Having spent all of yesterday afternoon coming down off the top our over night was spent deep in a gorge on the eastern side of the range.
Started raining in the middle of the night. Woke up to a very wet quick breakfast of oats and packed out. We set out traversing down through a long gorge alongside a rushing stream moving fast to stay warm under our rain gear. Luckily we didn't have to cross the growing stream by the time we had reached the trailhead 3.4 miles down as it had progressively gotten huge. Mercifully another breath stopping high footbridge.
It was here our large overall loop turned in a southerly direction. Over this stream to begin heading back to our original starting point at Fontana Dam. Being we were now trekking at 90 degrees to the ranges we are saw toothing up and down the gorges. Working up a big sweat underneath our gear going up and becoming chilled going down. Rock hopping at upper crossing and traversing back down gorges we knew we were running into trouble on really long down on a remote path when the stream we were descending on got louder and louder. Sure enough when we get to the crossing point its big, fast and threatening with no means of getting over but to forge. Funny so far for the entire trek so far we had taking our hiking boots off at each crossing to avoid getting our boots wet. But at this point we were wet clear through and besides this thing was mean. So we went in one at a time with packs totally undone, just hanging on our shoulders and tied to a rope being feed out by the other in case of disaster. Boots actually were a must to keep foot holds. Both of us made it across to huge hiker high fives and then moving hard as were now COLD! Forced march straight down the slot we were in to god forbid yet another like forging only a bit larger for more tributary's had entered. Same deal and over, no time to celebrate as were now trucking like never before trying to build up internal heat. Blew past our next scheduled camp site and two more due to being bone cold. Finally we found a bit of a reprieve under a rock over crop and fired up our JetBoil stoves for Ramon noodles and Salmon. Both devouring it quickly parking up as the shivering set in again and pushed on.
Started raining in the middle of the night. Woke up to a very wet quick breakfast of oats and packed out. We set out traversing down through a long gorge alongside a rushing stream moving fast to stay warm under our rain gear. Luckily we didn't have to cross the growing stream by the time we had reached the trailhead 3.4 miles down as it had progressively gotten huge. Mercifully another breath stopping high footbridge.
It was here our large overall loop turned in a southerly direction. Over this stream to begin heading back to our original starting point at Fontana Dam. Being we were now trekking at 90 degrees to the ranges we are saw toothing up and down the gorges. Working up a big sweat underneath our gear going up and becoming chilled going down. Rock hopping at upper crossing and traversing back down gorges we knew we were running into trouble on really long down on a remote path when the stream we were descending on got louder and louder. Sure enough when we get to the crossing point its big, fast and threatening with no means of getting over but to forge. Funny so far for the entire trek so far we had taking our hiking boots off at each crossing to avoid getting our boots wet. But at this point we were wet clear through and besides this thing was mean. So we went in one at a time with packs totally undone, just hanging on our shoulders and tied to a rope being feed out by the other in case of disaster. Boots actually were a must to keep foot holds. Both of us made it across to huge hiker high fives and then moving hard as were now COLD! Forced march straight down the slot we were in to god forbid yet another like forging only a bit larger for more tributary's had entered. Same deal and over, no time to celebrate as were now trucking like never before trying to build up internal heat. Blew past our next scheduled camp site and two more due to being bone cold. Finally we found a bit of a reprieve under a rock over crop and fired up our JetBoil stoves for Ramon noodles and Salmon. Both devouring it quickly parking up as the shivering set in again and pushed on.
Finally stopping at our present site a full days camp forward. Unfortunately still in the cold rain. After a quick set up we worked harder than we ever have to make fire out of saturated wood. Finally we had warmth as we then stood over it with our rain jackets opened up to bring in the heat. Couldn't see due to the smoke but a fire never felt better. By the time we turned in under still light gear we had everything dried back out to damp.
Trail magic amazingly was the trail magic presented d to Dan today. He has had big problems with staying dry in his new tent. Low and behold he finds a tarp folded up and left at this site to cover over his entire setup. This will be really huge for tonight!
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