Another sunny day in the mid-90s but I'm excited today as I've finally a camp site in the Albion Basin and tonight is the night.
I have possession of the site (#16) at 2pm but I drag my feet and don't pull in until around 5pm. Still plenty of time for a hike.
Love my sight! I picked it from a photo that showed a meadow - perfect to spy moose or deer if I get lucky. And I'm under the Supreme ski lift. My only concern is that it's next to a trail. I'm not sure where the trail goes or how busy it is but I guess I'm about to find out.
There are 3 spots to set up camp: under a pine tree next to the picnic table (shade but no meadow view), on a gravel site a bit farther up the hill in the meadow (very sunny and exposed to the views of everyone) and between the fire pit and the picnic table (meadow view, hidden behind vegetation from the road but still in the sun). Hmmm....
I put up the tent under the pine tree and then decide to move it next to the camp fire pit - the sun will go down soon.
Camp set up goes well although I put the tent up incorrectly but quickly figured it out. :)
I know its camping but I'm close to home I bring a pillow and blanket and instead of a thermarest I bring an air mattress (might as well be comfortable). I go to pump up the mattress via my car but the pump won't turn on; I blew a fuse. Argh!
Guess I'm sleeping on a flat mattress and the blanket I brought. Very little padding from the hard earth but it'll add some warmth.
Camp is setup; it's time for a hike. I've scoped out the road up to Devil's Castle/Supreme Lift so I think I know where to find it. I go there and start up. After a bit, I run into house. Now I question whether I have the right path and I don't want to go through someone's property.
I turn around and head back to my camp site and the trail that runs by it. Time to explore!
The trail head uphill from my sight. There are a good number of flowers still in bloom especially in the damper areas: Asters, Paintbrush, etc.
Finally trail starts heading west'sh following the curvature of the mountains. Nice views of the peaks but the sun is bright.
I'm finding a few patches of Lupine
And more Asters
And some Coneflower which the bees are enjoying
But a lot are already past bloom.
I soon figure out that I'm going to connect to the Catherine's Pass trail. Now I know where that trail spur goes - to the campground.
I reach that intersection. It's almost 7pm.
I could easily make it to the Pass and back to camp in 2 hours but decide to wait for tomorrow and head back.
On the way back, I see a yellow bellied weasel.
And the views are getting nicer as the sun lowers in the sky.
Back at camp,
I take a seat at the picnic table to read a magazine but there are at least 4 hawks flying behind me on the uphill side and the chair lift. They are chasing each other and air fighting. One will land in a tree and another will attack. I can hear bodies/wings hitting branches. Great entertainment!
I want to know what the hawk is. It's got to be a family.
This lasts for several minutes and then stops....back to the magazine.
Around 9pm it's dark and time to go to sleep.
I have one side of the tent 1/2 open to the meadow.
After about an hour I turn to watch the moon rise over the peak (and there's one star above the moon). Awesome!
A little while later clouds start rolling in.
Good night!
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