Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 939 | TRs | Pics Location: The Best Place on Earth
Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:11 pm Tanks - I hope you like it
Once upon a time there were three girls who went hiking, but none of them wanted to write the trip report. So one of them got the great idea to pass the buck to their husband to write it for them.
So I dictated to Davidč the gist of what happened and he was kind enough to produce this report.
From the trailhead at Necklace Valley the girls made really good time on this flattest of trails. Ingunn's dogs were happily running ahead of them but got into a bit of a scrap with some dogs from another group. Things were smoothed over quickly and the girls joined the other party. They figured with seven adults & half dozen kids they wouldn't have to worry about bears. They parted ways just past the shelter and the girls headed up the non-trail portion of the hike.
There was nothing but rocks around Lower Tank Lake however after a bit of searching they found a nice patch of soft heather where they could pitch their tents. After dinner there was a bit of a crisis when Ingunn forgot her dish detergent but luckily Karen had a bar of soap that worked just as well. That evening the skies cleared and sunset was glorious.
Sunrise was not too shabby either.
The plan for the next day was to wander around & explore the area. Ingunn was worried about getting lost so she put flagging tape on just about every available branch. Unfortunately it's all rock up there so the girls started building cairns instead.
Somewhere along the way Tazz got bored and just started tossing the rocks off Otter Ridge instead. Suddenly she let out a scream, which was then followed by two loud blasts. It turns out that there was a snake under one of those rocks, which Tazz mistook for a rattler and quickly dispatched it with her sidearm.
Once back to the lake tazz cracked open her lime green toxic waste looking drink, while Ingunn & Karen went skinny-dipping. Sunset was a bust, so the girls built a big campfire and roasted the hapless reptile.
As the night wore on the booze started to take effect and the details are a little hazy. There are rumours of flatulence being lit and of Tazz's amazing ability to ignite her burps too. Regardless of what went on the night before there apparently was very little conversation on the long hike out.
Joined: 01 Jul 2006 Posts: 4210 | TRs | Pics Location: Out of the pit
Sat Sep 05, 2009 10:36 pm
Scandalous!
-------------- "I've seen them fight in seedy bars in Mexico, and once as a side attraction at a cock fight in Toppenish. I've never seen this behavior in the wild, but maybe because the money just isn't good enough." - Kbatku, Marmot Naturalist
David!! You forgot to mention all the used toilet paper Karen left on the trail.
T(h)anks, girls, for letting me join you on this excellent trip, for teaching me the fine art of boulder hopping and for ignoring the homicidal look in my eyes on the 163-mile hike out on the last day (those evil woodland gnomes had been elongating the trail again ).
I was a little nervous since this was my first backpacking trip without my husband, but it turns out sleeping in a tent is so much better without someone snoring right next to you.
Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 7818 | TRs | Pics Location: as far away from you as i can be...
Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:44 am
Karen and have had some awesome trips together. This one is just another to add to the list of greatness! I am soooo glad tom, tisha and mike grabbed Ed off of Hinman the week before! I would not have had the chance to spend such a great day with two great gals if i had taken off solo to get him.
A few tidbits...
Ingunn, You are a rocking and sweet gal!! you are strong and can haul a pack anywhere. You are a natural on rock. She is very good for a novice folks!!
karen and i wanted to head up to otter ridge. Ingunn was hesitant due to the look of it from afar. peer pressure was on! Really, all we did is reassure her that she would not get hurt (told her some stories of our own early scrambling fears from the past and that we have kids. And in no way put her in any danger and she could turn back anytime she wanted and we would turn back too.) with us and it looks SOOOO much worse from below. When on it she commented on how much easier it was than she imagined. success!! Then we went along the ridge to the east to see if we could follow it back down to the lakes area. Not something one wants to try without experience!! I hit an area that i was not comfy taking the two of them on (very exposed C3-4 with a drop down the yuckiest gully ever! or schwaking over thin air and not seeing what your feet are doing!) so we stopped there. I asked ingunn to come up and join me on a little exposed class 2-3 section. she did AWESOME! You go girl!! So anyways, I hope she didn't think we were pressuring her too much. I knew what she could do and not, and both Karen and I knew what was safe and not. I am happy she came up the ridge and played with us and i think she was too.
this area is so spectacular. the bouldering one can do on the boulder and perfect rock there. I would love to go back some day and just spend a day sending routes up boulders and small cliffs. WOW!!
My pics are no where as good as the gals with those awesome pic taking devices and talent. here is some of my visual documentation of an awesome trip with two great gals!! thanks you two for a relaxing fun trip!!
not in order...
Oh and yeah the last 5 miles not too many words due to the death march out. They move that damn parking lot further away after ya park ya know, cars and all!!
Stunning pictures- Ladies!
When were you up there?
Last Tuesday I was checking out a possible route to the Tanks from Chetwoot Lake.
Seeing those images- I know I'll have to go there for sure.
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David!! You forgot to mention all the used toilet paper Karen left on the trail. 
).
