Chamberlain Basin 2017 Day 2

For this trip, we got up at 5:15 in the morning and got ready to go, often leaving our campsite before the sun was fully up. 

Leaving the Beaver Creek campsite. 

A healthy flow in Beaver Creek. 

The forecast called for scattered thunderstorms, and the clouds looked rather ominous.

Some trail maintenance had been done since last year. 

Ambrose and I took shelter under a tree during a brief cloudburst. 

Heading back on the trail through the newly damp vegetation.

A little pack off break near the trail junction.

This year we're taking the right up to Ramey Ridge rather than staying in Beaver Creek to Hand Creek.

This trail goes radically up. 

The switchbacks gain elevation quickly, but stay mostly in the same place while doing so. 

But at least the sun came out. 

Plenty of downed trees provided problem solving opportunities on the trail. 

I feel like I've been looking back at basically the same scenery all day. 

Ambrose coming up the switchbacks.

Lots of flowers on the trail in July. 

This is the site of what used to be Estep Cabin, labeled on the older maps, but not the newer ones.

Also, according to the maps, this was between me and the last chance for water. 

After making my way through the tree maze, I got to get water at this trickle. Ambrose and I got it together so it would go more quickly. 

Then we ate lunch near this old stove.

And about five minutes later, we passed this stream directly on the trail. 

Oh look, more water on the trail. 

And yet more. The maps lied to me. 

Yellow and white columbine.

Ambrose threading his way through a downed tree.

Spiky flower. 

The top of Ramey Ridge, at last. 

No sign pointing forward, but I was informed that I had come from Beaver Creek.

Ridge walking. 

Ambrose catching up. 

Getting nervous about whether we were going the right way. 

We stopped for a Spam since it was about dinner time - unlike last year when we kept pushing ourselves well past dinner and ending up quite uncomfortable.

Junction to Rock Rabbit Point.

Ambrose on the switchbacks.

More water that's not supposed to be crossing the trail!

We got rained on before the tent was even set up. And this area had a plague of mosquitoes. But it was overall a great spot because we were closer to Chamberlain Airstrip and the tent was pitched well enough to keep out the rain.

Chamberlain Basin 2017 Day 1

Made it to the Big Creek trailhead parking lot. Time to head out. 

Crossing Smith Creek on the road. 

The start of our epic journey.
 

We always fill out the registration cards. It helps keep our wilderness areas funded when they know how many people use them. 

"River of No Return Wilderness" has got to be the best name ever. 

The trail starts out nice and wide. 

But it gets narrow not too far in. I stayed close, but also ahead, of Ambrose for this day's hike. 

There were so many trees fallen on this slope; Ambrose thinks it was from an avalanche. 

Flowers in bloom. 

Our campsite is getting closer. Just 3 miles today, which is why we didn't start until after lunch.

I did not step on this spider. I just wanted its picture, but it kept moving away when I stepped in closer. 

Alas, the thimbleberries are not ripe in July. 

I remembered this part from last year. So close to being able to sit down and relax. Well, relatively relax, there was still camp to set up after all. 

Here's the path to where we camped last year. This year we were going to try the other site. 

The theme of logs continued at the meeting of Big Creek and Beaver Creek. 

I was glad, I am glad, there is a bridge over Beaver Creek. 

Posing for the camera. 

I'm surprised there wasn't flooding with all those logs jammed up. 

Chamberlain, yay!

This campsite was okay. There was some trash on the ground and that was yucky, but it had logs for sitting and a flat spot for the tent, so it performed adequately. 

It also featured this large mushroom.