Lost at Mono Cliffs

June 26, 2010




Lost at Mono Cliffs



It was day one of the trek. We had just finished our culinary treat of beef stew and baked potatoes, fire roasted as only they should be. Ahhh… the water’s dancing the boil in the balanced vessel that was precariously perched above the burners licking flames. We dug out the plastic cups from the bottom of my pack and concocted a beverage of heavenly potency. Just calling it coffee does it no justice. What is it that makes it taste so good out here? Maybe it’s the pure chemical free water that we filter out of the busy stream.



After finishing our drink, we decided to take a hike without our gargantuan packs on. We’ll just follow the stream. We don’t need to worry about direction. Follow it up and come right back. We headed out, hacking our way through the thick underbrush. Kim brought her GPS even though we wouldn’t need it. Over logs and avoiding the thorn bushes. We hiked for about an hour, deeper and deeper into the bush, always keeping the rushing water in sight. A sudden loss in elevation created a cascading waterfall. This was a great spot for a break so after a long drink and nutigrain bar, we decided to cross at the base of the falls and go back to our site. We clamored down the steep bank and chanced across a fallen log spanning the narrowed passage. This was our only way across without getting a good soaker. Three quick steps and pushing off with the fourth landed us in the muck on the other shore. Up the other side of the bank, and we were on our way. It was quite simple it seemed. Just follow the stream back to the site. We hiked and hiked with no trail to follow, just the rushing water leading us on our way. It was quite enjoyable but after a while we were looking forward to seeing familiar signs of our base camp, and the onset of dusk was beginning. The terrain looked a little odd, but we just thought that… well we’re on the other side of the stream and things… Continued next week



Jim Bondy

Author of: Friday on the Trail

A book about our backpacking adventures in Ontario Canada

http://jimbondy.webs.com

effexus3@yahoo.com

Mono Cliffs walkabout

Finally we got to go back on the Bruce Trail. You can tell that we’re going. It’s pouring rain all of the way there, but when we got to our destination it just drizzled on us for the rest of the day. That rain gear sure came in handy this time. The pack is the most important to protect because it would be nice not to have to crawl into a soaking wet sleeping bag or getting changed into some nice drenched sweats, and trying to sleep with a drippy tent in 48 degree weather. Enough of that talk…Brrrrrak. We got to the climb-over nice and early. Opened the hatch of the van and proceeded to strap on our gear. The gargantuan packs pulled hard on our shoulders but we won the fight and ignored the pain as we knew that it would be short lived. After a while you just don’t feel it…or rather you get used to the discomfort. In any event it feels great. We hiked in for about an hour and just like most treks, it shows us how ‘out of shape’ we really are. Now, on this hike we planned to set up a base camp then trek with day-packs, and return at night to sleep. We hid our packs in some brush and decided to go off the trail for a while. Kim found a trickle of water heading off through the brambles. We know that we want water at our camp and this was surely a good sign. It was moving…not too fast…but moving nonetheless, so we followed it. It dragged us through some rough terrain but increased in velocity as other small capillaries joined the troop. At last we landed our spot. Two flowing streams joined at the point of the V and this was to be our base camp for the trip.


This is bear country so we practiced our safe measures rules. Our kitchen was about 75 feet from the tent. We hung our food between 2 trees. No food allowed in the tent or outside of the bag.

Our dining/sitting room was equally distant from our tent. The stream cooled off our couple of beers as no fridge could possibly. Our shower bag hung 100 feet from our tent area. The hammock fit famously between two trees next to our tent. What more could you ask for. It is paradise without any strings attached.

Jim Bondy

Author of: Friday on the Trail

A book about our backpacking adventures in Ontario Canada

http://jimbondy.webs.com

effexus3@yahoo.com