Black Rapids

Hey hey! Leg 1 done, and everybody is alive and reasonably happy! We woke early to more rain and cold, and the ATV track we took all the way from the cabin ~10 miles to the Richardson highway was almost 1/3 underwater, so it wasn't much fun, but we made it. We caught a hitch from Fish Creek right where we came out to Black Rapids Lodge to pick up our food drops. The woman who drove us said August in this area is always crappy, but this is the worst she's seen in the five years she's lived here. However, as soon as we crossed to the north side of the range, the weather got nice, and the forecast calls for two more nice days before 40's and rain returns.

We spent the rest of the day acquiring more gear and food, or trying to salvage existing gear, namely one of the DIY rafts. In the end, two headed to Fairbanks to get something to safely get themselves across the Delta River. One stayed near Black Rapids Lodge, and talked to the owner who just completed much the same trip in the last couple days. Based on that info, I'm much more confident about the route. Crossing the glaciers high like on leg 1 is what they did, there are cabins and hunting camps back there, and even "easy" ways out with long boring ATV trails if our originally intended route proves too high-water.