Wednesday 9/19
Loup Loup CG was empty when i got here but filled up a bit by 6PM. Bicyclers, motorcyclists, 5th wheels and RVs. I saw a interesting thing this morning. A older gentleman in a RV trying to get his dog into the rig. I had seen the dog loose yesterday afternoon and wondered about it, anyways, Fido just ran away every time the guy tried to get him in. So the guy jumps in the rig and leaves! The dog had stopped and was watching the rig go. The guy stops a 100 yards down the road and gets out and calls Fido and damn if the dog doesn’t go like hell towards the RV….not the way i would of handled it but the outcome was what he needed. Some people train dogs and sometimes dogs train people.
On the road by 8:30am. The road is getting steeper and the mountains more craggier. Hit a little patch were i had cell coverage so i parked and updated TTRLT.N. A couple of days worth. My picture taking skills are a little weak. Going to work on taking more.
Stopped at a couple of different trailheads looking to get a small hike in. No parking at one and too long at the other. Oh, and the fishing on the east side of the Cascades closed August 15th because of salmon spawning…. hopefully the west side is open.
Made it to Rainey Pass and there is a short 2 mile round trip on level paths to Rainey Lake. Had lunch and took off. Forgot the binos and bear spray but at least i had the camera. Nice walk and i had no problems once i got going. Got back to Bill and took off.
The scenery is getting very nice! Kinda like Going to the Sun. You can do it in a day. Came down off the mountain and decided to stay at Colonial Creek CG. Get Bill all level, open the schooner door and dammit, i left my step stool at Rainey Pass were i had lunch. If it had been the green chair, i would of backtracked but the stool doesn’t have the same sentimental value.
Finished my Crazy Horse book and decided to just go check things out at the CG. No camera, no binos, no gun, no bear spray, just my trekking pole and at least i had good shoes on. Of course i run into a 1.5 mile round trip nature trail. The sign says moderately steep…off i go. I just told myself if i had a problem, i would be really, really pissed. That’s not going to happen again. The trail goes up the mountainside and the canopy completely blocks out the sun. Wet/ rocky / quiet. Nice. I also found “Thunder Creek Trail” which i plan on doing tomorrow. My rhythm seems better when I’m working a little bit. The trail runs for 10-11 miles but there is a bridge at 1.7 miles in and that’s my goal.
Will probably stay here another day then I’m not sure. As crowded as it’s been, i think the coast is a no go. Maybe back track to northern Idaho and Montana. We’ll see. Good night.
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