High Adventure Report

HOORAY!!! We're finally back from our hike in the god forsaken mountains in the plum tuck middle of nowhere. So, here is a brief (don't I wish) overview of our trip. Well, Monday morning we got to the church at 5:30 am (ick) and left about 6:15. We got to the Seven Devils at about 12:30, and started hiking. Ow. We took about three 5-minute breaks the whole way (all 11 miles), and got to a lake at about 7:00. We were all jubilant until we were told that this wasn't the lake, that the one up the boulder mountain about 1/2 a mile away. Then, when we got there close to dead, it was freezing, with a huge wind chill, and we went to bed. Papa and I woke up in the morning with ice cold condensation on the inside of the tent. EEEEEEEKKKKKKK! Then we started hiking to start a 15 mile day. We made it to the lake after a couple gazillion switchbacks, and we all collapsed in bed (if you can call it a bed). The next morning, we woke up, and for Papa, 4 others and me, it was a 7 mile day. For the other 6, they had an 18 mile day because they had to go to the cars, pick up our next three days food, and another person who was coming late. After 4 miles, we hit a crossroads. There, we each took about 10 pounds of the people's stuff who were going to the cars so they could get our food. Ouch. We went up a "modest incline" as the guide described it. Might be modest for Superman! It was a ton of switchbacks with snow, which was a very steep hill. Then we went down to the lake, and got there at about 5:00. The others arrived at about 8:45. The next day, we went up the switchbacks to the top, and I started the climb up He Devil Mountain. Papa stayed with our gear. The climb was boulders to start with, then a spiral path around the mountain to the top. At the top, there was a logbook in a canister that we got to sign. We then went back the way we came, and stopped back near the crossroads. Then came Friday. Ugh. It was a 15 mile day, but part of it was the 2 mile mountain nicknamed "The Beast". By the time we got to the top, we were all ready to drop and die. But, we could see the cars about 1/2 a mile down and a mile up, so we reluctantly started moving again. We made it up the final hill, to find the bishop with fresh fruit and ice cold drinks. HOORAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! We then drove down to the banks of the Salmon River and camped there. In the morning, we started down the rapids. BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR! It was really fun, but ice cold. This was the only part I got sunburned, and that was a patch on my left foot, a patch on my right knee, and a small V on the front of my neck. Then, we went to the "Pack & Shove", namely Granny's Buffet. I ate 3 plates and dessert. Plate 1: Fried Chicken, 3 fish nuggets, cinnamon roll, mashed potatoes with gravy, chocolate milk. Plate 2: Pizza, 4 fish nuggets, cinammon roll, mashed potatoes with gravy, chocolate milk. Plate 3: Fried Chicken, 4 fish nuggets, cinnamon roll, mashed potatoes with gravy, apple pie, chocolate milk. Dessert: Ice cream with fudge, caramel, sprinkles, and M&M's, 2 pieces of cheesecake, apple pie, 2 cookies, and a piece of plum pie. OOOOOOOOOG! I was lying face down on the table for a good half an hour. Then, we drove to the church, and we went home (after kissing the ground). That is a VERY brief summary of our trip, though it doesn't look it. Hope your week was a lot less stressful than ours!