July 27, 50-miler

July has been a great month. We have very few, possibly no, heart issues to discuss. They are all taking their meds 2-3 times a day and we are marching on.  It is always in the back of minds, but there is nothing to report. They have echos this week and are not scheduled for a Calif trip until September.  We watch appetites, coughs, blood pressure and swelling pretty close on a daily basis, but they are doing great.

These last 2 weeks have been awesome.   For the past several months Justin and I have been planning a 50 miler for a group of boy scouts up in the Eagle Cap Wilderness.  It was a route we were not familiar with, so 2 weeks ago Stacy and I hiked the trail alone to check it out. We were gone 3.5 days and had a great time, just her and I.  It was awesome. We went over 3 mountain passes, Wilson Pass, Copper Creek and Tombstone pass. We saw 7 lakes, Laverty, Chimney, Steamboat, Swamp, Diamond, Tombstone, and Echo.  Swam in Laverty, Steamboat, and Tombstone. We waded through several creeks and traversed over large snow drifts. I thoroughly enjoyed that time with my best friend.  Many times we talked about what we were doing and where we were at 2 years ago in Calif or 8 years ago with Sierra. Those were tough times then, and now look where we were.  We are still truly blessed.

We returned home a gave a big report to Justin and the boys.  They were excited and made the same trek last week. Justin, Trevor Lewis, Eli and Dan did a great job as leaders.  On Thursday, a group of us took Thursday dinner into the boys at Tombstone.  They loved the hamburgers for dinner, and bacon and pancakes for breakfast.        

 Ready to leave from the Lostine up Bowman Creek.

 Crossing Bowman Creek. Water was really high.

 Chimney Lake

 Steamboat.

 Snow at Swamp lake.  this was all melted by the time the scouts came through 6 days later.  I did NOT go swimming here.

 Head of Elk Creek.

 Tombstone Lake

 Stacy finally went in.  It was pretty funny.

 Tombstone pass.

 

 Looking up West Eagle towards Wonker pass.

Crossing West Eagle.

A week later, the boys in the 'Hamburger' line

And the morning 'Bacon' line.

The whole crew ready to leave Tombstone