Thought Terrarium

Laying in my tent, sleeping at times, writing for hours, quietly listening to the drops, I waited for the rain to stop falling. Though it's not a bad place to hang out-- the col or of the tent filters the light into a pleasant golden glow-- after 24 hours I was ready to get out. My drinking water was gone, I was ravenously hungry, and my bladder was far, far too full. At a lull in the weather I began preparing myself for a peek out of my den. I unzip p ed the front flap and got socks and long underwear. I put on my rain pants, boo ts and g aiters, a long-sleeved shirt and my hat, even my wet wool gloves. It was time to test out my blistered feet and get a bite to eat. T hen I'd be ready to head up to the pass with a light load, or head b ack down the valley with everything. Of course it was difficult to get out of a warm, comfortable sleeping bag and into the cold wetness, but I looked forward to the continued challenge of this lonely exist ence. Ther e was much to be excite...

Journal Entry: 10 July, 2005 I've been holed up in my tent for the last 14 or 15 hours.... [W] hen I woke up today I discovered that the rain that had just started when I set up my tent had been pouring continuously all night. Little puddles are starting to form in the corners of the tent and drips becoming more common around the edges. I can only hole up for so long, but it seems senseless to go out and get soaked just so I can see a socked in pass.... I've got my barometer out beside me and I check it rather incessantly. It's hanging at a ridiculously low 990 (which must have something to do with the altitude) but I think it has to start rising soon.... Perhaps I can find an alternate route so that I don't have to go back the way I came. [Later.] After lengthy consideration of the maps I don't think that there is any way for me to go but the way I came. At least on the second time through I'll have a better idea of how to avoid the tussocks.