It's a long drive to go see the woodchucks.
The man-made rez is false as hell, but still pretty in its way.
OK, now we're slowpackin' -- the standard 3-miles-in beer.
Pretty frosty morning.
The clever little devils hover over dark brown bottom when they feel threatened.
First lake stop is full of pretty little brookies and pretty scenery.
Second lake stop gets me closer to deposits of gold . . .
This looked promising . . .
But no gold -- just pretty little rainbows.
See the lake in there?
Goldens on dries,
foam hoppers,
and buggers!
Takes four of these little diggers to fill a pan, but oh my are they sweet and tasty.
I can't get any of the grand feeling of these rocks onto a photograph, but here is the attempt.
The pink moment. I'm into a lovely stretch of 40 hours without having to see, hear or deal with any other specimen of humanity than my self.
Halfway mark on the 16-mile hike down and out.
Trailhead at 6 and cruising back down to the valley by sunset.
