Things look easy on paper.

On paper, it’s not that much trouble to hike 10 or 12 or 14 miles per day up this peak, down that valley, and over that pass. On paper, a 50 pound pack doesn’t seen overly burdensome. No problem.

Well, the paper got rapidly revised as we sluggishly trudged our way up to Windy Peak, the highest point in the Pasayten Wilderness. Our planned 30-mile trek diluted itself down to a picture taking, view enjoying weekend covering 20 miles, if that.

That’s okay.

The wide open spaces were spectacular, but we had to share Horseshoe Basin with hoardes of nasty mosquitos. We had to keep moving, even while eating dinner, to escape their hungry onslaught. The intermittent cold wind helped to keep the bugs down, and the smoke from our campfire also made a difference.

“By the way, are we allowed to have fires up here”, Laurie asked.

“It doesn’t matter, up here we’re above the law”, I replied, being a smart aleck.

Laurie looked at Rob. “Yep”, he said, “the law is at a much lower elevation”.

Laurie just rolled her eyes.

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