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Journal
| About Downunda | Trail
Facts | Hiking the Trail |
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17th June 2002 From:
Clark's Creek The temperature today was probably around 70 degrees maximum. It was cool in the morning, but sunny. The hiking this morning was fairly easy - smooth trail, most of it along a ridge. In the afternoon, there was a steep climb and rocks just about all the way. My feet were pretty tender by the time I reached the shelter. The trail also had a temporary re-route as one of the road bridges is closed for overhaul. This put another mile onto the afternoon for me. 'Réal' and 'Dan', who was with him at the time, missed one of the signposts and ended up missing a turn and did an extra half-mile. 'Dan' saw a bear this afternoon. This is the first reported sighting I've heard of in two weeks. I had a pleasant surprise this afternoon. Just before I had to begin climbing, I saw "Punxsutawney Phil," a groundhog. He was eating in the grass about eight feet away from me and didn't sense me for quite some time. It was a pleasant surprise for me. I have forgotten to mention also that on a number of occasions recently, I have seen fireflies around my tent. These are small insects that give off brief bursts of light as they flit about. It's a very pretty sight. 'Réal' saw a very large rattlesnake yesterday and 'Dan' saw one today. We can't get over how time is slipping by for all of us. The shelters and towns are passing by so fast that one easily loses track of where you were one-week back. Also, a lot of familiar names appear to be missing from the shelter registers. Have these people dropped off the trail or what? In the shelter tonight are 'Réal' and 'Dan'. 'Dan' is tenting with his dog, Kaiser. Bye for now, and goodnight all.
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