We were contacted by a returning guest. He is extremely close to completing all of the trails described in the White Mountain Guidebook and wanted a little help to take out some odds and ends during a backpack. On his list was Isolation West, a big chunk of Davis Path, Mt Davis Spur, and Stairs Col Trails. The best way we were able to offer assistance was to help him move his overnight gear and water.
On the job for this cool Portering gig was Redline Guide Debra McCown. On day one she would meet the guest to grab the gear. His plan was to hike up Crawford Path then drop down into the Dry River Cutoff and spend the night at the Wilderness site at the start of Isolation West. Using Dry River Trail Debra hiked in and dropped off his gear first site. Then, as Debra put it: she camped on a pleasant ridge in the forest (more than 200 feet off trail) above the Dry River.
In the morning she re-visited his site to pack up and move his stuff to the Wilderness site atop the top step on Stairs Mountain. She then continued on to Mt Resolution sleeping in the open air atop that mountain, again more than 200 feet off trail. As Debra put it, she fell asleep to a million-stars view of the Milky Way.
In the morning she went back to the Giant Stairs to collect our guest’s belongings and hike them out via Davis Path while out guest tool on Stairs Col Trail to Rocky Branch then road walked Jericho Road back the his awaiting vehicle.
Portering gear and water for a guest on a three-day trek through the Dry River Wilderness was a great time to be outside! The weather was amazing, and the leaves were starting to fall. Meanwhile the guest enjoyed a successful trip and tentsite camping as he nears completion of his project. —Debra
With all this time on her hands she took 14,822 photos. Here are some of them.
