[TR] Bailey Traverse - The Anniversary Route 8/4/2012

[Matt_Alford]

Trip: Bailey Traverse - The Anniversary Route

 

Date: 8/4/2012

 

Trip Report:

Among my many marital duties is planning Jenny's and my annual anniversary adventure. While it is true that this trip has historically included a sufficient amount exercise, I hardy think it deserves the "Jenny proves she is tough enough to be married to Matt another year trip" designation it has come to be known by among Jenny's co-workers and friends. I guess that time Jenny got a moderate case of Rhabdomyolysis while descending from El Dorado and hobbled around work for a week left lasting a impression. That which does not kill us make us stronger.

 

I am left to conclude that either Jenny somewhat enjoys the pain or has a really short memory as she continues to let me plan a week-long trip every August in celebration of another year of our union.

 

I promised Jenny outrageously beautiful wildflowers, plentiful wildlife, outstanding campsites and a full on adventure. The Bailey Traverse didn't come up short in any of these criteria and also featured plenty of side-hilling on exposed terrain, gully-hell, the most robust populations of mosquitos I have ever encountered and a fair dose of good old-fashioned bushwacking.

 

My wife is tougher that she knows and showed some real character on this trip. I can't think of a better way to celebrate my marriage than wandering through such beautiful terrain for week in the company of my wife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gear Notes:

Bug Juice and a 5th of whiskey

Front Door Adventures

Edited August 19, 2012 by Matt_Alford

[genepires]

nice one Matt.

 

what no biking from seattle?

[ivan]

lucky man.

 

no bearz?

 

dig the log photo - looks like the evil rock-messenger in "return to oz"

[Sol]

Hells to the Yeah!

 

[Matt_Alford]

Plenty O' bears, just not quick enough with the Canon. I must commend the NPS for their effort at keeping the bears wild in the Olympics. At Ferry Basin a bear approached 150 meters to camp, had a sniff and wandered off. That night he returned and took a big dump on right next to the food cache and again about 50 meters from camp. Didn't f*** with us and still weary of people. I like it that way!

 

[genepires]

can the NPS take credit for that? education of visitors to not be a dumb-ass? (what is plural for dumb-ass?)

 

was your food cache strung up a tree?

[rob]

can the NPS take credit for that? education of visitors to not be a dumb-ass? (what is plural for dumb-ass?)

 

was your food cache strung up a tree?

 

There aren't a lot of good hanging trees on the traverse. Ferry basin is better, but still the NPS forces parties on this route to carry a bear canister. At least, they did as of a few years ago. It's a really good policy, especially given the lack of good hanging opportunities throughout much of the route.

[Matt_Alford]

Yes, that is exactly what I am referring to Rob. As much as I dislike carrying heavy and awkward bear canisters, If it helps in reducing the chance of negative bear-human interactions I fully support the policy.

 

 

[mountainsloth]

stellar! I too am impressed with how we have ALL kept the bear population out of our human population in the Olympics. I always see them on backpacking trips, but from a distance, the way it should be.

Hardcore wife, you must have found a good one. Happy anniversary.