To my surprise and delight I was warm enough in my tent last night though it was between 5-10 degrees below zero. I had three layers of merino on top, two on the bottom, my divine down booties (a new and much loved post Sweden purchase), a down jacket, two pairs of gloves, woolly hat and two buffs, and of course my sleeping bag which is rated to minus 7 degrees. I got so hot I had to take the booties off. However I didn’t sleep much given the altitude, but I did get to see the most glorious stars from the tent and an amazing sunrise
Today started off slow – I am not moving that fast at 3000m and with a really heavy pack – those bear canisters weigh a tonne. I wandered around the basin for a while and checked out the gorgeous lakes
Then it was up past sunset lake to the first pass of the day – hurricane! There was a blizzard a week before but thankfully there wasn’t much snow left and you could find the trail. The reward for getting up to 3500m was a gob smacking view of the three boobs right up close
And below the pass the stunning schoolroom glacier and lake
After that, a lovely meander down the south fork of the cascade canyon, along a lovely gushing river and then back up the north fork of the cascade canyon to the inappropriately named solitude lake. The lake was lovely but busy
After that a lung busting 600m up to the paintbrush divide where I caught my last view of the Tetons from the west side
I am camping tonight at the lovely Holly Lake a little way down the paintbrush canyon. I arrived early but can’t really go further as I don’t have a permit for the campsites further on. Am cooking up Mac and cheese for dinner! Hopefully will get some more sleep tonight. I also have company tonight, Eric from California just showed up to pitch next door, so hopefully if we have nocturnal bear visitors that will head for his tent
From Alaska Basin to Holly Lake via the Hurricane Pass and the Paintbrush Divide
Total distance = 22km; Ascent = 1600m
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