It’s 0545 and I’m up. I’ve had better nights of sleep. Get out of the sleeping bag and get dressed. My clothes are dry, cold and don’t stink too bad. I pack all my “need to stay dry” gear into my dry bag. Put on my shoes and I’m out of the tent. Get my food bag off the bear pole and start on another 4 star meal. Maple & brown sugar oatmeal and a Carnation Breakfast Essentials Powder. Let that soak and I’ll drink my breakfast on the trail. Take down the tent and pack the rest of my gear. Nickel Creek was a fun place to camp but I have to go.

Next stop Louise Lake. Up hill, down hill, more up hill, more down hill. After 8 miles it’s time to try out my new Tenkara rod. Good news, I could see fish jumping. The bad news, the fish were on the far side of the lake. When I got to the far side of the lake I could see small rainbows going after fly’s. After 30 min I only had a few guys grab my fly. Nothing to write home about. It’s time to get back on the trail and find my camp. Paradise River Camp was hard to find. I had to look at the Guthook App and search the notes. The camp was moved .2 miles down the trail.

This is one of two short day – 11.56 miles, 3,033′ Elev Gain, 2,461 Elev Loss, 6:59 hours

Wonderland Trail Day 3

It’s 0545 and I’m up. I sleep well. Get out of the sleeping bag and get dressed. My clothes are dry, cold and starting to stink. I pack all my “need to stay dry” gear into my dry bag. Put on my shoes and I’m out of the tent. Get my food bag off the bear pole and start on another 4 star breakfast. Maple & brown sugar oatmeal and a Carnation Breakfast Essentials Powder. Let that soak and I’ll drink my breakfast on the trail. Take down the tent and pack the rest of my gear. Today I get my 1st food cache.

I was at Longmire in 3.5 miles. Find the Ranger Station and grab my food cache. At the Ranger Station I’m told about all the warnings on the next part of the trail. Before lunch I run into the general store. I get 2 cans of beed and some gifts for my friends. As I’m eating my lunch I spread my wet gear out on the picnic table to dry, pac my gear and drink a beer. Life is great!

It was time to start moving. With my pack full of water, food and a beer I’m off. After 1339′ of elevation gain I’m at Rampart ridge. You get a great view of Longmire. I have 5 miles and a full pack I hall to Devil’s Dream. The camp/tent site was close to the trail. I set up my tent, blow up my air mattress, spread out my sleeping bag, and was cooking dinner when a few fellow hiker gave me s_ _t for not sharing my beer.

13.17 miles, 3,307 Elev Gain, 1,909 Elev Loss, 8:40 hours

*** At 0145 somebody went running by tent with a headlight on. WTF?? ***