AMTL part II: June 12, 2007

We broke camp early and met Joseph at a convenience store in Leavenworth where his family dropped him off. We began the long drive back to Bellingham where were stopped to raid the REI and a grocery store. Mike and I acquired 25 oz beer cans at the Rite-Aid with a not-well-though-out plan to pack them into our next camp. I also emptied a carton of blueberries into a spare Nalgene bottle for to perk up my breakfasts and bought a couple tins of sardines for lunch.

Joseph lectured us on proper packing for a trip and leaving out all non-essentials as I crammed beer, fresh food and that light up frisbee I impulsively bought at REI into my pack. He lifted up Joe's and Mike's backpacks, testing their weight and load distribution while I prayed that he wouldn't lift mine. Thankfully, Joseph left me to my own struggles on the approach hike and we locked up the van and took off.

Joseph stayed back to walk in with Joe who was moving slower, and since I'd been to Harrison camp last year he let me go out front and Mike hiked just a bit behind me. Unfortunately, the major heat wave we'd been having hadn't left Mt Baker's glaciers alone, they were melting up above and letting more water roar down the streams than last year. The first crossing was pretty interesting as we had to work upstream, then fight over a large downed tree right on the lip of the bank. Grabbing vegetation to stay upright I managed to hop across to a large rock and easily traverse the stream. I helped Mike across and pointed out our crossing to Joseph who was waiting for Joe.

The next several crossings were also higher than last year, but we were able to get across in roughly the same spots I'd remembered Joseph and I crossing. We also finally broke out of the trees and were awarded with views of Mt Baker's north side. I pointed out the North Ridge that Joseph and I had climbed last year and the Coleman Headwall route - which we may climb this trip.

Mike and I reached Harrison Camp (also known as Mirkwood or Dagoba) a bit before 5 pm. I found a patch of snow and took buried those beers we'd hiked in to chill off. We'd erected our tents and were starting on dinner when Joseph and Joe arrived. Since we hadn't done much today, Joseph talked about map reading, using a compass and GPS and create trip plans (routes and time estimates) after dinner. Lesson over I looked at Mike and said "Need a drink?". Joseph was surprised when I returned with two ice cold beers.