...Memory Lane...

[Leeanda]

Bad luck with the cache .but at least it's narrowed down the search 😁 

I've never seen a towel just laying in the open before.. a good place for sunbathing but not in those temps.

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda
Yes...but hopefully that means if I find one up in Blackrock, it ought to be full. 🤭

I suppose I'm roughly half-done with Ash Canyon, the rest is mostly on the "Upper Shelves."  I'll need to think about how I want to start working on the mid and top levels of the region.  I do also need to remember to also revisit the narrow ravine (there is a sort of "upper" foot-trail along the walls I need to cover on the way back down, at some point).

I guess, what I mean is... I'm not sure if it's better to goat back down and hike up to the cave at Long Falls, or if I go from here to High Meadow. 🤔  Both ways provide the same result... so I suppose I'll have to think on it some more.

Of course (as always), other ideas are always welcomed.

Edited November 13, 2023 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

2 minutes ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda
Yes...but I hopefully that means that if I find one up in Blackrock, it ought to be full. 🤭

I suppose I'm roughly half-done with Ash Canyon, the rest is mostly on the "Upper Shelves."  I'll need to think about how I want to start working on the mid and top levels of the region.  I do also need to remember to also revisit the narrow ravine (there is a sort of "upper" foot-trail along the walls I need to cover on the way back down, at some point).

I guess, what I mean is... I'm not sure if it's better to goat back down and hike up to the cave at Long Falls, or if I go from here to High Meadow. 🤔  Both ways provide the same result... so I suppose I'll have to think on it some more.

Of course (as always), other ideas are always welcomed.

Of course it was going to be in the last place you look.lol😁

It's a tight area round the waterfall cave and those wolves are a bit tricky to get past..but whichever route works best for you..and of course what the weather feels like doing.. 

 

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda

🤔I don't want to say that I'm not concerned with the wolves... because of course I am, but I guess I am more concerned with trying to cover the ground somewhat efficiently.  No matter which why I look at it... there seems there is going to be some backtracking, and I don't see a way to avoid that.  So, I guess I'm just trying to think about it strategically.

I think at the moment, I'm favoring running heavy and dropping nearly everything off at the Angler's Den again.  I figure that way I have more room for packing up things I find at Miner's Folley, High Meadow, and Homesteader's Respite (and all the good spots in between).  That way I can also check out what's on the ledge just below this level and right above Angler's Den.  

Though, on the other hand... it might also be worthwhile to keep and really supply this secondary encampment up to Climber's Cave (since its relatively close proximity to the exit leading to Deer Clearing on Timberwolf Mountain).  Making it an easier place to return to in order to pick up things later on. 🤔

I feel like panning is everything on these little adventures of mine.  

Edited November 13, 2023 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

1 minute ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda

🤔I don't want to say that I'm not concerned with the wolves... because of course I am, but I guess I am concerned with trying to cover the ground somewhat efficiently.  No matter which why I look at it... there seems there is going to be some backtracking, and I don't see a way to avoid that.  So, I guess I'm just trying to think about it strategically.

I think at the moment, I'm favoring running heavy and dropping nearly everything off at the Angler's Den again.  I figure that way I have more room for packing up things I find at Miner's Folley, Highmeady, and Homesteader's Respite.  That way I can also check out what's on the ledge just below this level and right above Angler's Den.  

Though, on the other hand... it might also be worthwhile to keep and really supply this secondary encampment up to Climber's Cave (since its relatively close proximity to the exit leading to Deer Clearing on Timberwolf Mountain).  Making it an easier place to return to in order to pick up things later on. 🤔

I feel like panning is everything on these little adventures of mine.  

It does tend to take you round in circles in ash canyon...   

Those wolves and old yogi are what I see as the biggest problem in ash ,as I see it for you on stalker anyway..    that's why I mentioned them...   

I'm probably not the best person to give advice being on pilgrim ,plus I tend to just wing it depending on my mood at the time.

 

[ManicManiac]

1 hour ago, Leeanda said:

I'm probably not the best person to give advice

I'd say you give perfectly good advice. Yours has always been positive presence, and it was while talking with you that I thought to tackle an "early summit" at the beginning of my Silent Fury personal challenge run.

On 6/15/2022 at 12:37 AM, ManicManiac said:

A day seven summit... and after a three-day trek (summiting the morning of the fourth).  It's by no means a record... but I'm proud of it.  My thanks to @Leeanda for suggesting it... it was a harrowing journey, struggled every step, and it was great.

 It was also while talking strategy with you, that I got excited about the idea of proving a Weaponless Stealth run of Bleak Inlet was attainable (chronicled earlier in this very run).

Edited November 13, 2023 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

11 minutes ago, ManicManiac said:

I'd say you give perfectly good advice. Yours has always been positive presence, and it was while talking with you that I thought to tackle an "early summit" at the beginning of my Silent Fury personal challenge run.

 It was also while talking strategy with you, that I got excited about the idea of proving a Weaponless Stealth run of Bleak Inlet was attainable (chronicled earlier in this very run).

Thank you, I appreciate the confidence you have in me..  I seem to have a bit of an issue with navigating ash canyon for some reason,at least the lower part..it puts me off going there which is a shame as it's a good map..

 

I should point out that both of those ideas could be considered as dangerous,if not suicidal lol😁

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda
But in digging deep and rising to the challenge against all odds... I've been able to push the boundaries of what I thought I could do in a run... or what was even possible in the game itself.

Your advice and ideas have always been valued and appreciated.

Edited November 13, 2023 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

8 minutes ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda
But in digging deep and rising to the challenge against all odds... I've been able to push the boundaries of what I thought I could do in a run... or what was even possible in the game itself.

Your advice and ideas have always been valued and appreciated.

Well I had confidence in you and I know you like a challenge,or two..which of course I'm glad you achieved.😊.  

Thank you..likewise😊

[ManicManiac]

After the storm last night, I think I finally made up my mind today's route...

Time to pare down the pack again... maybe just two night's worth of food and water.   I imagine there should be quite a bit to find while out on the day's route, and there will be ropes to contend with.  I'll need all the carrying capacity I can manage.  I spent nearly half the day on the sort and stow (and a little bit of mending).

I'm down to just one carboard match left... but rather than take some of the wooden matches I have here at Angler's Den... I think I'll just keep on going with the one I have on hand.  I figure I'm likely to come across some more.

 

Just above... the ominous reach of the "Wolf's Jaw."

It can be tricky to stealth past the wolves in some spots, but so far, it's always been possible.
[Of course, a couple of rocks in one's pocket just in case... that's just good sense.]

I did double back along the opposite bank, just to see if there was anything of interest... there was not.

Although, there is a shallow recess where one could potentially take cover if needed.

Long Falls...

This cave will lead up to Miner's Folly (and a bear's den... so that worth keeping in mind).

 

Made it to Miner's Folly (have not yet seen hide nor hair of the bear... but I know it's out there).
I hope to prospect through Miner's Folly, Forman's Retreat, High Meadow, Fire Overlook, and Homesteader's Respite tomorrow (or at least get as much of that area covered as the day allows).

[Leeanda]

It's odd how that bear can disappear,there's nowhere for it to go 😁.  It's unsettling 

[ManicManiac]

I decided to only sleep 10 hours in favor of getting an early start on the day.  I want to cover as much ground as I can.  Thanks to the bad weather, I feel like I have time to make up.

Between Miner's Folly and the Forman's Retreat... frankly, I found a lot more than I had expected to.  I was going to have leave behind all the clothing and cooking ingredients (as well as a bot and a skillet) behind for another time.

The weather was beginning to threaten another turn for the worse... I decided to press on for the High Meadow.
 

When I got to High Meadow... that's when the weather decided it was time to change my plans.  I've been gambling pretty hard against the weather lately, but this time I was caught a bit off-guard.
Rather than try get back to the cave... or even risk a push onward to the Fire Overlook, I decided it might be better to get back down to the Climber's Cave.

It seems that Climber's Cave was a little further off from the climb than I had thought... I had to feel my way across the expanse.

It seems I was able to keep my sense of direction and arrived on target at Climber's Cave began form out of the whiteout's blast.  
 

I was able to get my fire going quickly, and just piled on the coal.  
Before I'd even made it down the first rope, I had already started freezing... the warm of a 12-hour coal fed fire was a real treat. 

I guess this will be the rest of my day (and night)...
I will unload as much as possible in the morning and head back up the ropes (in the interest of saving some time) and continue on my route tomorrow. 

Edited November 18, 2023 by ManicManiac
Fixing errors

[ManicManiac]

[Accompaniment:]
Friendships - YouTube

Sun peeking out over the mountains... beautiful clear sky... got to get moving. 

Dropped weight to less than 25kg.  Hopefully the pack won't fill up so quickly today...  

Edited November 19, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

I want to get all the way back over to finish exploring Fire Lookout and Homesteader's Respite today.  In total that will mean at least four climbs total, it's going to be a rough day... but I'm ready.

I had a feeling I might want this for Homesteader's Respite...

First order of business was to deploy the rope and get 5kg back.

...because of course the was a rope here the entire time... oh well.  I can always add it to the rope that's sitting down at Bitter Marsh.

Although it seems we've lost the sunny skies... but the weather's still nice.  Considering I'm my pack's already getting heavy... I may as well make my way down, drop off the rope and take the long way around.  I'll need to drop things off to lighten my pack anyway.  That will likely chew up the rest of the day...

Hmm... somehow, I'd missed this the last time I was here on bitter marsh... not a problem, I'll just pick it up now.  

Always tricky getting back the Angler's Den when I come this way.  

At least this time I'll be able to open that lockbox.

All-in-all, it turned out to be a rather e-fish-ient trip. 😋

I went to bed a bit early... tomorrow, I think I see about getting up to Runaway Bridge.

 

Edited November 19, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ManicManiac]

I tried to get an early start... but the weather is ugly and threatening another blizzard.

I suppose I'll stay indoors for a couple more hours... or the rest of the day... depending on if a blizzard hits or not.

[Leeanda]

Well those blue skies didn't last very long...  pesky rng

[ManicManiac]

Hmm... not great, but at least better.  

Had and rather unfortunate sprain while trying to sneak past the wolves again... so I opted to alternate naps and birch bark tea while having to waste 4 hours letting my ankle recover.  😖

I mean, I'll always welcome another striker. 

This was a larger area up here than I remembered...

Hmm... so if I had brought a rope with me... I could have just slid down and been right next to Climber's Cave.  I'd forgotten about this shortcut.  Oh well, I suppose I'll have to make note of this for later.  I don't think I want to make the trek back down to Bitter Marsh to get a rope.

 

I have found so many flares in this region...  

On the way back down Pillar's Footrest (and the likely night hike from Climber's Cave to the cave near Minor's Folly)... and I just have to take a moment to say that I've been startled by these sort of tree stumps more than a few times coming over a blind hill (they always look like wolf ears for a second... wherein I stop dead in my tracks, crouch, and wait for my heart to resume beating again).

...And an aurora is starting right at moonrise.  More caution, will be called for...

At the very least, this tells me that I can expect good visibility, so perhaps this night hike can get me all the way back to Miner's Folley. 

This was just a stunning view.

Made it up to High Meadow...

Somehow, these bridges are even more terrifying in the middle of the night and while an aurora rages overhead.  

It's nearly midnight... so won't be able to get a full night's sleep unless I want that much less daylight to work with tomorrow.

Edited November 19, 2023 by ManicManiac

[Leeanda]

Very beautiful views😊

[ManicManiac]

@Leeanda
Thank you.

The trip up to Runaway Bridge kind of felt like a waste of a day... but I was glad that I could make up for it with a night hike.

[Leeanda]

1 minute ago, ManicManiac said:

@Leeanda
Thank you.

The trip up to Runaway Bridge kind of felt like a waste of a day... but I was glad that I could make up for it with a night hike.

Certainly worth it for those views....

We all get days where nothing much seems to get done though...   especially in places like pv😁

[ManicManiac]

Only got about 8 hours of rest... but the weather was favorable enough to at least make it over to the Wolf's Jaw Overlook. 

Of course... the first thing I hear when I poke my head outside is that of the local grinch.  
But at least of the bear is here... I can make a beeline for its den with impunity.

It's only marginally less creepy to be in the bears den in the daytime.  

There's the ultimate goal... the old, abandoned gold mine.

I know I got burned last time... but there's no way I'm not hauling this rope along with me; just in case. 🤭

Looks tasty, if I'm being honest... too bad I'm already freezing and need to keep moving.  I've not been picking up sticks... so I don't really have anything to burn right now anyway.  I remember there being shallow cave along this route.  I may have to pick up a few sticks now, if I don't find a place to warm up before getting to Wolf's Jaw.

Getting close now.

I really wish the wind would die down... I suppose I regret forgoing sticks to keep my pack weight under 25kg. 😖

The view from Wolf's Jaw is breathtaking... I decided to just tank the cold, took my one piece of charcoal I had on hand, and spent the time to do some surveying.

 Of course... a warm spot to take shelter was just on the other side of Wolf's Jaw.  

The hit wasn't bad... the birch bark tea that I had when I got hungry (to help tide me over) helped "fortify me" to brace up against the cold.  All told, a good night's sleep and I'll be feeling in top shape again.  For the moment, I just needed to sit a while and warm up.

Final stretch...

Dropped off the few bits of firewood and coal that I'd picked up along the way from Wolf's Jaw... I'm sure Future Me will appreciate it.

Approached the climb and deployed the rope... It only just hit midday.

From the top of Long Falls...

Don't have much need for it... but even the scrap could come in handy.

Finally made it...
I'm already exhausted, but I'll spend the rest of the day here.  I'll gather up what I want to take out with me and look to make the descent tomorrow.

Edited November 19, 2023 by ManicManiac

[ajb1978]

On 11/11/2023 at 9:28 AM, ManicManiac said:

Jeez louise that angle and the lighting makes it look like someone took that wolf out with a hi-ex round. It looks like a basketball-sized chunk of tissue is wholly absent from its lower abdomen.

[ManicManiac]

It took a few hours to prospect my way through the old Gold Mine... 

Considering I came up where with a little less than 25kg in my pack... and currently have a little more than 40... I'll take the added capacity (even if only for the sake of being able to make the descent without needing a second trip carry thing out).   Once I'm clear of the last rope... I think I'll take off the moose hide satchel once and for all in order to compensate.

If I fill my stomach and fully sate my thrust... I think I'll be able to make weight in the morning (assuming I don't pick anything up along the way down).  Push comes to shove... I do have a pair of trail boots, and a couple of other clothing items that I can abandon.

For now, I camp here for the night.

 

[ManicManiac]

16 hours ago, ajb1978 said:

It looks like a basketball-sized chunk of tissue is wholly absent from its lower abdomen.

Yes indeed, that particular ravaged carcass looks like fellow lying next to the campfire fought hard (maybe even ate off the carcass for a few days) before scumming to their wounds. 

[ManicManiac]

Very early morning start... the food and water I ate last night was enough to "make weight" for the rope. 

As long as I don't feel the need to pick up many things along the way... It should be a relatively quick trip back down, and a short hike to Stone Shelf Cave... from there, I'll decided where I want to do my final sort and stow before heading out of Ash Canyon.

I felt obligated to look around before heading down the first rope.

There's an abandoned camp down there... a snow shelter... and something else but I can't quite make out what it is.

On the way down... I spotted a backpack in a place I don't ever remember seeing one.  So of course, I had to stop and open it.  There's was a vest inside. 

Turned out the other thing... was a campfire.

These are always as good as gold.  

Interesting... I don't remember this little cache being here either. 🤔

I'd forgotten there was another vista view... okay, so I'll have to go back again to visit High Meadow one more time before I go.  Duly noted.

...however, now I'm .56kg overweight for the rope.  
I think I'll just put a little water here in the cache container. 🤭  Perhaps "Future Me" will appreciate it one day.

Of course... now there's a sunny day, just as soon as I don't need a fire.  

A quick sort and stow before I move on.  After I found the polaroid... it seems that made up my mind for me.  I'd come to Climber's Cave drop weight, and then get back up to High Meadow for one last survey.  After that, I can focus on how I want to make my exit.

Ugh... one more time making two more climbs. 
Oh well, this the kind of thing I save "Go! Energy" for.  

Made it back up to High Meadow... but of course the sunny weather wasn't going to last.

I got the survey done... even though it was beginning to threaten a blizzard.

Made it back down the final climb... but now there was a decision to make.

Now I could take the easy route... right down the Angler's Den, but instead... I'm going to take a longer and riskier way around.  There is just one more path in the region that I have not walked yet... and I aim to fully explore.  So, I'm headed back there now.

 

Now, for those wondering... This is the path I was referring to.  Thankfully, I can goat down from here and not have to come up by way of Pillar's Footrest again.  However, this does mean that I have to slip by the wolves again at the basin ahead.

Here's the quick way to get down...

And then on down the steep and narrow path.  

Fortune smiles... they are both roaming away from where I want to go.  I have a good chance to slip by if I can move quickly.  Which of course, I can't... as I am crouched.   

I earned a couple of sprains from my risky goating choice... but worth it to avoid a mauling.

And at last, back at the Angler's Den... here I'll rest for the night, pick up my revolver ammunition, and head out tomorrow.

As I approach the front door I'm tempted... perhaps I'll treat myself this evening to all the fish I can eat. 🤭

Edited November 22, 2023 by ManicManiac