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EastieTrekker 
Group: Members
Posts: 1467
Joined: Mar. 2012
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Posted on: Feb. 19 2013, 3:19 pm |
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So I had the pleasure* of spending the weekend in the shadows of the Presidential's. The Great Gulf is a vast glacial cirque, on the east side of Washington and the Northern Presidential's.
*Pleasure is a bit of an overstatement, but I'll explain that later.
So, Friday night I grabbed my rental backpack and plastic boots from REI (I didn't need the plastic boots, but wanted to try them out). While picking up my bag fairly late, I felt a little rushed by the gal working the rental counter. She asked my "size" for the backpack, and I said that I'm "typically" a small. She said the men's only comes in M or L. Well...I suppose I could have asked for a ladies pack (I would learn later, that I probably should have). Anyway, great...got all my gear, and ready to pack!
The bag that would keep me toasty!
So, after a nice 3.5hr drive, I arrived at the trailhead ready to move by about 9:15AM. We followed the Great Gulf Trail, which is a beautiful and old trail, featuring views of Washington and some of the other Presidential's (when the weather cooperates).
Here is the 1st of 2 fairly long and bouncy suspension bridges.
This bridge crossed the Peabody River (which hike beside for much of the Great Gulf Trail). There were some really weird (interesting? perverted?) ice formations hanging from a few of the snow/ice bridges in the river.
Looking down the Peabody River
The 2nd of the suspension bridges
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I request all the possible consumer protection organizations, and fight with their injustice. 
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EastieTrekker
Group: Members
Posts: 1467
Joined: Mar. 2012
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Posted on: Feb. 19 2013, 3:27 pm |
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So by about 1:30, we had made it to the Clam Rock Tentsite, which we planned to call home for the night.
The namesake, Clam Rock
Tent, sweet tent
So, after setting up camp. We took a few minutes, had some snacks and liquids, and set off for Spaulding Lake. Unfortunately, this is where I began to run into some problems...
It seems as though a very minor twinge I had in my left hip (from walking with more weight on that side, due to an injury on my right foot) was significantly worsened by an improperly sized backpack with 40+ lbs of weight. After about another mile and a half, I had to abandon the group to return to camp. I was just in too much pain...
Then I kinda lost my appetite, and wasn't able to eat much that night. Fortunately, it didn't affect my heat regulation, or maybe I was just prepared with enough warm clothing and sufficiently warm sleeping bag, that I didn't notice any ill effects from not eating enough.
Off to bed, where I didn't catch too many winks either...ugh it was getting rough. But fortunately, when morning came I felt at once energized, more hungry, and in a much better mood (despite not sleeping). We were graced with morning snow showers.
And while the hike out did bother my hip a little, I was still all smiles by the end of the trip.
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I request all the possible consumer protection organizations, and fight with their injustice.
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vinovampire
Winter is Coming
Group: Members
Posts: 637
Joined: Dec. 2007
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Posted on: Feb. 19 2013, 9:11 pm |
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Nice trip report, EastieTrekker. I've camped in the exact same area (right by Clam Rock) during the summer months, so your story brought back good memories. Thanks for sharing!
And good luck finding a better winter backpack. It sounds like the right pack with the right fit would really improve things.
Still, you got some good pictures! 
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hcegermany
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: Feb. 2013
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Posted on: Feb. 20 2013, 7:06 am |
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Very cool trip report EastieTrekker!
I haven't been there before in that area, but Im trying to get there ASAP.
Very good mood pictures also!
Cheers
Pete
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Keep going and never look back
Escorts Germany
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8742
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Feb. 20 2013, 10:45 am |
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Thanks for the report Eastie.
That's a great area. I haven't been there in winter though.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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starwalker
Group: Members
Posts: 1336
Joined: Feb. 2002
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Posted on: Feb. 20 2013, 8:28 pm |
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My wife loves to collect rocks. Now, she'll want me to get that one (hahaha)
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"Straight paths made by man
Are unnatural and full of curses
But a trail is a song."
Louis Oliver (Creek Indian poet)
"Songs on Winding Trails"
in Chasers of the Sun
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| Post Number: 8
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double cabin
Group: Members
Posts: 15405
Joined: Nov. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 10:11 am |
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Thanks Eastie, brings back some memories from boarding school in the late 70s/early 80s North of Boston.
Mount Moosilaukee is probably my favorite place out East. I'll never forget watching a moose walk by above Treeline near Mt. Blue. Don't see that out here.
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We have nothing to fear but an industry of fear...and man skirts.
http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=129511480442251
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tomas
Group: Members
Posts: 2360
Joined: Oct. 2006
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Posted on: Feb. 22 2013, 11:24 am |
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Nice TR. Brought back memories from college and spending lots of time in that area.
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To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
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BradMT
Group: Members
Posts: 3410
Joined: May 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 23 2013, 8:41 am |
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Same here... spent a few days in the Great Gulf in August 1976, and later the peaks above in December/January of 1976/77... one of the great places in the Presidential's for sure.
Thanks for sharing.
PS, what pack gave you such trouble?
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Contentment is natural wealth, luxury is artificial poverty. – Socrates
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hikingFF77
Group: Members
Posts: 5235
Joined: Aug. 2005
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Posted on: Feb. 25 2013, 2:04 pm |
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Awesome.
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“I’m just hanging on while this world keeps spinning and it’s good to know it’s out of my control. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from all this living is that it wouldn’t change a thing if I let go…”
Jimmy Buffett & Martina McGraw
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| Post Number: 13
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BillyHouseClearance
Group: Members
Posts: 1
Joined: Sep. 2011
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Posted on: Feb. 26 2013, 4:59 am |
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Wow! The place is really beautiful.
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Survival Skills 101 • Eat Better
