Day 8:
Friday, 8/11:
PLAN: Hike down Sperry Trail to car at Lake McDonald Lodge, drive to Spokane, shower and dinner and early to bed since our flight was at 6am
ACTUAL: NOT ANYTHING CLOSE TO THE PLAN
Morning found the view much clearer than the prior night but our hopes were quickly dashed that there was any chance of getting out on the Sperry Trail. I was surprised that not EVERYONE was at breakfast at 7am sharp, but I think most people were there. The manager spoke as everyone ate and confirmed that Sperry trail was closed, but that if people wanted to stay an extra night (to rest or wait out another mean of evac) we could. She also announced that the Naturalist and her family were going to meet and leave from the dining room at 8:30am if you wanted to hike with a group. We were asked to sign out and guess what time we'd be at Logan Pass.
It was while waiting for our food that I stepped out on the porch of the dining room (someone told me you could get cell service there) and decided to look here, at the forum. Toddnick had already posted about the fire and posted the trail status. I was confused for a minute (about Gunsight being closed) but there was a kitchen guy out there and he quickly explained that was just for incoming hikers, which made sense as far as public postings.
During and after breakfast we compared notes with people and got more feedback about the Gunsight trail and even took a photo of a map that someone had (not that you really need one, but it was nice to have). As we were headed back to the room to gather our things, we passed the "Ranger" who said to a few of us "I'm going to give an update at 8am". We all were like "the manager already did, most people are getting ready to hike". We didn't bother to go back to hear his information, thinking there wasn't much he could add. Again, why did he wait until 8am to update guests when breakfast started at 7? (Personally, I would have been happy if they'd moved breakfast back 30 minutes or an hour to give people an earlier start, but no one asked me.)
We were on the trail toward Lake Ellen Wilson by 8am. A few couples were out in front and we never saw them again. It was shady/cloudy between Sperry and Gunsight Pass and we actually stopped near the campground to put our light jackets back on because it was super windy and cool. Two groups (a couple and a family) caught up to us on the climb up gunsight pass and it was actually nice to have some camaraderie. We leapfrogged them back and forth a few more times. The family of 5 (3 teens) had just hiked in the prior day over Gunsight, so they were doing that hike 2 days in a row. We actually like having them ahead of us as the teens did a great job of yelling for bears.
It was about 7 hours of hiking before we emerged on GTTSR. The only time I was down was when we popped out at the parking area NEXT to the Jackson Glacier Overlook and I didn't realize the shuttle stops were just up the road. I thought we'd somehow made a wrong turn and came out in the wrong place. The idea of walking back down that hill and back to the trail was depressing. Some kind folks pointed out it was just up the road.
It's too bad we weren't taking this hike on purpose because we just felt so hurried because we had that drive back to Spokane ahead. It's gorgeous. We can't decide what direction would be "harder". I think having that flat/downhill at the end for us was far easier physically at the end of a long hike, but the uphill at the Pass was hard. Of course, I hated the 1.3 uphill to the road, it was really hot by then and I was just over the whole thing. Anyway, I think hiking out is easier. My DSLR was packed away and I barely took any iphone shots. Again, our mindset was to keep going.
This photo is looking back at the only crossing that made me a little nervous the whole trip (at the bottom before you start hiking up the pass). It was fine, but it was also a healthy fall if you slipped (and how windy it was just made if feel different).
Untitled by
Eileen Francis, on Flickr
Untitled by
Eileen Francis, on Flickr
We never saw the "8:30 group" even when we looked back from climbing the pass. One of the guest/hikers that caught up to us at the shuttle stop said that the couple from Tokyo has been very nervous and ask that they not be left behind. So, I'm guessing the Naturalist group brought along the tail end of hikers. Given the fitness of her family, I really expected them to catch us, but I think they likely went slowly to help everyone. IMO, she was a real hero in the situation.
Right as we got to the shuttle stop, we heard and saw a helicopter go overhead. We joked that it was going to get the remaining guests and we'd just spent the last 7 hours hiking out instead. We have no complaints, we knew we were capable and it was really only a time inconvenience on our part.
I wrote about the long wait for the first shuttle (6 more people emerged from the trail) and the hour at Logan Pass. We were SO impressed with one fellow evacuee who made the hike out on a knee that had been replaced a mere 7 months ago! She was part of the 2 ladies that sent up duffle bags on mules and were told they might not get their bags back until next year! Anyway, we passed the time chatting with our fellow evacuees (G got knee advice from the lady with the replacement!) and were at least off our feet and able to refill water.
I *think* (but could be totally wrong) that the 3 people that stayed behind were a gentleman who'd ridden up on a horse the prior day and a 2 women, one of whom had a bad knee and wanted to wait. From what I've read, they helicoptered the 3 remaining guests that afternoon/evening, so clearly the idea of guests staying over changed.
The Logan shuttle staff knew to expect Sperry evacs but, I'm not sure why they needed to know. The seemed to count us, but the count wouldn't be accurate of anything anyway because a few people had just hiked IN via Gunsight so their cars would be parked there and no need to use the shuttles. Maybe we were cranky folks, but it was a little annoying to wait so long. The chalet mgr said they'd put their "chalet shuttle" in play to help us get back to our cars, but we never saw one and I'm not even sure what a "chalet shuttle" is or does in the normal course of business.
Other people waiting for shuttles asked about us (since the staff was asking for the Sperry evacuees) and were very nice, offering to put kids on laps in order to get more people on the shuttle. They wouldn't allow any child older than 2 on laps. I do think the shuttle driver UP to Logan broke some rules when our group begged, letting people sit on the floor, stand, and older kids to sit on laps.
We made it to our car a little before 6pm and headed out. We didn't stop for hours and finally stopped at a gas station and took baby wipes into the bathroom to finally do a little cleanup! When I got a Big Mac in Coeur d'Alene it was the greatest tasting thing I'd ever had.
We arrived at the Spokane airport Ramada around 10pm (gained an hour) and lo and behold, my glasses were at the desk. WHY they weren't at the desk a week earlier I have no idea. The guy said I left them on the desk when I checked in. Hmmmm. (I have to wonder if someone thought they could use them, they are nice Ray Ban frames that seem WAY looser than when I "lost" them).
Anyway, showers, repacking everything and about 4 hours sleep before heading off to the airport.
Day 9: Flights were on time (early actually) and we were doing laundry by 5pm Raleigh time!