TRIP REPORT – ALASKA BASIN BACKPACK

Thursday, Aug 8 through Sunday, Aug 11

by Randy

After driving 6 hours through parts of our own private Idaho, the intrepid Lambda Hiking Club backpacking group met at the trailhead located at the back of the Grand Tetons.  There were no mosquitoes in sight!  Even though it was an 8-mile grunt walking in with a 2,500 foot elevation gain, the moss laden, fern dripping paradise was in such profusion that it helped us to forget the pain of hauling everything on our backs.  We actually made it to a beautiful hanging valley, moistened with a myriad of crystal mirror lakes.

We found our camp spot, and moved our camp spot, and found another camp spot, and labeled our camp spot so that those who would be joining us could find it.  Thank God for rainbow wind socks!  The Grand Tetons look just as good from behind as they do from in front.  The lake that we camped next to was dotted by two pine covered emerald islands surrounded by water smooth enough to actually reflect the crescent moon and a multitude of Perseid meteors seen every night.

The second day we hiked to Hurricane Pass.  I happened to be the first one to make it to the top and met a part time National Park ranger named Jeremy who, upon seeing my little rainbow necklace, remembered the wind sock, put two and two together, went out on a limb, and asked if I was gay.  I said "yes".  He smiled, and I introduced him to the rest of our members trudging up the trail.  It pays to advertise.

Later that day, we sauntered back to camp through fields of exquisite wild flowers all in bloom only to find God's gift to gay hiking fantasies waiting for us.  Keith was a very enjoyable, sociable, confident individual who happens to live in Jackson Hole.  I hope that we get to see him participate at other functions.

The weather was perfect, the skies were clear, and the hike home was a breeze until we descended Devil's Staircase.  I was not the only one to shout colorful superlatives at that dangerous and obnoxious trail.  My butt has the bruises to prove it!  Aside from that, it was one of the best backpacking trips we have ever been on.  I hope that we will be able to enjoy the company of the gentle reader on one of our upcoming events.

Special thanks go to Ron and Steve for being such wonderful leaders of this event and Wynn, Dave, and Jim for proving that they have a bit of goat in their blood.