This was my inaugural attempt at combining running w/ a overnight, figured I might as well throw in a little fishing too! There aren’t too many packs out that are geared for overnighters and running, Montane recently came out w/ their Dragon 20, so I bought one. No need to tell you that your kit has to be pretty dialed in to fit everything into a 20l pack. I recently purchased a MLD eVENT bivy which simplified the shelter situation. A pad (actually two this trip as the temps really fell, it was 27F at 8:00 AM at the trailhead, the lakes I was visiting were between 8-9000′!), down quilt, small cook kit, clothing and a few essentials rounded out the kit, oh and my fishing rod :)
A frosty 27F at the trailhead
climbing, looks like November!
the wind was blowing hard at the pass and they got enough snow it already started forming a small cornice
Sunlight Lake
I caught four nice cutthroat before I started heading down the other side (no cutthroat were hurt in the filming of this movie!)
I should mention that I saw several helicopters, there is a missing hunter from last Sunday- I’m afraid with the turn in the weather there isn’t much of a chance. Looking down the drainage.
Had some really good running down the drainage, the little Montane really carries nicely. Next destination is Moose Lake where I’ll setup camp.
I caught a dandy rainbow in pretty short order and augmented my supper w/ it. That’s my homemade 1 ounce grill.
with a bivy, setting up camp is a breeze :)
that evening I had two bull elk bugling, but I think they were far enough apart I don’t think there was going to be any dueling. I woke up in the night w/ a pretty bright moon and coyotes singing a chorus. I’m guessing the temps fell into the mid to upper 20’s, pushing my 30 degree quilt a bit, but I was pretty cozy-albeit w/ all the clothing I brought on!
a small fire and a cup of coffee is a great way to start out the day
the lake was perfectly still and got this nice reflection shot
had several good running miles before I had to hump it back up to the pass, bumped into these guys on the way
it was great to combine three of my great loves- backpacking, trail running and fishing, life is grand!
