Over Glenn Pass
by Stephen R. Sanford

Cedar Grove to Paradise Valley,
A steady climb, we didn't dally

A mother bear - small cubs too,
We'll see more, before we are through.

Wood Creek Bridge, hung on a cable,
The roaring river of Aesop's fable.

Up again to the Lakes' named Rae,
We have to climb another day.

The fish are biting, mosquitoes too,
We'll be their dinner fore the day is through.

Up at six and hike at seven,
With any luck we'll soon taste heaven,
(Doug's Kool-Aid snow cones)

The rocky ledge up to Glenn Pass,
There's lead in my legs, and some in my A_ _.

Switch back down to Charlotte Lake,
Name a body part that doesn't ache!

So many flowers, we took a peek,
Hope there's more along Bubb's Creek.

Looking up, a large rock face,
Gazing down on His amazing grace.

Jim, Steve and Mary Ann,
Will do this again,
whenever we can.

Comments: This poem is the nicest, most unusual remembrance of a back pack trip ever. It was Steve's first ever back pack trip! Same for Rich Spera who just got out of the Army and was proudly wearing his Master Physical Fitness sweatshirt. Rich is a strapping 6' 3" and Rory is 6' 5".

So how did Old Bob and Old Doug beat everyone to the top of Glenn Pass by 20 minutes? Simply - we've been at it a long time and have figured out what to pack and what not to pack. Rich brought a fold up chair and and even a battery powered spritzer! Rory brought jeans that must have weighed 7 pounds, which he never wore once. Their packs probably weighed 65 pounds each. Bob and mine came out in the mid 30 pounds - that was only when starting out - with all the gourmet freeze dried food.

Rich totally grasped the concept on the fifth day out - when he saw me brushing my teeth and asked me about my weird toothbrush. I showed it to him. It was a regular toothbrush that I sawed the end off to save a bit of weight. He said "*#%@#*, and I'm carrying two toothbrushes!"

Copyright©1999-2003, Douglas J. Malewicki, AeroVisions, Inc.