Fourth Day
It rained last night starting after midnight and continuing into the morning. We ate our breakfast under our umbrellas and watched the fog drift across the lake. The temperature was 48 degrees.
We packed up leisurely under our tarps and were finally ready to start at 8:45. We set off in our rain gear. Even though the rain had stopped, the bushes were soaking wet. So we endured what I like to call a “car wash” from the bushes disgorging there accumulated rain water on us as we passed through.
The sky was overcast as we worked our way down to the Elk Creek trail a mile and a half from our camp. Once we got to the Elk, we walked through a vast forest along a nearly level trail for miles. There were long sections of amazing old growth trees and others of 100 year old second growth. There was plenty of undergrowth to push through, too. This trail is seldom used, but the forest was worth it.
Eventually we reached the end of the flat plateau and started a 1,600 foot descent to the Mackenzie River. The initial drop from the top was breathtaking. A very narrow path down a virtual cliff switching back every 50 to 60 feet. In some places small section of the trail had slide down a foot, making one question the integrity of the whole tread, but there were no alternatives, so down we went. Eventually the slope eased from vertical and the path widened a little. The switchbacks became longer. Still, switchback after switchback after switchback appeared. We thought they would never end, but after a couple hours we were finally at the bottom.
A short hike through the bottom land near the South Fork Mackenzie River took us to the river itself. There we expected to see a ford, but instead there was an ancient log bridge in need of repair. The river here is only about 20 feet across, but flowing fast. The log looked solid, but part of the primitive rail was gone. We were able to get across unscathed and continue down the unkempt trail.
After a mile of fighting our way through the brush we found a spot to camp and stopped for the day. We are only a couple of bushwhacking miles from the car and out tomorrow.
Until tomorrow, Happy Trails!
Oh, the rain. I have not an ounce of envy in your rainy morning of hiking. As almost totally fair-weather hikers, we rarely have rain. And if we do, we are close to our voiture (car for those less fortunate who never had high school French). The river crossing log sounds like an adventure. I might have straddled it to cross if the ravine were deeper.
There is nothing quite as enjoyable for me as being snug in a hammock, listening to the ran fall on the tarp when you are in the middle of nowhere. Managing in the rain is kind of an art and takes practice. Sometimes you get wet.:^)
The log bridge was way easier than a ford would have been.