The Hike

On July 13Th, Friends and family made the arduous hike to the slide area above Alpine in Wyoming. Sue had been planning on going since last march and it had originally been planned as an overnight er. A week before the hike Ron Hart and I hiked in to scout out the area to see the difficulty and opportunity for camp sites. Because we are two old fat guys we concluded that it would not be a good idea to do the overnight er and have to pack packs in.(everybody else probably could have done it but we didn't think we could) The hike to the top of the saddle where the slide started is 5 miles with an elevation gain of 4,000 feet. The first mile you gain 300 feet, the second mile you gain about 600 feet. the last half mile you gain nearly 1,000 ft, for an altitude of 9,430 ft at the saddle. I noticed some of the lowlanders(think Ohio at 600 ft above sea level) were sucking a little air, and that was at the parking lot!!! It was interesting to note the different types of hikers we had. There were those that were primarily interested in fashion and how they looked, I think Pattie Norgard from Pocatello fit in that group. There were those that were determined to make the rest of us look bad, i think Babe with his 60 lb pack and cameos fit into this group. (although those apples and candy bars along with the ducth oven potatoes and the fresh peeled shrimp and the sparkling apple juice were a nice touch.) Then there were the cross country runners.....I'm not even going there, although Jeff Horsely is a horse, he carried the steel box up the last 500 ft straight up with out so much as breaking a sweat. And then there were those of us who were just hoping our hearts legs an knees would hold out along with our emotions. We were a diverse group as someone commented and we considered it a tribute to Stove Bob, Scott and Robert that they could bring such a group together. I got to the trail head early, Pam wanted to hike in by herself so I took her up the trail about a mile to a junction with the box we had made as a memorial and hiked back to the trail head for the rest of the group that were meeting at 7. On the way up and back the dew from the plants along the trail had soaked me up to my waist. I was surprised to see the look on some faces when they saw me thinking they were going to have to cross a stream waist deep and how cold it was going to be.
One of the reasons for the hike was to take a box up to the slide area
and leave it for others and for future visits from Friends and family.
I think twelve different people helped carry the box up to the top.
The hike in was good It took a little bush sacking in places but
whoever was leading did a good job. For the most part the group stayed pretty close together. We stopped at the 3mile mark and had a bit of a snack. As we neared the top we came around a corner and I saw both Sues standing and looking, it was their first look at where the slide had happened. It was a somber moment for all. We could still see the snow field from the slide. As we got closer both Sues went in the last
little bit alone so they could spend some time with their thoughts and
their husbands uninterrupted. The area was beautiful it was so green. After a little while the children and then the rest of us went in. My hood which had been torn off was still on the the snow along with some other parts. The week before I Had found both Scott and Bobs goggles on the snow. From the snow field up to the saddle it was almost a thousand feet and about a half mile. It was a challenge to climb that last Little bit but up on top it was a spectacular view. We staked the box down and read some letters followed by a prayer. As we contemplated on the area it was easy to feel a feeling of sacredness and the feeling that we were standing on hollowed ground. In my heart I know those good men were with us. On the way back we split up a little. Some went out the way we had riddin along the ridge tops. They were rewarded with the same view that we had had the day we had riddin in. After we all made it back we were treated to a wonderful meal by Ron and Kathy Hart, Haily Myers and Grandma and Grandpa Clark. Perhaps as some of you I had a difficult time convincing myself to go as the time got closer to go but it was a good thing for me and I hope for everyone else who went. I have been amazed and overwhelmed at times by the love and kindness that has been shown to both Sues. I am grateful that I can associate with good people such as you.
Wade