Blustery 6/25

last Sabbath i was able to take an epic journey. Nathan drove me up the Lahora Creek logging road and dropped me off at 9 am. i traveled 23.3 miles in 13 hours. i started at 5700 feet and went as high as 7600 feet and back down to 1000 feet. i saw some amazing country! it was so beautiful. after following the ridge fro a while i dropped down into Mc Gilvery canyon on the far side. after doing some exploring i hiked to the top of the valley and looked over the far side of that ridge. i could see a long way! next i hike across a high pass and made it to the top of what appeared to be Blustery mountain. there was a vary large pile of rocks people had stacked. next i traversed a very steep crest between Rough valley on the left and an unknown valley on the right. i saw another peack on me right and decided to see what could be seen down the other side. when i got to the top i found out that that was actually Blustery mountain :) it was starting to get late so i decided to head back.
on my way down i was passing through a beautiful meadow when i looked to my left and saw a bear! i took a picture but i just looked like a black spot. so i decided to get a closer look. i went back up the hill and down wind and started to walk closer. as i was carefully sneaking up on him he suddenly looked up the hill directly above him. but i couldn't see what he was looking at, so i kept going. he started walking away from me and i kept following him. when i was directly above where he had been i looked above me and saw another bear! but not just any bear, it was a mother with two cubs!!! and instead of being down wind i was up wind. i figured that if she was going to charge me i would like to get a picture of it :) but she just walked away :(
the trip down was very difficult. it was basically straight down from 7600 feet to 1000 feet. the woods were very thick and and the hill was steep. to make it worse my left knee went out on me. it was very difficult to finish the last four hours. but make it i did. i walked into the dorm at 10 pm, just when it started to get real dark.
boy was i tired. but it sure was worth it! it took a day for me knee to clear up but its fine now.
away ways, just another fun trip in the journey of life :) (i only ate 7 oranges, three fruit bars and about 3/4 liter of water!)