Here is a copy of the diary page. It has been copied as it was written with minor spelling and punctuation corrections. Some grammatical corrections have been added in parenthesis.
September 16, 1985 1:13 pm
I didn’t write last night because I made camp after 7:30 (pm) and didn’t
want to waste light on writing.
Yesterday, I did not get started on the trail again until about 10:15 am. The hill
above my camp was a hill I actually had to switch back up. I’ll be honest, there are
a lot of times I have to remember to breath because I am holding my breath (for fear).
About 1 or so we saw tow deer, they ran so I couldn’t tell what they were.
First off, saw two huge coral mushrooms, but saw only small ones after, lots of
chanterelle here and there, all young, but didn’t stop.
(I) wanted to stop around noon for a break, but there were no places for the horses
to feed. Good thing we made camp when we did, because for the next 9 hours there was
no place to safely make camp. We ridge walked, no level areas at all.
When we hit the sign advertising State Lands, I knew we weren’t going to make schedule
or easily make it if we did. I stopped frequently to let the horses eat ferns, didn’t
like to, but it was the only thing to eat.
A few minutes after 5:00 (pm) I met 9 horses, 11 or 12 riders head on. They pulled off
the trail as there was no where but straight up or down on my end. They said that they
were 12 miles out of Panther Creek and had 10 miles to reach Bridge of the Gods before
dark.
We passed under Sedum Point which had taken me 11 1/2 hours to reach and what I have
calculated to be at least 21 miles from the river. I told that to the lady who seemed
to be leading, but head strong she was, good luck.
Short ways past the horse group, stopped for 45 or so minutes to talk with a couple
from Vancouver. Echo has some bad cinch sores, (I put furison ointment on them.)
Pushed to reach Wind River before dark. At dusk, still no horse feed, made camp next
to the nursery where we saw two small does eating a shredling of grass. The horses
went to bed hungry.
At least the rain stopped. I set up camp in the dark. Large machinery across the plowed
ground ran all night, just like the mining at home.
Echo knocked part of my overhead tarp down, left it until later as it wasn’t
raining.
Started out this morning at 8:30 (am). Less than (a) half mile down the trail would
have been plenty of horse feed, but I had no way of knowing. Saw one of the rangers
checking seedling trees, stopped and talked for about half an hour, thus giving the
horses some breakfast. Outside the (nursery) fence line was rich green with grass.
Been seeing some beautiful views, but haven’t the guts to stop on the sides of those
slopes long enough to take a picture. Still traveling in forest mostly. Passed a couple
of guys headed for Bridge of the Gods on foot, out of Panther Creek camp.
We by passed the camp and have stopped at a road crossing in the Panther Creek
Experimental Forest. Plenty of grass for lunch. The wind is picking up, I layed out
the blankets to see if I can get them dry in the wind.
It has clouded over and thereatens to rain again, I’m prepared, but not willing. Did
see a chipmunk a mile or so back, but he was camera shy.
Four hours of riding has put me at mile 32 which is only 8 miles from where I camped.
My average still seems to be 2 miles an hour, even though I think I (am) making 3 or
better.
Well I want to medicate Echo’s sores which have re-opened and check their shoes and
see if I can reach Big Lava Bed or better yet Crest Horse Camp before 7:00 pm tonight.
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