On the third day at the cabin, trail groomed, wood cut, bridge shoveled, chores done, Will went on a 20 mile ski, up into the high country, a 4 to 5 mile climb with a gain of about 2000 feet from the cabin, then a good 6 miles north along the tundra ridge, back down to our valley, six more miles south along the river following the railbed, back to our trail head and 2 more miles home. He left at first light, around 9 am planning to make it to the river before dark. A savvy, back country traveler, he brought along a foam mat, a stove, a head lamp, good sustaining trail food like smoked salmon, others things he might need. I asked when he would be back the better to watch out for him. I asked if he had his cell, the better to call 911 for rescue if he broke a leg or something. We don’t have cell reception at the cabin. As his video shows he moved along nicely coming to his northern turn-around point about 3 in the afternoon. It was lightly snowing but since he could see the slope for descending clearly ahead he decided to push on rather than retrace his journey. Two hours later, about half way down the slope, he was running out of light and nature stopped cooperating by sending rain, meaning no moon to travel by and, worse, wet snow to ski on. He needed frequent stops to clear the snow packing on his cross country skis.
At 7 pm when he didn’t walk in the door I started to fret. Where was he. Dan insisted he said between 7 and 8. At 8 oclock when he didn’t walk in the door Dan said the rain just slowed him a little. At 9 when he didn’t walk in the door I started thinking rescue mission. But the rain ruled out the snowmachine. With wet snow and temperatures above freezing we would probably be in greater need of rescue if we snowmachined on unpacked trails. Dan said that the poor conditions probably made him decide to bivouac somewhere until morning light. He’ll be fine he was sure.
We waited until 10. I took a last look down the trail hoping to see his headlamp bobbing in the dark, gave up, turned out the lanterns and headed for bed. Not a minute later he walked in the door. All angst gone we stayed up until midnight hearing all about it.
Tagged on to the end of the video is our little caravan heading down the trail to the train, Dan on the snow machine, me on the fold-a-sled, Will towed behind on skis, Maverick trotting behind. Half way down the trail Will decides to go ahead and goes flying down hill .
Tagged on to the end of the video is our little caravan heading down the trail to the train, Dan on the snow machine, me on the fold-a-sled, Will towed behind on skis, Maverick trotting behind. Half way down the trail Will decides to go ahead and goes flying down hill .