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Day 163 - JMT Bear Ridge

Full-on cowboy attire was required for the dense smoke we encountered this morning as we climbed the steep Bear Ridge. We used bandannas to cover our nose and mouth, but had to remove them as we climbed, since we couldn't breath in enough oxygen with them on.  We could taste the smoke.

Bear Ridge went through a quiet, serene forest with some old growth trees.  This one was likely 500 years old.  We struck up a conversation with Bellingham Dude, a smiling gentleman from Bellingham, Washington during a break halfway up the ridge.  He was amused by our (especially Bob's) cowboy look.

Descending the ridge on the other side we found a natural water slide, and smartly deciding to break and slide!  We contemplated using our plastic bag pack liners to increase our speed, but thought better of risking our only rain protection to the rock.  Sliding felt wonderful and so fun, like a kid at a water park, but with the added solace of the outdoors.  

After two hours at the water slide, we packed up and hiked steadily uphill toward Seldon Pass.  We couldn't make the pass this day, but we could cut the distance for tomorrow.  We passed Bellingham Dude along the way, said hello and goodbye, and carried onward and up.  A view of the lovely mountains, cascading in the distance, was seen from a side-trail overlook.

We reached an open meadow named Upper Bear Creek Meadow and decided to stop and camp.  The mountain views were sensational in every direction and the creek flow mild and comforting.  We found a great campsite under dense trees and enjoyed the serene setting without a single human passing by all evening.

We ate dinner while watching the alpenglow descend over the far mountain ridges.  

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  1. David FrankstoneSeptember 22, 2015 at 11:43 AM

    Good timing for the water side photo. How many photos before you got that one?

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