[at-l] Plan B - the rest of the story

[spiriteagle99@hotmail.com (Jim and/or Ginny Owen)]

Sly -
I did forget those, didn't I.  Maybe because, except for 3 of them, the PCT 
fords weren't a patch on the CDT fords. On the PCT, Evolution Creek and Bear 
Creek both got us wet - and Kerrick Canyon froze everything from my toes to 
my nose.  On the CDT, there were three fords that we absolutely refused (and 
paid a price for the refusal - but didn't lose any lives). There was another 
one where we said "Thank you, God" that they'd built a new  bridge and 
another that we took an alternate trail to avoid.  That last one would have 
brought us back to the east side of the Divide over Avalanche Pass.  When we 
looked at that pass the next day it was obvious that if we'd taken that 
trail (and the ford), we'd have had to backtrack about 40 miles (and do the 
ford again), cause the pass was buried in snowpack and there was no way to 
get down without technical climbing gear - and taking a VERY LARGE chance on 
triggering an avalanche - with us in the middle.  That pass wasn't named 
without reason.  Sometimes we get lucky and make the right decision out of 
pure dumb luck.  When you go through the Gila, wear your Tevas - we did 67 
fords (by actual count) in one afternoon on the West Fork.  The next morning 
we spent an hour chipping 1/2" of ice off our frozen boots before we could 
start walking.

Can I do it again?  Either trail will do.  :-))

Walk softly,
Jim


>Jim,
>
>You forgot all the fords!   While you can rock hop some or try your 
>balancing
>act on others, over fallen trees, many are walk throughs, but some are 
>deep,
>some are swift and others are icy cold.   I know I lost count several days
>and went under once (off a log), soaking most of my gear and losing a 
>camera
>to the bath.
>
>More than once, I hiked in my tevas all day, instead of constantly changing
>my footware.
>
>Sly


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