Aldo Leopold Society: Camp Catharsis, Day 2

Having been to Spider Glacier last summer, my plan was to climb Red Mountain via the Phelps Ridge Trail on Day 2; everybody else wanted to hike to Spider Gap. After sleeping on it, I had a change of heart and decided to join the troupe. Besides, it would be more fun to socialize along the way, providing an opportunity for people pictures.

The trail is not for wimps. Miners based at Trinity had built the pathway, along with an assayer outpost for the summer months at Spider Gap. The route's steep grade fails to meet federal criteria for backcountry trails, but the Forest Service continues to maintain the popular approach to Lyman Lakes, Cloudy Pass and beyond.

Once it leaves Spider Meadows, the trail skirts below a sheer cliff before ascending quickly through sparse greenery to Spider Glacier beneath the East Arm of Chiwawa Mountain (above). The views from the glacier are spectacular: Mt. Maude, Seven-Fingered Jack, Mt. Fernow and Copper Peak (below), just to name a few.

Three groups of Aldo Leopold Society trekkers departed camp over the course of an hour, so we all connected coming and going, allowing for a bit of tomfoolery and mugging for the camera, along with a good look at a huge porcupine in a tree enroute. Back in Spider Meadow, a sense of exhilaration from the day’s hike permeated camp.

Libations were in order and soon, the stories began to cascade: tales of horses bolting to the trailhead after a full day of trail work, footraces to Pass No Pass from Buck Creek Trail, total lunar eclipses and meteor showers against a jet black wilderness sky, and trail encounters with bears, coyotes, cougars and survivalists. Oh, my!

For dinner, I would create my gourmet version of macaroni and cheese with Spam. “Spam?” asked a couple of pilgrims, incredulously. Little did they know of my unique way of cooking the meal, with sautéed onions, garlic and, of course, Spam. Tasting this epicurean delight, the doubters conceded and gave me two thumbs up.

After dinner, more wine  -- and stories -- flowed until dark. Because of the high fire danger locally, campfires were prohibited -- even in wilderness areas. So when dusk fell, the party was pretty much over. Helmut Vallindaklopf’s evil twin, Ramone, appeared briefly, but was soon banished from camp by three strong-willed, intelligent women.

The day had waned and, with a sense of gratification from a good workout in God’s Country, we could sleep easy that night -- even on hard ground. But mostly, this was about the opportunity to spend time reconnecting with old friends, and the bonus of meeting in the wilderness was worth the price of admission. Nay, it was priceless.