[Slugman]

I took the wonder pup to Spider Meadows and beyond last weekend (Sun-Tues). Being a Hiking Celebrity, the paparazzi soon found me. While I was "relaxing" (comatose?) at Spider meadows after doing the 5 miles there from the TH in the blistering time of just 4 hours, who should happen by but Bad Dog, with her canine "posse". She heard me call my dog Daisy, and immediately guessed who I was. Then along came CAL, and we had a regular NWHikers social right there in the meadows. Bad Dog's dogs were actually very well-behaved, except for the one who got lost for almost a week on West Cady ridge a couple (?) of years back. But that's another story.... Daisy and I made it to Phelps basin on Sunday, 7 miles and 1,900 vf. I was very tired due to being out of shape, but Phelps basin is so beautiful that the tiredness just melted away. We were all alone, no bugs, just the grandeur of a true alpine cirque basin surrounding us, featuring Dumbbell Mountain. Monday I left my camp at Phelps basin and dayhiked from there. The trudge up to Larch Knob was pretty brutal on my tired legs, what with the sun beating down and reflecting its heat off the rock walls, and the minimal breeze. The switchbacks are very annoying, and the trail is rough and rocky, but it's only 1.5 miles, thankfully. A short rest at the knob and we tackled Spider Glacier. This was better, since the snow reflected light but not heat, and the breeze was downright chilly. It was like standing in the door of a walk-in refrigerator on a hot day. I made that darn glacier taking ten steps then resting, again and again, until eventually we were at the top. Daisy loves snow on a hot day, and she ran around like an idiot, rolling in the snow and having a blast. We took the short side trip to the Phelps basin overlook and got some nice views of Dumbbell Mtn, then made the final steep push to Spider Gap. What a great spot! The views of Lyman lakes, Lyman Glacier, Cloudy pass, etc, are amazing. I had been there before, but it was Daisy's first time, and she just stood head into the breeze and smelled for all she was worth. We hung out up there for a couple of hours, then headed down. Bring gaiters for the descent of the glacier, or your boots will fill with snow a dozen times at least. The glacier that took 2 hours to go up took only 1/2 hour to go down. We arrived back at camp at 7 pm, having seen only one other person all day, a dayhiker who stopped at Larch Knob. Tuesday we lounged at Phelps basin until noon, hiked down to Spider Meadows and took a long lunch, then cruised on out to the TH in 3 leisurely hours. It's been a while since I hiked 3 days in a row, so I was spent by the time we arrived. I have tried to select pictures a bit different than those posted in recent reports, since no matter how cool Lyman Lakes are from Spider gap, the pics tend to be very similar after a while.

More Phelps basin

More Dumbbell

Up the glacier

Snow dog

Dumbbell mtn

Tucker pup

Goodbye Spider gap

Looking down Spider glacier

Phelps basin

Good water Phelps creek

Unknown

Fuzzy

Paintbrush

Daisy

Weird

Yellow

[Slugman]

I did think it was pretty funny that a pic from my hike was posted here more than 24 hours before I got home! Ahh, the magic of the internet coupled with the wonder of digital photography.

[touron]

Nice pictures! I love the More Dumbbell and Goodbye shots. ....as well as the look up Phelps basin.

[bobbi]

slugman: i want your autograph and a photo with me great TR and photos! the weird flower is a thistle (i hope)

[Bad Dog]

Slugman: You were looking pretty comfortable there when I happened upon you. The queue of hiker babes waiting to talk to you was pretty long by the time I left. Joanna

[Gil]

[Hiker Mama]

Nice trip, Slugman!

[joker]

Tucker Pup is a great shot - classic pose of the dog who is tired enough to sleep on rough rock.

[kleet]

Expect to be recognized more often as more folks go the the Post Office.

[Slugman]

[harrymalamute]

you all are just to dang funny. thanks for the belly laugh this morning.

[goats gone wild]

[Slugman]

I merely bask in the reflected glory from my dog.....

[bobbi]

i must get a dog then, slugman! NOT! i have enough basking in my own glory

[sarbar]