Just heard from "the boys" about 9am this morning...Kel sounded more rested! Kel's brother Larry is on his way up to see them with hot soup and italian sandwiches and a dry truck for them to sleep in. A bad storm is on the way and we are thankful Larry is going. We will have an update and maybe pics when Larry gets back. They are meeting up at route 4.
STICKMANS' JOURNAL...6/5/07...Tuesday...Had a nice night at the shelter with Snowman and Sparkplug. They were great folks, and gave us some tips for the trail, regarding things like how to pack efficiently and balanced, and on simple things like which foods to eat, and when. For example, always eat your heaviest foods first, such as packets of tuna or salmon, and keep your freeze dried foods for later in the trip. They got off trail at RT. 17, around 1:15PM. They actually had left the shelter AFTER we left...We left the shelter at 7:30AM, and got to RT. 17 at 3:15 PM. We had hiked for almost 8 HRS., covering a distance of 9.4 miles. We still had to hike another 1.9 miles before we would arrive at Piazza Rock Lean-to. Well, to our great delight, my brother, Larry, was parked at RT. 17, waiting for us! He’d had the opportunity to talk with Snowman and Sparkplug, and knew that we would be along. It was a REAL blessing that he was there!
Larry took us into Rangely, where Faithful and I each consumed a big cheeseburger with fries and coleslaw. I also got a nice big glass of milk, a coffee, and topped it all off with apple pie and ice cream. While we were having our meal, a MAJOR storm came rolling through. Very high winds, and torrential rains. WOW! We finished with our meals, and headed back to the parking area for the trailhead. We proceeded to go through all of our gear, to see how we might lessen the weight we were carrying. I believe I may have dropped a good 10 LBS. Of pack weight, and Faithful probably ditched 5 to 8 LBS., easy. That, of course, is just guessing, but they were indeed lighter, even with the added weight of whoopie pies and ham italians that would be our meals when we reached shelter that night. Larry also downloaded the pictures on my camera, and charged my cell phone.
After a couple of pictures, and some goodbys, we were on our way again. It was 7:45 PM, and we still had to hike that last 1.9 miles. Where we had been hiking at an average speed of just over 1 MPH, we were pretty sure that we would be hiking in the dark tonight. Well, I have to say, we did OK. We kicked into high gear. With food in our bellies, and lighter packs, we did make it into the shelter at dusk! We got in at 8:45PM. We actually travelled on trail at 1.9 MPH, a record pace for us beginners! Actually, the terrain wasn’t quite as bad as what we had already been through, and it had stopped raining, but still, we were really on the move...and I wasn’t in pain for that whole hour either. Thanks, Larry! God is good, and Larry, I think you were right up there in the running too! Love you, and thanks for all you do.
Guess I could leave you all with this...
”Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
I’ll have to close for tonight, as it is getting quite late. Good night to all, and God Bless!
Stickman
STICKMANS' JOURNAL...6/5/07...Tuesday...Had a nice night at the shelter with Snowman and Sparkplug. They were great folks, and gave us some tips for the trail, regarding things like how to pack efficiently and balanced, and on simple things like which foods to eat, and when. For example, always eat your heaviest foods first, such as packets of tuna or salmon, and keep your freeze dried foods for later in the trip. They got off trail at RT. 17, around 1:15PM. They actually had left the shelter AFTER we left...We left the shelter at 7:30AM, and got to RT. 17 at 3:15 PM. We had hiked for almost 8 HRS., covering a distance of 9.4 miles. We still had to hike another 1.9 miles before we would arrive at Piazza Rock Lean-to. Well, to our great delight, my brother, Larry, was parked at RT. 17, waiting for us! He’d had the opportunity to talk with Snowman and Sparkplug, and knew that we would be along. It was a REAL blessing that he was there!
Larry took us into Rangely, where Faithful and I each consumed a big cheeseburger with fries and coleslaw. I also got a nice big glass of milk, a coffee, and topped it all off with apple pie and ice cream. While we were having our meal, a MAJOR storm came rolling through. Very high winds, and torrential rains. WOW! We finished with our meals, and headed back to the parking area for the trailhead. We proceeded to go through all of our gear, to see how we might lessen the weight we were carrying. I believe I may have dropped a good 10 LBS. Of pack weight, and Faithful probably ditched 5 to 8 LBS., easy. That, of course, is just guessing, but they were indeed lighter, even with the added weight of whoopie pies and ham italians that would be our meals when we reached shelter that night. Larry also downloaded the pictures on my camera, and charged my cell phone.
After a couple of pictures, and some goodbys, we were on our way again. It was 7:45 PM, and we still had to hike that last 1.9 miles. Where we had been hiking at an average speed of just over 1 MPH, we were pretty sure that we would be hiking in the dark tonight. Well, I have to say, we did OK. We kicked into high gear. With food in our bellies, and lighter packs, we did make it into the shelter at dusk! We got in at 8:45PM. We actually travelled on trail at 1.9 MPH, a record pace for us beginners! Actually, the terrain wasn’t quite as bad as what we had already been through, and it had stopped raining, but still, we were really on the move...and I wasn’t in pain for that whole hour either. Thanks, Larry! God is good, and Larry, I think you were right up there in the running too! Love you, and thanks for all you do.
Guess I could leave you all with this...
”Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2
I’ll have to close for tonight, as it is getting quite late. Good night to all, and God Bless!
Stickman
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