While hiking the prior day, we began to suspect that the trip we had planned might be too much and that we should not try to complete this large loop. Our priority in the backcountry is always to stay safe and maintain the ability to self-rescue if necessary, especially now on a seldom traveled trail and during a pandemic when the normal resources are unavailable. So, after much discussion and studying the maps, we decided our only option was to retrace our steps from day one and two.
We got an early start because we wanted to climb back over Moraine Ridge and progress toward Avalanche Pass in the shade for as long as possible. We made good time over the Ridge and then during the climb up to the Pass Jeff found a Park Service two-way radio. It must have been lost by a backcountry ranger, so we took it with us. We stopped again at the seep below Avalanche pass to fill up our water bottles and then lunch once again at the top of the pass. We returned to our original campsite at Sphinx Creek in the early afternoon. Time for another ‘bath/swim’ and then dinner. We made fire and discussed our options for the next few days. This would all depend on how we felt after descending the Sphinx.
Journeys with Jeff and Ellen 