Day 7

Sofia Wrote: 

Steep climb up and out. We bushwhacked for a while then off-routed and the path we chose became exposed, requiring careful hand and foot placements. 

We got to the top shaky but relieved. Easier walking through clouds and rocks and tundra and around snow banks. Dropped down to a string of lakes. Walked around the biggest with little tree trouble. Dad lost a shoe in the mud, but he got it back! Continued through a valley and eventually up to our right. Steep sidehilling towards a pass. Right before the pass was another lake tucked away. Marmot calls. Up and over the pass and this “shitty view” was even more jaw dropping than the last reveal— I didn’t think that would be possible. Just a panoramic view of glaciated mountains with sun streaming down through the clouds in godlike rays. We speculated which of the daunting mountains formed what was known as “Death Valley.” On our way down, Dad dispensed some bear spray on accident. We continued into another valley and were very fatigued by the time we found a patch of damp (instead of completely soaked) ground within the marsh. Ate dinner of kimchi with anchovies (becomes important later). 

Every time before topping a pass or rounding a mountain spine, we looked back amazed at the best view ever, only to be surprised by another view even better!  Our inside joke:  "Not another shitty view!" We had a hard time finding dry ground but found a patch near GDR 34.1.