13. Out

Last morning at our camp on Dinwoody Creek


Monday, August 2, 1982

Joe's journal:

The rain ended by mid-morning.  We lounged around a bit and finally broke camp after noon.  We had a very enjoyable hike back down Glacier Trail to the Sand Dunes where we set up camp in a group of trees next to the river.

Tom and Doug and I stayed up late by the fire, drinking Greg's vodka.  At about midnight, we saw the full moon rise above the peak to the southeast of us.


Tom's  journal:

We're back at Big Meadow, the other end this time.  We're in the midst of a stand of fir trees where the river widens before beginning its mad dash through that narrow gap we noticed on the way in.

We had a tremendous hike today.  We dawdled around camp until fairly late, then made excellent time.  There is a difference between going up and going down hills, I've decided.

It felt good to get a workout today.  I really hit stride, stretched the old legs out a little bit without pounding through snow or hopping over boulders.

I thought about Gannett a lot, especially since it was visible from much of the trail we hiked today.  It was cold up there.  The thermometer said it was 42 F, and it was very windy, 30-40 mph.

We're all kind of bittersweet about leaving the woods.  It's been a long trip, and a bed, food, and beer will be nice.  It has also been a trip that is unique in our experiences, and we hate to see it end.  Oh, well, it will give us something to talk about when our teeth are all gone.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Man From Near Muscogee was good to his word.  A pack of Merits awaited me hidden between two rocks.  Where he found rocks around here I'll never know.  Thank you.

This river is wide here, effectively dammed up above the narrow gorge just below.   How about that.  This whole drainage, which is of quite considerable size, fits into this 12 foot wide gorge.  "It looks deadly," is how Joe described the river.  What a place.   

Knowing the moon would be full tonight, or close enough to it, we stayed up to enjoy the scene.  Joe and I made our third five-cent bet on where it would first be visible.  I won again.  It rounded a peak to our left as we looked up the meadow, already awash in moonlight.  The sight of the full disc coming slowly around the mountainside was impressive.  "I just had a religious experience," Joe said.

We enjoyed it so much, in fact, that we backed up into the shadow and watched it "rise" twice more before we bedded down.  Actually, Joe didn't exactly bed down.  He hammocked, and got rained on about the time the mosquitos launched an all-out offensive.  Tent time.


Tuesday, August 3, 1982

Joe's journal:

Today, we had another enjoyable hike, though more strenuous, to Phillips Lake.  We plan to be out tomorrow, drinking beer and eating tacos at the Outlaw Bar in Dubois.

Last page from Joe's journal


Tom's journal:

We're at Phillips Lake.  We had a pretty long hike today, and saw several more groups of people.  We're near civilization again.  Alas.  We went up and down switchbacks for much of the trip today, and covered new ground for the first time since we left Gannett.

The campsite is flat and rocky, not far from what is actually one of several small lakes composing Phillips Lakes, and firewood is scarce for those of us without a hatchet.

We're 11 miles from the Subaru, mostly downhill.  Then beer and Mexican food.  Oh boy.

We covered about 8 miles today, our last full day on the trail.  Unless we fall off a mountain on the way out tomorrow.

We had a huge dinner:  Spaghetti and meatballs, trout (3,) corn, and beef stew.  

The moon was full for sure tonight.  We stood around the campfire and sang -- We got Doug out of bed for one last chorus -- and ogled the moon for quite some time.  We finished the liquor.


Wednesday, August 4, 1982

Tom's journal:

Last day.  We followed last night's big dinner with a big breakfast this morning:  pancakes, cereal, and fruit cocktail.  All the food is now officially eaten.  

It's clear and warm again today.  We have 11 miles to go today.  We figure a five hour hike.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 

We're out.  The Outlaw Saloon.  Each of us ordered an "El Vasto - For the Big Appetite," and finished it in about five minutes.  It's Ladies Night here, and live music is scheduled to kick off shortly.  There actually are a few women, but the finest thing in here (other than the food and beer) is our waitress.  I'm in love.

Last page in Tom's journal

The hike out today was bit of a workout, especially down hill.  It got to all eight ankles and knees in our party.

When we got out we took a shower.  A shower!  Hot water and everything!  7 1/2 minutes for a quarter.  I spent 75 cents.

Civilization again.  Culture shock.  We're scoured the newspapers, which of course don't have the late scores.  The Red Sox and Braves are both in the process of folding, apparently.

How about that.



L-R:  Jack, Oscar, Sarah, Doug, Tom, Greg, and me







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