On Tuesday, September 24, twelve hardy hikers, guarded by five intrepid dogs, braved the 1000 foot climb to Bear Lake on the SE side of the Wild Horse Valley. After a 22 km drive along the river we turned up the badly weathered access road to the parking area at the trail head, arriving at 11:15 instead of the expected 10:30. Armed with RMN's walkie-talkies, Fearless Leader and George kept the hikers progressing slowly, slowly up the trail in 3 or 4 clusters, with frequent rest breaks. Every one was at Bear Lake by 1:45, eating lunch, admiring the view and watching Rocke trying to entice Greg's dog in, to retrieve a stick in the icy water. It did not happen. The Western Larch were golden yellow all around us, the fish jumped after insects, the vertically bedded limestone, siltstone and shale attested to the power of nature. Those believing that they were going to take longer to get down started back first, with walking poles and a radio. Others visited the tarn above and/or circled the lake then started down. Fearless Leader caught up with the first group at the junction between the old and new trails, then stayed with them for the rest of the way to the trail head. Everybody was back at the parking lot (trail head) by 3:30 and we all returned to town by 5:00 or so. - Frank (Fearless Leader)
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