April 21
I was about to go stir crazy from waiting out the weather so I decided to walk a few miles of the next section. If the snow piled up I would only have to worry about myself and not Issy. I left camp around 9 with my Wal-Mart walking sticks and my waist pack hoping to get out and back before the predicted noon storm hit. I climbed the first finger of Sawmill Mountain gaining elevation quickly. My climb was interrupted when I spotted the mouth of a tunnel,

one of three I was to pass and later found out they were graphite mines. The first one really pulled me to enter but as I shot a photo I felt like someone just might be home and since I was alone and on foot I thought better of spelunking in case I couldn’t outrun the resident cougar or bear.

Two more tunnels tempted me before the rain turned to sleet then snow and I had to retrace my path and head back to the safety of camp. I was able to get a few photos of the grand valley and mountains before the weather closed in on me.

I was satisfied that I had covered enough of the 7 miles not to have to redo it tomorrow or whenever the weather was obliging enough to allow us to continue.