Easy Rain, Day 6

Man, I should really decide if I'm counting by full days or partial days or nights camped or what. 

Regardless, today was an easy day. I slept in and read some Dickens before heading out. I climbed to an easy grassy low point on a ridge and contemplated which route to go. There are infinite (too many) options. That's the one thing I like about trails--it's just one dimension and all you have to optimize for is speed. Out here, with no trails, I can do whatever the hell I want. We've already determined that's usually based on seeing as much ground as possible, but it can't seem artificial, it needs to be a nice natural line, and preferably neither too flat and boggy nor, unless the weather's good, which it's not, over 6,000 feet. So, OK do I do a few fewer miles, stay in ANWR, and see new terrain, or cross the Divide again at a pretty spot but then repeat miles I just saw, and technically be outside of ANWR? (I opted for the former.)

I'm terrible at relaxing, people. I wish the bigger loop I had drawn was just a tiny bit shorter and lower. But I packed too much food and some gear I don't need, and the route just seemed too long, and the two extra 6000+ passes (including one at 6800 traversing above a glacier/permanent snowfield) seemed unwise. So here I am with extra time and options on my hands/feet. 

Also, it is raining. Not super hard, but the clouds come in real low, so I can't see very far, which makes walking far less interesting, and less safe, or at least efficient, since I'm always looking both near (for footing) and far (for route planning).

I saw a few nice birds today, but still no big game. One of the birds was sitting on its nest right at waist height in a willow, and the other seemed like a mating pair protecting a nest. All I need is for a wolf or a bear to walk by (not while I'm in my tent, please). Am I too close to the highway? Are they further north (south)? Saw more ice floes today as well, but didn't make sense to walk on them.

Hope the rain stops tomorrow. If not, I may not need to worry about this "extra time on my hands" problem.

All is well, I just tend to overthink when there's infinite options!








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