SEPTEMBER 7, 2002

Motel 6, Jackson, WY to Rain Camp, Gros Ventre Wilderness, WY

We are lost - sort of. This a.m. left the Motel 6 in Jackson clean, dry and ready for a difficult two-day backpack through the Gros Ventre Wilderness. Of course, first we had two brief walk-arounds. The first a half miler from the Elk Refuge (ending point for September 6), a brief Honda 4WD drive on county gravel road, and then about 1-1/2 miles on the urban Putt Putt trail to the Cache Creek Trailhead in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Here we were to meet National Forest guides who would take us over the Cache Creek and Granite Creek trails. Unfortunately, the guides were unable to make it so with brief instruction from the Forest Supervisor and Recreation Technician we set off with maps, our 35-pound plus backpacks AND five-pound USGS bear collars. The hike was supposed to be about 8 miles each day - piece of cake! The first five miles along Cache Creek was along an old road (now closed to motorized traffic.) The sun came out and we all shed our rain gear and stripped down to our walking shorts and t-shirts. At the Gros Ventre Wilderness boundary we left the road and started climbing and sliding in slippery, slick, yucky clay mud (thanks to the previous day and nights rain.) After a tough 3,000-elevation gain we came to the saddle beneath Cache Peak and supposed connection with the Granite Creek Trail. We had been warned that the trail would be difficult to follow here. Well, it was! There were cow trails and game trails all over but no defined hiking trail, sign or cairn. After searching both sidehills for an hour we decided to walk down to the valley where there looked to be water, cover for the night and a good trail or road. By this time it was raining again, getting dark and the hike down the hillside slick and slow. At the bottom of the hill but still well above the valley floor, soaking wet and with dusk upon us we decided it best to make camp in a cluster of firs next to a small creek. After setting up our tents we had a quick dinner of our Mountain House freeze dried food (I had my favorite, Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms - pretty good and one bag makes a good dinner) and then started calling Support to report on our condition. Reaching Charlie, our Team Leader, we requested waypoints and arranged to call him tomorrow morning at 7:00 a.m. so that we could determine where we really are.

Today has been the most challenging and frustrating to date. We did not make the mileage we planned to make and the trail difficult and unpleasant to negotiate and follow. Two positives were that Charlotte spotted a magnificent huge bull moose that we watched climb above us and pass in silhouette over the ridge. And, we are seeing fall approach with the aspen on higher hillsides turning bright yellow.

Now I’m in my tent, dry and warm. The 100 pound bear collar is hung on a stump. My clothes are damp and muddy and my boots soaking wet. Will see what the morning brings. From the Journey, dana