Bear grass after a forest fire

Our first day on the trail was a lesson in working together - an essential ingredient of making an expedition work. It was also a wake up call to the heavy loads and camp chores we will soon get used to.

We forded several cold mountain streams working three at a time to break the cold waters in a line. For miles we hiked through land charred from wild fires that raged here years previous. It was so still and eerie. Bright yellow asters and clumps of bear grass helped brighten the blackened forest - already renewing itself.

We set up camp on a rough gravelly sandbar festooned with animal tracks. Bear, moose, and wolf - here be wild things. Soaking my feet in numbing cold water helped with blisters from new boots and then we looked for snags in the forest for bear hangs. Soon the students were helping fix dinner and we sat back to watch the shadows lengthen and the stars come out...