forward to Day 3 : back to Day 1 : up to Main Index

Sioux-Hustler Trail 2007 – Day 2

Synopsis: Devil's Cascade to Range Line Lake. 8 miles. Sunday, July 22.

We broke camp early, earlier than Reid and Erin are used to, partly to get a jump on the day and partly to get our tents down before any ranger happened by to bust us for our illegal camping spot.

As soon as we got on-trail, we turned off the better-traveled section into the loop, which is much more rugged and overgrown, so much so that the turn-off is nearly invisible. Mike and Wendy seemed a little concerned about the amount of underbrush — not that we were going to get lost, just that the trail was a little tougher.

Large glacial erratic by the trail.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (239k), large (643k), full size (2406k)

One of the first of many, many deadfall.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (199k), large (515k), full size (1954k)

Looking back along the trail.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (235k), large (661k), full size (2599k)

Mike showed us what blueberries looked like, and for the rest of the trip, there were frequent stops to bend down and pluck delicious treats from the bushes.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
medium (187k), full size (579k)

Beaver sign.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (220k), large (590k), full size (2189k)

More deadfall. This one is pretty representative.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (236k), large (621k), full size (2277k)

Mid-morning, it started to sprinkle rain and sputtered for an hour or so before giving up. We were all so hot and sweaty that it seemed silly to get out the rain gear.

A beaver dam. Many of these were covered in tasty raspberries, but unfortunately they were also some of the places with the worst bugs!

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (136k), large (527k), full size (2278k)

Erin, Wendy, and Mike starting across the dam.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (181k), large (532k), full size (2242k)

Another beaver dam, this one with a fine view.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (601k), large (1742k), full size (6162k)

Climbing up after skirting a bog.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (152k), large (389k), full size (2278k)

At last, rolling into Pageant Lake campsite. We were all pretty tired by the time we arrived here; it’s a long stretch to do before lunch.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (229k), large (638k), full size (2389k)

Lunchtime! Wendy has wisely set up her hammock.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (187k), large (501k), full size (1872k)

Pageant Lake.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (437k), large (1269k), full size (4420k)

After lunch, we packed up and continued on. It was only a couple of miles to Range Line Lake and camp.

Erin’s “Cloud Forest” of moss. Lots of blueberries here.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (238k), large (652k), full size (2415k)

Range Line’s campsite was much nicer than we remembered it: of course, last time it was gray, cold, and very windy, while this time it was sunny and even a little hot.

Erin and Wendy swimming in Range Line Lake. Wendy got a leech.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
medium (127k), large (364k), full size (1467k)

Reid wandered off to explore, trying to find a way to the canoe campsite that he’d spotted last time (and that was still visible, though omitted from the new maps). He failed, turned back by a bog, but later examination of satellite photos showed that he simply didn’t go far enough, that he could have have bypassed the bog if he’d backtracked on the main trail further.