Round Lake Hike

This past weekend, Jeff and I went on our latest adventure. We found a trail head to some lakes on our way up to a security job and decided to give it a shot. This trail head led up to three different lakes, Round, Sand, and Fish Lake. By our calculations, it would be about 3 miles to the first, 5 total. It turned out to be a little more aggressive than we thought, though, for only being 3 miles. It was a 2,000 foot raise in elevation and just about straight uphill and rocky the whole way! But the forest was amazing! And as for the projected 50% + chances of rain... didn't happen. So it was a beautiful weekend to go. We also used this as a chance to sharpen up our wilderness survival skills, taking no matches, limited food, and using only basic supplies in our packs. Overall, it was super ill. At right, this would be my best hardcore "Doc Ivory" pose. Oh yeah. Gnarly.

Afternoon 1! Afternoon 1! Fun for everyone on afternoon 1!
Typical Jeff and Jake pose pre-hike in the aspen grove. As the
old saying goes, “If you look good, you ARE good!” Word.

Morning 2! How 'bout you? Jeff eating food! Morning 2!

This would be the shelter we threw together the first night.

Everything there when we stopped was wet, but we still

managed to start a fire without matches using our flints. It

actually turned out to be a pretty good spot. Dinner: Mac &

Cheese for Jeff, Beef Stew for me. Thank goodness for

JetBoils and Mountain Home meals! Oatmeal for breakfast.

Morning 2! Morning 2! Didn't see a moose on Morning 2!

Another view of our camp at breakfast time just before

heading back on on the trail. And they said it would rain...

Jake Olsen, spokesman for JetBoil.

Jeff Treft*, wilderness man. This outfit can be
yours as well for the mere price of just $11 at
your local DI store, or online at www.di.com.
*Not to be confused with Bear Grylls

Quick group shot on the way up.

Yep, whole trail looked like this: uphill, muddy, and rocky!

Jeff is smiling because this is the only flat part of the hike.

Group log shot over rocky stream.

And this is Round Lake! It was such a
beautiful place to camp and we had the
whole thing to ourselves. We decided to
skip the last climb to the other two lakes
so we could spend the whole day here.
Well worth it for sure! What a view…

Let the shelter construction begin!

Jeff bringing in another log for the shelter.

Starting to take shape...

Success! Living like kings!

A mighty fine campsite if I do say
so myself! And another no-match
fire. This is what it’s all about!

Jeff, at home in the wilderness.

This would be my canoe I whittled for Jeremy.

Morning 3! Look at me! Morning 3!
Look out for the tree! Morning 3! I’d
much rather be… Forever in blue jeans!
Morning 3! Coming back down the
mountain. tB with love. Represent. 4eva.