Day 19 Unnamed stream to North Willow Creek

Day 19

Tuesday, July 22, 2014 

Mileage: 8.8 miles 

Elevation: 10,000 up to 11,00 and down to 10,300...oh and guess what! Up to 11,100! 

After meeting all of our new trail friends, we came to the end of Segment 9, high-fived eachother, crossed the road, and continued on to Segment 10. The trail began with a 1,000 ft incline up the next mountain. But, first we had to cross this stream. We took off our shoes and carefully waded across the stream. Feeling accomplished and balanced of our first big stream crossing, we laced up our shoes and what did we see 100 ft away? A big, sturdy, wooden bridge. Well, at least we got to practice!

Bountiful streams of water from fresh ice melt. We've never seen water as clear and Snow White as this!

Cartoon-like clouds dispersed in the blue blue sky 

We finally came to the tippity top. But it wasn't all water and trees...here's a  hot, dry desert section that made us feel like we were in the Mojave desert. 

Tree-framed photo of one of hundred something mountains here. That's probably a well-known one, but we can't think of the name. 

After using up most of our energy to get to the top, we went straight back down and thennnnnn....another mountain appeared out of nowhere. The trail was heading straight towards it. So, we took a calming, much needed food break to program our mind and body of what was ahead. 

Pippy enjoying some tortillas and bean dip. 

Despite our boost in a snack break, this Third climb of the day was figging exhausting!!!!

As Zippy demonstrates here, she could hardly carry her hiking poles or a smile on her face 

Pippy's was like "whatttt...how many more miles???"

And as there's an end to everything, we made it to our destination camp for the night next to North Willow Creek. We sponge-bathed in the stream and changed into our nice warm Jammies...

Did we mention they're matching? At least the hats are different!

Zippy posing in front of our camp oasis of the night. 

Dinner time! Warming, soupy "Karhmandu Curry" was both satisfying and filling (well, for an hour and then we were starving again and scarfed down a bag of crumbled rice chips and carefully savores half of a glorious fig bar)

Last thing of the night, we always take the time to hang our food bags high in the tree..

And why you may ask? Well, here's why...

Zippy spotted a bear print 50 ft from where we hung our food bags! 

We thought couldn't get any better, but then we looked outside our tent and saw this....