Remember Mandy, our friend that took us on a tour to begin our trip? Well, she drove down to Kenai to meet up with us again and take us salmon fishing. So after a 9 hour boat trip, an hour drive back to the hotel, Mandy picked up me, Di, Barbara and Todd and took us fishing on the Kenai river. Did I mention that it was after 9 PM when we started?
We laughed pretty hard when she told us that we would be fishing without bait. "Just flop it out there" she said. "Start upstream at like 11 o'clock and let it drift to 2 o'clock, then reel it in hard". Does she think I'm an idiot? No bait? The fish is just going to bite at an empty hook? I guess I'm an idiot because I stood there on the bank of the Kenai river flopping the line in at 11 and yanking at 2. Nuts.
Salmon fishing
No fish but alot of fun anyway fishing at midnight.
The next day we decided to be land lubbers and go hiking. Here is the gang at Kenai National Wildlife Refuge.
We found a great hike with spectacular views of the Russian river canyon.
Canyon
We had one last target bird to find - American Three-toed Woodpecker. They like burned out forests.
Hiking
We heard a woodpecker calling from the burned trees but we couldn't see it. Where was it? I stood there wondering and then looked above my head. Ta-da!
American Three-toed Woodpecker
A great ending to a great trip. So many photos and stories that didn't make the blog or Flickr or even the photo album. One thing is for sure - this trip is now known as our first trip to Alaska and certainly not our last.
Well, I definitely feel vindicated after this year's installment of the Donut Hole Trail (DHT). Last year, I was absolutely miserable and really never wanted to show my face on that trail again. Remember it with me by clicking this link - Donut Hole Trail #1. That was a one day hike that should have taken about 6 hours but ended up being longer than planned and took 8. What was I thinking when I agreed to go on a 2 DAY hike this year? I must have been drunk or something. Poor Frank started planning this trip the day after we completed our hike last year. He sent me maps and trail guides and a hundred emails about who was bringing what. I kept replying things like "sure, that sounds great" and "uh-huh, whatever" not realizing that June 21st was fast approaching and that I was being counted as a definite participant. Unbeknownst to Barbara, I started slowly roping her into this plan by forwarding the maps and emails. She couldn't resist! She's a hiker from way back in the day and actually spent 2 weeks on the Appalachian Trail in her younger days.
I borrowed Di's backpack and Barbara brought a tent that they bought awhile ago. We packed up what we thought we would need an headed up to Potter County on Thurs after work. The hike was scheduled for 5:30 AM Friday morning. We met Frank at his cabin for some tea and muffins, packed up the cars and headed to the trail head. Connie drove one of the cars so that we could drop Frank's '84 Volvo station wagon at the end and she could shuttle the 3 of us and our gear to the start. (The Volvo will come back into the picture later). Off we went into the woods at about 9:30 AM! Notice the smiles.
Donut Hole Trail - Start
Our Packs
Frank planned the hike for June 21st - the Summer Solstice - which
turned out to be absolutely perfect. We had great weather and lots of
sunshine which makes camping especially nice. As with all long hikes or excursions, the first part of the hike was filled with talk and hopes of seeing some wildlife or whatever. The beginning of the hike was quite pleasant and not that strenuous which gave us all time to get used to the 30 pound backpacks (Frank's was much heavier for reasons that will be revealed later). Oh, and Roxy went along with us too. She quickly fell into step and understood that she should just keep up with us and stay on the trail - good dog.
Day 1 wore on. We heard a ton of birds including Black-throated Green warblers but didn't see many since we were mostly looking down at the trail. This part of the trail had a few nice sections that went along a pipeline cut out of the woods. We made an effort to see a few birds there. Barbara saw a Coyote but I was too far behind her at that point to see it before it skulked away.
Linda and Roxy birding the DHT
Barbara leading the pack
Frank listening for warblers
We took a few breaks and stopped for lunch which was quite nice - cheese and baguet, grapes, etc. As we were leaving the lunch spot, I looked up into a nearby tree and spotted a metal coffee cup hanging from a rope. You know we weren't leaving without it, so Frank and I hoisted Barbara up and she was able to grab it. It is now proudly displayed at Frank's cabin!
The Donut Hole Trail is not exactly what we called "maintained". It's basically a deer trail that someone from the forest service walks maybe once a year with a chain saw and cuts through some (only some) of the logs that have fallen across the path. In some cases, he ( I am assuming it's a guy) doesn't even cut through the logs but rather reroutes the trail uphill and around the obstacle. We had a heck of a time following the trail at the end of Day 1 when it zig zagged across a stream about 20 times instead of just staying on the same side but we eventually made it to the pre-determined campsite at about 7 PM. Let's do the math here - we hiked 10 miles in 10 hours. How many miles per hour did we hike? That's right kids - a whopping 1 mile per hour!
We were pretty tired, but not exhausted. Unfortunately, none of us remembered to take photos of our campsite or the food or the BEER, that's right BEER, Frank brought us 4 cans of Yuengling BEER. That man is a hero! He lugged 4 cans of beer and a pint of Rye Whiskey along with all of the dehydrated pre-packaged dinner meals including Beef Stroganoff. Did I mention the BEER? We popped those cans into the stream to get them nice and cold. Canned Yeungling never tasted better. Imagine how much lighter Frank's pack was on Day 2 after getting rid of the BEER and food. My pack lightened up a bit too since I was carrying the breakfast muffins, trailmix, etc. Frank also gained much admiration for bringing the water filter which allowed us to make drinking water as we went along rather than carrying it for 2 days. Here is a photo of me "making water".
Linda Making Water
Day 2 was supposed to be shorter and easier due to the long downhill to the finish. HA. You know darn right well that didn't happen. We took our time at the camp having a leisurely breakfast, packing up the tents and headed out on the trail at 9 AM ( a whole 30 minutes earlier than Day 1). About 30 minutes into the hike we met a person on the trail - our first and only person that we encountered on the actual trail. Then, we hit the Stinging Nettle. It was everywhere. If you don't know what this is - you can probably guess by the name that it isn't good. Nettle is a plant that grows in moist areas - mostly along streams. The plant is covered in little prickers that stick into your skin and sting like a jellyfish. The stinging doesn't stop either. It keeps stinging for hours. You can see by the photos that we all wore long pants but that doesn't stop the nettle from penetrating. That is only the beginning of our troubles with this plant. The other (and more annoying) problem with the Nettle is that it grows to about thigh high and obscures the trail which makes placing your foot down without twisting your ankle on the slippery rocks impossible.
Stinging Nettle
Our short easy hike on Day 2 ended up being longer and more difficult than we anticipated. At about 6 PM we were nowhere near the end point. We met our second human being of the trip when the trail combined with a dirt road. This guy has a cabin along the trail. He asked if we were hiking the DHT and told us that the next end point was about 3 1/2 miles away. Remember our math from earlier? 1 mile of trail = 1 hour of hiking which meant that we weren't going to see the end of the trail until after 9 PM - almost dark, through Stinging Nettle. I admit it. I lost my shit when I heard that! Another 3 1/2 miles swatting my way through Stinging Nettle so I didn't fall down with a 30 pound backpack? I didn't know if I could make it. Frank suggested a break. I refused . . .
"I see a cabin" Barbara exclaimed after about 2 hours of grueling downhill hiking through slippery rocks and up around detoured trail. "I see it too". And then, the most wonderful words in the English language - "Is that the Volvo?" Yes, yes, it was the Volvo. We were actually happy to see an '84 Volvo sitting across the street from the cabin. Can you imagine the looks we got from the people at the cabin as we staggered out of the woods dripping with sweat.
Exhausted at the DHT sign
Poor Roxy!
I don't think I have to tell you this, but Frank is already planning next year's hike. Feel free to join us . . .
Well folks, I am officially at my lowest point ever. Rock bottom. In despair. Can't get over it. Need some sort of make over. Here I am at 48 years old and unable to complete a hike in the woods without sweating, gasping, and shuffling my way up the last "bonus" hill. Embarrassing is an understatement.
It started with an email from Frank stating that he was excited that Connie and I would be in Potter county over July 4th and could accompany him and Norm (both older than me) on the next leg of their hiking circuit on a trail called the Donut Hole. I was excited too. It was an opportunity for me to hike with some really nice people who had experience hiking these mountain trails. The trip was scheduled for 6 - 8 miles and we all anticipated being back to the camp in time for an afternoon swim in the stream.
We were all set to leave at 5:30 AM (which turned into 6:15) and get on the trail early (which turned into 8:40 AM) with a great group of hikers including Frank, his son Jamie and new wife Katelyn, Frank's daughter Erica and her husband John and their 2 children, Justin and his girlfriend (another, younger, stronger, faster, prettier Linda), and me (the older, slower, fatter Linda) - and of course Roxy and Jamie's new puppy were in tow too. Off we went - up, up, up, and up some more on a steady incline which lasted a loooong time. I was immediately the last one in line. The younger, faster, prettier people were soon out of sight . . .
I managed to pass Frank at one point during the long uphill (click the Play button):
Frank, Frank, Frank hiking the Donut Hole trail
Once we got up the first hill, we went up some more, then some more. Then finally, it leveled out a bit. The group was still way in front of me.
Hikers on the Donut Hole trail
The young and fit people kept going, following the trail which had not been used in quite some time. It was overgrown in most places forcing the people in the front of the group to look for the orange trail blazes so that we didn't end up lost (like they did last year). The trees with the blazes on them were missing in some places which made me glad that we were with experienced hikers.
Mind you, I was just huffing and puffing along in the back of the group. Frankly, they could have been going anywhere and I would have just followed along.
Good news - A Rattle snake crossed our path! How is this good news? It is GREAT news because it made everyone stop hiking for a few minutes while we watched the snake and I caught my breath. Good news because Justin saw it before he stepped on it. Good news because everyone in the group got to hear that sound that you know is a primal warning even though you never heard it before. Good news that young and old alike stopped dead in their tracks when the shshshshshshhshhhhhhhh broke the sound of our footsteps (and panting). Young and old alike instinctively grabbed the dogs and the kids (not necessarily in that order). Good news that the snake coiled up and sat there while we all got great views of this magnificent creature. Good news that I happened to bring the iPhone and my camera along too.
Rattle Snake - Part 1
And really Good News that Justin has a snake as a pet, so he knows how to approach them without getting bit or harming the snake.
Rattle Snake - Part 2
Rattle Snake close up
We spent about 5 minutes with the snake and then it was back to the hike at break neck speed. I spent some time in the afternoon acting like I was bird watching and taking pictures of bear poop just so that the group didn't think that I couldn't keep up (which I couldn't).
Bear Poop on the trail
By this time I was sweating so bad that I couldn't see through the salt that was streaming into my eyes. Roxy was panting behind me full of sticky sap from the ferns. It was beginning to look like I would hold up the group when Frank declared - "oh good, another bonus"! "Bonus" to Frank means another hill. I wanted to cry but I was too dry to produce tears. . .
Up, up, up we went. Then up some more. This time, it seemed like we were going straight up. Everyone was out of sight now - the pretty people, the children, even Frank. All out of sight. I shuffled along like an old woman. Frank broke the sound of panting and temple pulse by yelling that they had found the Fire Tower! This was good news. It was all down hill from there.
After another mile of downhill hiking, we came to the end of the 11 mile trail. There was an old, rusty pipe protruding from the side of the hill at the roadside with spring water streaming from it. I did the unthinkable. I filled my water bottle and drank it. Giardia be damned. I'll deal with that later. Water never tasted so good. Neither did the beer that Frank treated everyone to when we arrived at the Wharton Tavern.
Mortified doesn't begin to describe how I felt after that hike. But remember, none of the pretty people were having hot flashes! I had a great time. A hike to remember. We will be talking about the Rattle Snake forever. The pretty people won't remember that I was holding them up (I hope). I'll get over the hot flashes (I hope). I can't wait for nest year.
