Finally had a spare Saturday so I ventured to Headlight Basin with some friends a couple of weekends ago. It was great to get out again and I was reminded of just how heavy a pack is with what seemed like only the bare essentials. The only thing I could think to take out was food, but I always over-pack food.
I enjoy seeing wildlife when out and about and backpacking is no exception. I prefer, generally, to see wildlife at a distance. Not an option on this trip. There were 20-30 mountain goats roaming the basin and they were not shy around people. This is disconcerting for a number of reasons. The most amusing one is that they are salt fiends (who knew?!). When the need arises, hikers are advised to urinate on rocks to avoid needless destruction of vegetation by salty-urine-seeking goats. While the females on this trip utilized a nearby, secluded back-country privy the lone male flaunted his ability to urinate in the open with minimal risk of exposure. HA! A goat appeared out of nowhere and charged in his direction so quickly that to avoid a confrontation activities were suspended mid-stream followed by an adrenaline fueled flight back to camp.
It was a bit buggy (netting worked like a charm!) but otherwise a very pleasant evening with Zombie Dice and camp margaritas. Mt. Stuart was lovely, especially at sunset when the west face was all pink with alpenglow. And that is when all heat left the world, or at least left me.
The trip reminded me (yet again) that I am incapable of thermo-regulation. If I am moving, I am warm. If I am not moving, I am freezing. This did not bode well for an overnighter in the 50s. Most people would be fine. I however, retreated into my tent after dinner, put all my clothes on, climbed into my zero degree Fahrenheit bag, and tried to sleep. Now, I've had people tell me that in a down bag you are supposed to go in with very little clothing to be the warmest possible you, kind of like lying skin to skin with someone will warm them up faster. Lies I tell you, lies! Maybe with a buddy that works but I've never experienced warmth solo unless I was rugged up so only my nose peeks out of the bag.
The winds during the night whipped up the fine dust upon which we had made our camp and the front half of the inside of my tent (only one vestibule at the front) was completely coated in a fine layer come morning. Luckily backpacking tents are light and a few quick shakes took care of the worst of it. The benefit to a not so sound night's sleep was that I had a baby unveiling to get back to in Seattle and I got a nice, early start. Made it home in plenty of time to shower and even do a load of laundry before running off to see the three week old wonder. She was gorgeous, sweet, and let me hold her for ages before declaring me unfit company. Successful weekend!
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