Wednesday afternoon, I jumped into my truck with 4 the same four CD that have been in there since I bought the truck and headed south to Craters of the Moon National Monument. Everyone else on the highway was driving for their thanksgiving traditions. Jessi Miller and I started a tradition a year ago to always hike on Thanksgiving. Last year we hiked through Big Domingous Canyon, this year went to Craters of the Moon National Monument. after driving 500 miles, I arrived at the park to met Jessi. We were both tired from our drives so we slept on the platform in my truck instead of setting up a tent. We were both so excited for morning becuase we did not really know what the park looked like.

Anyone want to go on a cool trip. Well, be prepared to drive 3.5 hours from Pullman and bring the following: a canoe, paddles, lifejacket, flashlight, hiking shoes, water bottle, etc. (clothing is optional). Last weekend, I drove to Riggins Idaho and then headed east on a one way road. This road is closed Monday through Friday, so I was glad I planned my trip for a Saturday. I drove another 17 or so miles, with my head out of the window looking for the bridge on the map. After driving over 3 or four of the wrong bridges, I finally found the right one. Then I needed to locate a old cable car that was taken down, I found it on top of a steep enbankment. Elin and I were ready for the hot springs, however the Salmon River was our next obstacle. We took the canoe off the roof of the truck carries it down the steep hill and gently placed it into the river. Mean while a man drove and stopped to chat, he was so impressed at what we were doing. (He thought we were canoeing the class 4 rapids of the Salmon and not just crossing the river. hee hee). So we ferried across the river, stashed the boat on the beach adn started our 1 mile walk up the hill. We were not sure what trail to take, after a long debate and fight with the blackberry bushes, we took the obvious road. At last we found the Hot Springs. AMAZING! The one hot spring was an old mine shaft, the further you go back the hotter it gets. The other hot spring was an old log with hot water in it. This place is highly recommended although it is an epic journey!

I now live near the 45th parallel. The 45th parallel is exactly half way between the north pole and the equator. So, in the winter you leave for work in the dark and come home in the dark. However, this summer was amazing, it got light at 4:30 am and stayed light until about 10:30 pm. I guess I am in training for living in Alaska. -Cheers

I think I finally found heaven on earth, it is called Hell's Canyon. I went for a hikeover the weekend there. I hiked in about 4 miles friday and camped with some horse packers. They feed me food and we sat by the camp fire and talked about the terrain. They warned me that there was no water between my camp 2-3. The next day I hiked 13 miles to Dry Driggins, Echo Lake and camped at another lake. The view from Dry Driggins so AMAZING. I went into the fire tower that was open and hung out there for a while. A hiker who was scouting for elk came by, we chated and then I conitued on to the Lakes. I camped at a this lake that was 1 mile from the trail, it was really quite there. The next day was cold, so I hiked really fast to heaven's junction because I thought there was no water, I walked briskly to Cannon lake. Well, there was tons of water on the trail however I had packed in all this extra water and this side of the trail was really easy. So easy, I walked by camp and made it to my car on sunday night. 28 miles total. Can't wait to go back.



http://atthclem.livejournal.com/

512-826-3440

Hiking the AT 2009

On Friday I drove 3 hours to the trail head to Stanley Hot Springs. I hiked up hill until the I hit Boulder Creek where I had to cross the stream which was suppose to be challengin, but I found some logs to walk across. From there I hikes about 1/4 mile to camp. I made it to the hot springs and there ws only 1 other camper. I soaked in one of the 6 hot pool which was about 105 degrees. The next day I hiked to Lottie Lake on a 16 miles loop trail. It was unknow if I could complete the loop due to snow. I got to Lottie Lake, and followed the snow patches to Maude Lake, then Mud Lake. I thought I was doing pretty well. Until the last segment of trail, which was 6,800 feet and covered in snow. I did a little slipping and sliding, but the trail was easy to find. I did made the loop! Then I spent another night soaking in the hot springs. There were not too many people out there, just enought to make it pleasant. The drive home was amazing along the lochsa River.

Most of the ORC Staff is hiking Mt. Adams, I am going to Stanley Hot Springs. Below is a picture of the park I went to last weekend. It was pretty cool.

I am settling into my job at the Outdoor Recreation Center, in Washington State University. I have been to a lot of meeting lately. We have meetings to schedule meeting and we have meetings about the meetings. I really enjoy my professional staff and student staff. This week, we have a trip going to Mount Adams and doing some mountaineering. They are doing some high altitude travel at 9,000 feet. Wait, I use to live at 10,000….so it is like a trip to Leadville, CO but much cooler. Today my office looks like a rafting company because we are inflating all the rafts to inventory them. The Pullman area is great if you like to look at farms and open space. I am anticipating the excitement of the Lentil Festival in August.

My first week of work at WSU was amazing. The staff here are so positive and the students are really eager to learn. The only problem with the job is that we have no windows in our office. I might sneak in late at night and paint a picture of a window in my office. I am glad I have no house plants, because they all might die. This weekend I plan to send finishing up my move in my apartment. There is so much to do here, however everything is a bit of a drive. Can't wait for next week and all my trainings from HR. PS: The Chicago Sister are in Nh and only have 441 miles left of the Appalachian Trail.

Yesterday I went on a 3.5 mile hike. It was so short, I almost hiked the butte twice. It was only 14 miles north of Pullman and it was a free park. I got there early in the morning and when I got back to my truck, I realized that everyone else was just starting to go hiking. Today it is raining, so I stayed at home trying to organize everything I brought from Colorado, which might never happen. I start work tomorrow and finding an outfit to wear will be the hardest part of the day. Most people just assume I am a student at WSU.

Welcome to Pullman Washington. I drove 1,175 miles from Leadville Colorado to Pullman, Washington. I arrived yesterday and managed to find an apartment and get a library card. During the summer I will have the apartment for my self and comes August I will have two roommate. Pullman is definately a college town, but the surrounding area is amazing. The drive through Idaho was so incredible! I would upload photos, but the local library will not let you (I will try the univeristy computers tomorrow). The gas prices in Washington are about $2.83 for regular and the further west you go the worse it is. Most people get gas and food in Moscow Idaho because it is cheaper. The summer day light begins about 4:30 am and it gets dark about 9:30 pm, and the winter is the opposite. I live in farm country and the weather here is not like Seattle. The days are warm, the evenings and mornings are cool, and last year they got 2 inches of snow in July, so I will feel right at home. I start work on Moday and they called today to tell me how excited they are to have me start, yeah!

Hi Folks,







I drove out of Fruita and my road bike fork broke off. Luckily, I was only going 5 miles an hour. Luke Horning came to the rescue and fixed the set up. I gave him the only accessible cam strap I had and he attached the bike back to the rack. I had lunch with the Hornings and left fruita. I made it to salt lake city. I had dinner with the Kessler Family, it happened to be the monthly birthday party. Mike turned 30 years old and got a pudding pie in his face. Everyone had a good time and it was great to hangout with family. I think there were 22 people at dinner, including children, guests, distant family, and a dog. (Grandpa Kessler was outof town so I did not see him). I am driving to Idaho today. It is 10 hours to Pullman, so I plan to drive about 6-7 hours and find a good place to stay for the night. Hopefully the Salt Lake City traffic will be mellow now that rush hour is over and there is no rain. cheers

Today, I am doing the last minute packing and going to Winsor Lake with Jessie Miller. Winsor Lake is the first hike I did when I moved to Colorado back in 2000. I plan to drive to Fruita to see some friends. It will be really sad to leave Leadville. I will even miss the snow in June! I think I know just about everyone here too. I am going to the Kesslers for Family Dinner on Sunday, yeah! Other then this, I will check in when I get to Pullma, WA.

I am slowly packing my truck and I actually think everything will fit it my truck or on top of it. The major problem I had was getting a ski/bike rack for my truck. The previous owner of the truck had the truck outfitted for carrying sea kayaks, so when I went to install a new rack, the bars were too far apart for any of the components to work. Thank goodness for Rocky Mounts, a Boulder company that makes bike racks for trucks with bars that are 60 inches apart. So this is what my truck will look like when I drive my 1,000 miles north. I will be in Colorado until the weekend when I will at some point leave.



http://atthclem.livejournal.com/

512-826-3440

Hiking the AT 2009