Will hold packages 30 days.

Subject: 6/27, day 62, 17 miles, 12,400 elev
We left Silverthorne at 8 am. The first 7 miles were a steady climb from 9200 feet to 11,900 on Ptarmigan Mtn.

We met a local who was out for a run with her 2 dogs. She was just back from a trip to ANWAR in Alaska. She said they migrated with a growing herd of caribou. The herd finally reached about 3000.

We are finding that the trails in this area are not well marked, No signs at all, and few cairns. The trail goes into meadow and disappears. We spend lots of time searching for the trail.

We raced the rain again today and got a chilly rain for about a hour. That makes us hike fast to keep warm.

We went over a pass late this afternoon and birds that sounded like gulls were crying. They seemed out of place to me.

Our great campsite came equipped with a little critter that tried to get into our tent several times during the night.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 6/28, day 63, 15 long mi., 12,700' elev
More intermittent trail with an occasional cairn today. We are really winging it with no guide and no trail on our map but one that we drew on after reading that it was under construction. We followed red flags where the trail will be.

Wow, did we have spectacular views! We were on the continental divide a lot of the day above 12,000 (2 climbs of 2000'). The crest in this area could be a few rocky feet wide then roll down to a hilly 20' wide. The mountains have been a real jumble the last 2 days. we have never seen mountains like these. Marcia says wad up your dinner napkin and throw it on the table. That is what the terrain looks like.

Today's rainstorm was hail that waited until we were above 12,500'. Hail, wind and thunder kept us moving and I missed lots of dramatic pictures. When you are the highest point on the highest ridge carrying a lightning rod (hiking pole) the priority is to get out of there as fast as possible.