In a world of so many great photographers and writers, I am venturing into some unknown territories, leaving comfort zones, finally very willing to practice the art of seeing. By maintaining the practice of posting daily photos, I hope to continue learning about the possibilities that I trust are out there for the taking.
Day 4 Sunday, Sept 20th
Start: 1st Camp site in the North Fork
End: lower end of lower Paintbrush Cyn camping area.
Elevation: 7800′
Ascend: 3169′
Descend: 3700′
Miles hiked: 9
It rained off and on last night. I was concerned we’d be hiking in rain today when I saw how many potential storm clouds there were when we finally got out of our tents.
We hiked up 800 feet to Solitude Lake, another beautiful cirque lake at the base of the 1700′ Paintbrush Pass we were going to climb. Funny thing (not to Tina) is that I told Tina, “After we climb to Solitude Lake the rest of our day is downhill”. Oops, I misread the direction of the contour lines on the map badly.
Solitude Lake, half in the sun and half under building storm clouds.
Today was cold from the start. We put on pack covers and our rain jackets on minutes after we started hiking out from camp. Half way up to Solitude Lake we took them off only to put them both on again.
Tina hiking up to Solitude Lake in rain gear.
The sky was black in all directions as we started the 1700 foot ascent to Paintbrush Divide Pass. Neither Tina nor I were looking forward to this climb, especially since I have a big fear about being on passes during lightning storms.
Tina hiking up from Solitude Lake before the storm clouds changed form.
It was very windy and cold going up but easier than we expected. It did rain briefly and the sun graced us when there was a break in the fast moving clouds. The darkest of storm clouds actually dropped hail on us momentarily.
These clouds are dropping hail on us.
We reached the barren Paintbrush Divide Pass and hurriedly took photos before running from the cold forceful wind.
Tina was mighty cold and had trouble standing in the strong wind on top of Paintbrush Divide Pass.
Descending the lost rock trail on the north side required some hand holding like when climbing a mountain peak without trail. We even got to walk across a remaining snow field. Fun.
Tina taking the descent very carefully.
We passed ambitious day hikers doing a 17+ mile dayhike up Paintbrush Cyn Trail over and down Cascade Cyn Trail who said they saw a bear and her cubs down below tree line. We sadly didn’t see them.
Tina and I had fun photographing marmots and pikas, and of course we are always shooting away at the incredible mountain views. Lower on down I shot some of the color of the turning foliage. It’s clear why they call the canyon Paintbrush Canyon.
I spotted this little guy while waiting for Tina.
We considered hiking out all the way to our parked car today but the hour was late and the 3700′ of downhill was taking a toll on us. We are camped a mere 3-4 miles from the finish of our Teton Crest hike.
Our last night campsite overlooking the National Park lakes.
This is our coldest night so far, so it’s time for me to get completely inside my sleeping bag, that after I use my pee bottle.
