Author Archives: wringmaster

Craig holds up his soggy pants after days of rain. Photo by Dave Jones “The rain let up and the sun poked through. I got up and put my wet boots, socks and pants on and proceeded to find 1 and 1/2 cup of over-ripe blueberries… Craig and I played a couple of games ofContinue reading “August 29, 1986”

Tony, Mark, the author and Craig. I am holding the blue journal book from which these accounts are taken. “It was raining with a low ceiling when we woke. Tony had joined us during the night and now Mark and Sharon. We all read and Tony had… a beer for breakfast. All we had wasContinue reading “August 27, 1986”

“A cold morn with watery sun. The ring around the sun is ominous…[I got up] and picked my usual pan of berries – spilled them and picked more. I had to range far and wide. We packed up and took off up the hill. We did our best to refurbish the site to its pristineContinue reading “August 26, 1986”

My injured pointer finger taped to my index finger – stained by all the blueberry picking I did to atone for my woeful cheese procurement. Love this close up of the intricate ground cover that was everywhere. “Today was an even more perfect day. A day to relax. I picked an extra large pail ofContinue reading “August 25, 1986”

The West Sister (or Maiden depending on who you ask) from the East Sister. “We got up when the sun hit our tent about 10 am or so. We had a quick 2 oatmeals [sic] with blueberries (I’m the official blueberry picker). We went off up the valley about 11am. The vistas as we traveledContinue reading “August 24, 1986”

This was a rest day. Craig enjoys a book in the warm sun. Books turn out to be important gear later on. “Today was designated ‘lazy day’ from the word go.” – Journal August 23, 1986 It was a great camp for a little rest and relaxation – compete with hot tub. We had zipContinue reading “August 23, 1986”

Looking back on upper Arrigetch Creek as we leave the watershed to hop over to the next canyon. L to R: The Tusk, Xanadu, Ariel and Caliban. “We tried to get up early but because it was cold we waited for the sun. Blueberries and oatmeal. Dave and I washed our hair. Yeah! We wereContinue reading “August 22, 1986”

Even though we didn’t succeed in climbing Caliban, these two good friends remain undaunted. In between the “kitty” ears on Caliban. “We awoke to rain falling off and on. It had rained hard during the night and my sleeping bag was wet at the toes… The sun dappled the hills. The Alaskans decided to goContinue reading “August 21, 1986”

I’ve heard this called the Aquarius Valley, but by any name the upper Arrigetch Creek is awe inspiring. That is Xanadu in the background. “We woke this morning to a wet snow falling in our valley. We dozed until noon… [Our shelter] is just a tarp set up with ice axes and bivi sacks underneath.Continue reading “August 20, 1986”