Solo Wanderings on Baranof Island, SE Alaska

Codger_64

Codger_64

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I often live vicariously thru the trip reports and scenery photos many of you post here, though I don't often comment and add my kudos.

I am reminded of growing up on a hot, dusty cotton farm in the Missisippi River Delta where the scenery consisted of heat shimmers across a thousand acres of cotton plants, an occasional bird winging high overhead, and immersing myself in color photograph fantasies involving National Geographic magazines.

Now here in the autum of my life, I reflect back on my own youthful adventures and, while thankful for those memories of places seen and experiences enjoyed with people now long gone, I admit that I do regret not going more to wild places and taking more risks, building more memories. This comes to mind when I read the last lines of a recent trip report posted by a young man, Mike (GoBlueHiker) on the Backpacker forum:

You'll always regret the things you didn't do more than those you did... don't hold back, make it happen. Please: Live.
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I heartily recommend that those so inclined to take the time to read this man's trip report (TR) of his explorations this summer on Baranof Island, SE Alaska. His report is well written, informative and detailed enough to involve the reader both intellectually and emotionally.
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He made a pretty concise photographic record with a relatively cheap P&S camera, augmented his tale with cuts from the topo maps he used, and has a pretty good eye for the topography, explaining much of his travels across ice fields, bare mountaintops, and deep rainforest from the perspective of a glacial researcher. He also pulls no punches in revealing his mea culpas on errors he made, including losing his SPOT early on which resulted in a SAR "wellbeing check".

http://www.backpacker.com/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=852107219;t=9991140957;st=0

EDITED: New URL that has the TR all in one place w/o other postings interrupting it:
http://www.rainforesttreks.com/2010/?d=Trip Report

Epic. Adventure of a lifetime. I enjoyed being invited to go along with him and experience thru him something I know I haven't the physical endurance now to enjoy. I hope one or more of you take the time to read his story, view his photography and enjoy it as much as I have. Who knows, maybe one of you will be inspired to go to such a place and, if you survive the loss of your SPOT and bear spray, tidal flooding, crossing tarns and ice crevasses, bring us back such a riveting tale!
 
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Thank you Codger for posting this. I am on my way over to read his adventure!
 
I'm glad to see there is some interest here in this TR. Hopefully some of you that read it will come back here with questions, suggestions and comments so we can discuss it in detail. Many, many important details of orientiering, safety, technique etc. are touched on (with great honesty and little bravado) by Mike.
 
What a question to ask a lady! :D

I remember when Eisenhower was President, when Kennedy won and when he was assassinated. Chronologically, I am in my late fifties and going on seventy-five physically speaking. I have had two wives, five children, six grandchildren and do not expect to celebrate New year's eve of 2020. 2015 if I am lucky.
 
pitdog said:
Alaska is definitely on mine and Mrs Pit's to do list !;)
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A lot of the topography he showed in his photographs reminded me of some of your home territory. You noted, I take it, how many times he mentioned having difficulty finding dry fuel for his caldera cone stove?
 
Epic trip with some very good pictures and insights into how solo trekking would be different in experience to group or pairs trekking. Good to see the mistakes as well as everything that went well, to me it gives a far more rounded view of the trip and allows me to learn from it rather than just posting up comments like ''cool pics'' or some such.

Also shows what can be done by someone who has enough gumption to get off their arse and do it. To that end it serves to slightly shame me for not doing more this summer.

I was surprised by the lack of a gun as part of the equipment list. I'd have thought a decent rifle or big handgun would have been suggested by the local authorities for someone going into bear country on their own. Maybe that's just my perception sculpted by the media though.
 
Thanks for the link Codger... and the beautiful picture. I'll definitely check it out
 
On his use and loss of the SPOT device. He was careless in how he secured it to his pack and it was raked off during his bushwacking. But it still did what it was supposed to do, alert the local SAR that something was not right when he didn't check in with an "OK" message, and the unit did not move. Also on the plus side, he had properly filed his trip plan, so SAR knew where to check when it became evident that something was amiss. Kudos for the team on several points. Before it became a declared "man down" emergency, they did a cursory "welfare check" which resulted in his being found near the end of his established route. Another point, rather than being incised at the incident, he was loaned not only a second SPOT, but a radio for the second half of his trip. THEY still thought it was a good idea for him to carry one, and to augment the SPOT with a voice communication radio.

To me, it is evident that the SAR personel he dealt with considered him to be physically fit, experienced in wilderness travel, and capable of making sound decisions. Had they not, he would likely have been on a plane home and not allowed, much less aided, in his continuing his trip.

Well, that is my take on that part anyway. Thoughts?
 
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