!!! Great time for all who went.

[ofuros]

Good looking area to stretch the legs, get the lungs filtering & heart pumping. Enjoyed.

[Benson Burner]

Excellent report. It is great to see an area without a lot of bug kill trees. Thank you.

Yes sir. I do learn about tree pests and pathogens once a year and it can be depressing.

Thank you for taking us along!!!! Great time for all who went.

It was a great time, thank you. Your welcome friend.

Good looking area to stretch the legs, get the lungs filtering & heart pumping. Enjoyed.

Oh man, we did stretch our legs I'll tell you. We have hiked more miles in a day before, but these hills make me take a break from time to time. I love that.