DAY 2. THE LOST ONE
The next day I decided to pack up and hike back home. I was not exactly certain what I wanted to do, stay a second night, or hike back out? There were potential thunderstorms on the forecast for this day, and there was nothing else (no other hikes) I could do all day anyway, so I just decided to go home.
I got up very early and packed up my gear quickly. I wanted to be sure to photograph that upper falls in good light. It was only a half mile but still took over 30 minutes. That brush! I barely made it to the upper falls in time. I am calling this one Far Upper Big Granite Creek Falls. It is about 50 ft. high in two tiers. It is perhaps the lost one on this creek amidst the big waterfalls downstream, but it is a very cool and powerful waterfall. Yet another waterfall discovery by yours truly, the waterfall madman.
On that note, I have a comment to make. Other than Russell and Tom 13 years ago, I know of NO OTHER person that has ever been to the upper Big Granite Creek waterfalls. It is an extremely strenuous hike. There are many difficulties and many treacherous spots. I was almost certain no other person has ever been down there. And yet … there is a faint path along the creek, which I spotted occasionally from this far upper falls down to the big waterfalls. It is so faint it is basically non-existent. I assumed it was a bear trail. I was certain it had to be a bear trail. But as you get closer to the big waterfalls, it is more defined. The bears would not go down to these waterfalls (then again, maybe bears like waterfalls too). Seriously, it is obviously a human path down near the falls. This path was not made by two people 14 years ago. So who has been here? When were they there? Why have I not heard that anyone has else has ever been here? It is so faint, I wonder if it was made by people a long time ago, before Russell/Tom were there. It all just seemed very strange.
I made my breakfast at the upper falls, enjoying the moments with my coffee as the sun rose above the mountains to shine down on me and the waterfall. Then it was time to make the long, very difficult, 1900 ft. climb out of the canyon. When I finally got to the top, I could see the storm clouds starting to roll in. I was on an exposed ridge, and a thunderstorm was just behind me. I needed to get down off that ridge quick. Actually, the storm seemed to be going in the other direction. I had a tiny bit of rain fall on me, but nothing to write home about. Then …
My GPS died. To be more specific, my batteries died. I couldn’t believe it. Three sets of batteries should have been MORE than enough to last for 2 days. It wasn’t. Indeed, the last set of batteries only lasted about 3 hours even though they should have been fully charged. How could that have happened? Well, I was not on any trail or road. There was 10 feet of snow on the ground. I was lost … but … not exactly. I had a backup on my iPhone (Gaia GPS). With the Gaia map, I easily figured out which way to proceed and successfully found the way to my vehicle in short order. I have never needed to use it before, but if I did not have this backup, I would have been lost. There were no signs, no trails, no way to determine which way I needed to go. Honestly, I did not load the Gaia map on my phone before this hike, so I believe God was looking out for me here. This is a lesson learned (for me). Always make sure you have a good backup. This is critical for everyone, in my opinion. Remember that guy who got lost at Loch Leven Lakes a couple years ago and almost died? He not only did not have any backup system, he did not have a way to call for help either. Everyone needs to have a reliable navigation system (whatever it is) and a reliable backup. I can easily see (especially after this weekend), how someone can get lost in the wilderness. Even if you always hike on a trail, it is still possible to lose the trail and get turned around, but if there is snow or if you hike off trail, then it is doubly important. There is my two cents.