Time
for a
Hot Lunch!
A few paces off the trail where the trail comes closest to Middle Velma Lake there is a fine lunch/camping site that you will see sitting alongside one of Velma's beautiful pools.
These pools were created by the decline in lake level late in the season. Early in the thaw these pools will be submerged, then later they will be bays, and at the end of the Summer they become pools isolated from the main body of Middle Velma Lake by the receding water.
The shaded seating around these pools is very relaxing place to have a long break, cook up some food and coffee, rest and re hydrate.
My Daily Hiking Plan calls for two lunches. The first is big snacks, consisting of cheese & crackers and dried fruits and nuts.
The second lunch is the great feast. I pull out the stove and cook up a real meal to restore all the calories I've burned, and chill out the body for at least an hour.
I re hydrate and pump up the water to cover the miles to my next watering hole. |
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Gear Notes
I've got to pull out the necessary gear and food for lunch.
My sleeping pad is first placed by a fine natural rock backrest, to make a very comfortable field chair with a commanding view of the scenery. This will be the center of my gear and food layout: everything will be within reach of this seat.
I fill up my water jug, and pull my external food bag off the pack, pictured above. This contains all the snacks and food I will consume on the trail that day, as well as holding a few day's food supply. I carried an 11 day food supply on this trip.
I pour enough water into my pan to heat for coffee and soup, then set up the water filter in the jug, also within reach, to pump fresh water as necessary.
Notice that I do not filter water at the lake, but use the light plastic jug to bring a load of unfiltered water to my site.
I don't filter water that I am going to boil in camp, which is at least half the water I use. It's a complete waste of time and energy to filter all the water we bring to camp.
The stove comes out, the water goes on, and I sit down with everything I need within reach for a relaxing lunch. |