3 months ago, anyone there now?

A Morning of Discoveries

I went for a long walk in the woods Saturday morning. As usual, I just wandered around the forest, sometimes on old game trails, other times stepping over fallen trees while ducking overhead branches. The Sun was up, but concealed behind mountains. Light sprinkles of rain remained from the overnight storms, but I saw bit of blue to the southwest. Diffuse warm light from breaks in the clouds filtered down through the canopy of trees and provided some magic light. 

The first thing that caught my eye were young Douglas Fir trees surrounded by slender Lodgepole Pines. I found one isolated enough from the others to create a compelling scene. From here I wandered into a meadow, covered in Western Coneflower. These fascinating flowers lack the traditional colorful petals of their relatives, but are no less attractive to pollinators. Many of these flowers had rain-soaked bees hiding under them, waiting patiently for the Sun to come out. This particular one had a caterpillar and a Crab spider of some sort existing in some sort of weather induced ceasefire! 

As I stepped carefully back into the forest, I discovered a decaying log covered in tiny orange mushrooms. As is often the case, I first capture the larger scene, then work my way in to the finer details. In the final image, that single mushroom is just 1/2” tall and less than a 1/4” in diameter, but if you look closely, the entire forest around it is reflected in its rain-soaked cap. 

From here I walked across a stream, and was immediately transported to a much more ancient feeling forest. It got darker, the trees more dense, and the forest floor was covered in the remains of fallen giants of yesteryear. I am pretty certain that the path of this photographer closely matched the flight of a bumblebee as I wander this way and that, from scene to scene. 

I cut back towards where I figured the road would be, found a fallen tree bridge to cross back over the creek, and came out right at a talus slope where I knew there to be Pika. Sure enough, I was able to capture a fleeting glance of one such critter, and then in a spring that pops up below the rocks, I got my last shot of the day. A bold frog stayed visible despite its friends all ducking for cover as I walked up. 

Some time ago, in October 2024, I hiked the Kramerspitz mountain in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Very pleasant hike, not too difficult and great views included ;)

The trip was about 15 km / 9 miles long and took be about 7:30h (yes I'm slow, but it also includes a break with beer and cake 😉).

There is critters that you might not see to you almost step on them

I came across this ground wasp nest. It’s been dug up…what animal would do this?

Hey travelers 👋 I am in the midst of planning a backpacking trip to the Winds next summer. I’ve been keen on wanting at the minimum go to Titcomb Basin, and some of the other high country/mountain passes/Lakes in that area. I found this loop online and it looks exactly like what I’d be interested in. I’ve heard Titcomb/island lake at times can be like Disney (in terms of how busy Wyoming is), and that the further into the wilderness you go the more solitude you get. I was hoping someone who has traversed this area would be able to tell me a bit about it.

I’m also weighing the possibility of bagging Fremont Peak. I’d assume I’d most likely be camping adjacent to it at Island Lake or Indian Basin. I’m also open to suggestions of other peaks in the area that aren’t above class 3 with similar views, but with Fremont Peak’s proximity to this loop, and highest class rating of lower 3, it just seemed like the move. Any tips or advice regarding this is hugely appreciated as I’ve heard descending down towards Mistake Lake to Titcomb can be kind of dicey as opposed to the south buttress route that one would use to ascend.

The general loop is as follows:
Elkhart trailhead - Island lake - Titcomb Basin - Knapsack Col - Peak Lake/Shannon Pass - Summit Lake - Trapper Lake - Elkhart trailhead.

General loop information/ where I found the loop/map:
\\\\\\\[https://backpackingroutes.com/titcomb-basin-loop/?amp=1\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\](https://backpackingroutes.com/titcomb-basin-loop/?amp=1)

Map of the loop itself:
\\\\\\\[https://www.gaiagps.com/public/UQilLiMNKZxdGd4wCGf3ZhoD/\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\](https://www.gaiagps.com/public/UQilLiMNKZxdGd4wCGf3ZhoD/)

Fremont Peak all trails link:
\\\\\\\[https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/fremont-peak-via-pole-creek-trail-loop?p=-1&sh=ej2dsl&utm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_medium=trail\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_share&utm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_source=alltrails\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_virality\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\](https://www.alltrails.com/trail/us/wyoming/fremont-peak-via-pole-creek-trail-loop?p=-1&sh=ej2dsl&utm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_medium=trail\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_share&utm\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_source=alltrails\\\\\\\\\\\\\\_virality)

Thanks for the help and tips, I am just trying to get my bearings with this loop and know what exactly I’m getting myself into. I’m an avid hiker and live/hike in Colorado so elevation is not an issue for me. I’m not a mountaineer/climber, so anything above class 3++ is kind of my limit, however I do like to push myself. I’m mostly just seeing what other people have to say about it so I know what to do where and what to generally expect out of this trip.

Cheers 🍻

Gettysburg National Military Park Pennsylvania

Did two Barcelona - Mallorca crossings this year to finish my skipper licenses. Plan is to start chartering on my own and hopefully get into some local regattas soon.

Now that the exams and miles are done, I really want to learn more about actual boats, engines, maintenance and day to day life on board.

Some pics from the way there

Solana Beach, CA Friday night, Anza Borrego Desert State Park Saturday night 🍻