Queens River Eclipse Trip 2017 Day 3

Good morning, eclipse day!

We took the trekking poles off the tent and weighted it down with rocks so both Ambrose and I could have poles for the short hike. Also, we left my pack behind. Ambrose carried all our day hike gear. 

Yet more fallen trees to step over and around. 

Some folks Ambrose met through on online backpacking forum hiking ahead of us. 

They split off to go to the lake at 8696, while Ambrose and I compromised and went to the bowl near the next crossing of the Queens River. He wanted to stay at the tent because of my ankle, but I insisted that this short hike would be fine.

And so we settled in to watch the eclipse with this vista spread before us.

And Mount Everly. 

This is the opposite direction view from Mount Everly. We sat near the middle of those rocks in the foreground.

We did not cross the Queens River here, but I did use the cold water to soak my ankle while we waited for the eclipse to start. That water is very, very cold, let me tell you. 

Ambrose checking out the progress of the moon's occlusion of the sun. 

Who scheduled this sunset for before noon?

My camera (or my skill with it) was not up to the task of taking a quality photo of the eclipse. This shot was taken during totality. Mount Everly is in the frame, and the little white streak just to the left of the peak is a prop plane that was flying around during totality - our only company for the event.

Zooming in gave a slightly better impression of the eclipse (and the prop plane). 

We were there! And I was wearing both my rain jacket and my down vest, because it did get quite chilly. 

Hiking back to camp. 

The only crossing of the Queens that we had to do was a rock hop. 

We spent the rest of the day chilling out and talking with our neighbors across the river. 

Queens River Eclipse Trip 2017 Day 2

Good morning, trail.

Ambrose heading up the first little hill of the morning.

Deadfall was the theme of the day.

We got to hike in the shade for quite some time this morning.

There's still snow out here - not that it has been snowing recently, but this snow has survived all summer, and will likely not melt before winter comes back.

Looks like an avalanche came through here and tore down a swath of trees.

I saw many trees bowed down from the weight of the snows.

We took a break at this campsite about a mile from Nanny Creek where another pair had spent the night.

Tilting trees.

Did I mention there was deadfall?

I tried to be extra careful when we walked on rocky trail - "donkey rollers" as Ambrose said.

It was really strange to have Ambrose be in front of me all the time.

We got caught by the sun.

Oh look, a fallen tree.

And another one.

Ha, no fallen trees blocking trail in the meadow!

But this one made us divert up and over, which I didn't like because going down was steep and on loose dirt that made me nervous to step and trust my ankle would hold.

We passed through several sections like this, small trees making us step up and over in quick succession.

I'm not sure this section of trail had trees that didn't experience avalanches.

These poor trees had their tops snapped off. 

Yup. More.

At least the river was running low enough that we could rock hop across rather than take our boots off. 

But we didn't get away from the fallen trees.

I could go under that one easily - Ambrose had a bit more trouble.

Just another couple hundred feet up and we'd be at camp.

After another crossing where we maybe could have rock hopped, but didn't, we were nearly there.

And, here we are, at what we call "Horse Camp" for the old droppings - yet another fallen tree. But there was still room for our tent. 

Queens River Eclipse Trip 2017 Day 1

I've never seen the trail head this crowded - and I'm not even getting all the cars in this shot - and this is the Friday before the eclipse. 

Though we originally planned to go up the Little Queens and make the loop, my ankle injury changed our plans to an out and back up the Queens. 

We got started nice and early so my slow pace would still allow us to make our planned campsite in daylight.

A nice easy stream crossing - as it should be, in August.

Ambrose wanted to make sure I didn't stumble at any of the stream crossings.

This log was pretty damp, so rather than risk it on my still-painful ankle, I hopped across to the right. 

This area has always been beautiful to me, and I've loved watching the burned areas grow back over the years. 

A most excellent rock to sit against for our first break.

The trail goes up above the ridge to avoid a swampy area - though it's pretty dry this time of year.

The large tree I remembered from last year was still there, much to my disappointment. 

Ambrose crossed three times so I could cross without my pack on. We figured that would be safer with my ankle still wobbly. He's my hero.

The cross back did not go quite as planned. Since last year, the Queens River has rerouted itself from its prior banks.

We made it across, only to find another section of the trail, near the bog, had been rerouted due to a lot of dead trees blocking the former trail. 

A much easier stream crossing - but he's still waiting for me to pass safely.

We're getting closer to where the trail turns towards Nanny Creek.

I was glad to see most of the trail still looked the same.

Purple monkey flowers!

I had really been hoping this tree would be trimmed, but it was still there. I went under this time.

Every time a distant ridge appeared, Ambrose would ask if that was the Nanny Creek notch, and it never was. 

Ripe huckleberries! My favorite!

The crossing of the Queens River by Nanny Creek was also significantly redesigned by the winter weather. I think it got easier, but I only  had to cross once and I didn't fall like Ambrose did.