The Alaska Story - Part 3

In Search of Sugarloaf - continued
From our vantage point high on the ridge, we could see for miles. Dusty pointed out Mt. Dora, which seemed quite distant still. Sugarloaf was practically parallel to Mt. Dora. We'd been hiking for several hours, and because the day was so warm we'd been drinking more water than anticipated.
Dusty began to survey the ridgeline beyond our rest area. The plan was to hike along it to, and then beyond, Sugarloaf Mountain. What the topo maps didn't show clearly was that the ridgeline was bisected by a drainage. Drainages are like streams that carry snow runoff from the mountains. They are very common in Alaska and are typically covered by dense vegetation. They carve deep clefts in the hillsides, which are very steep and difficult to negotiate.
Thus, we came to our first hurdle. Do we make our way down the drainage and try to find a way up the other side? But we're short on water and need to find a water source. The drainage would have water to filter, but would we be able to find a way back up the other side? If we could, how long would it take? We peered down the hillside to the approximate place the drainage emptied into the creek on the valley floor. There was plenty of water there, and we could follow the creek all the way to Sugarloaf. It was a straight shot on level ground, and we'd probably make better time. But hiking in a creek bed is probably the most dangerous place to hike due to the bears. After much discussion and consideration we decided to follow the drainage down to the creek bed and hike as far as we could.
We continued to follow the ridgeline until we were forced down towards the drainage. The hillside that led us down to the oasis-like drainage was covered in loose shale-type rocks. With each step rocks would slide down the hill below us making the hike much more precarious.
All at once we heard a yell and the sound of rocks falling down the hill. We turned to see Mary sliding on her backside all the way down the hill. David was following behind as close as he could without falling himself. When the rest of us finally reached Mary, David was carefully examining her elbow and knee, both bleeding. While she was, fortunately, not seriously injured she was shaken and bleeding. While David tended to Mary's wounds, the rest of us filled our water bottles, took pictures and rested briefly.
When Mary was ready we started our descent to the creek bed. The drainage was full of water and large rocks that were covered in moss. The trees grew so closely together that they created a corridor of lush emerald walls and a leafy canopy. Although we tried to walk along the sides of the drainage and on top of the rocks, this proved very difficult. Soon most of us were tromping through the water with reckless abandon, thinking nothing of wet socks and shoes.
After a steep and steady descent we finally reached the bottom and set foot on the creek bed of Moody Creek. From high above the creek had looked like nothing but a tiny trickle of water. It was not as small as it appeared, however. On either side of it were banks of river rocks or vegetation. The rocks were much easier to walk in than tundra. I felt a second wind, rejuvenation, and my legs began to carry me with a renewed vigor.
Of course we were all concerned about bears. Everyone was much more alert, and on the lookout for anything dangerous. After some time we had hiked as far up the creek as we could. Ahead of us, covering the creek was more dense vegetation that was impassable. Fortunately we had also reached the base, more or less, of Sugarloaf. That meant we could finally stop for the night. After more than eight hours of hiking we were all ready for that.
As I've said before, bear safety is priority one. This extends to the manner in which a camp is set up. Campers are required to use a triangular pattern where sleeping, cooking and food storage are all 100 feet from each other. (I think I remember that right, it couldn't be yards.) So before we set up camp we had to figure out where to sleep, eat and store our food. The spot we ended up in was not ideal. There was a large flat area covered in tundra where we decided to set our tents up. To one side of this area was a mountainside; to the other was the creek. We scouted a spot on the mountainside where we could cook. Because it was covered in round, volcanic rocks it was challenging to hike up and down, but it worked. The food was stored close to the creek.
After we set up camp everyone was ready for food. I had been elected camp chef, because I'm a good cook and I've had a lot of experience as a camp cook. If I remember right I made cheesy black beans and rice with tortillas (wrapped up burrito-style if you prefer). Food almost always tastes better when you're camping. I think Mary even broke out some of her vegetables, now crushed and soggy.
While we were preparing dinner, the first few drops of rain started to fall. None of us were that concerned as Dusty had told us about the occasional summer showers. Soon after we ate, our long day started to catch up with us. Our sleeping bags began calling to us even though it was still light outside. Of course it wouldn't get much darker so we called it a day and climbed into our tents. The rain, now heavier, sang us to sleep with a steady and wordless lullaby.