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