August 5, 2019
Started at around 10 a.m. on the Wapiti Lake trail. Passed through meadows of wildflowers. It was sunny and in the mid-70s. Came to the first set of thermals. There were three or four active vents, measured the temperature at some vents at 180 °F. Area was quite dry. At the second thermal area there was a boiling spring near the trail and a spring with a well-established cone in the distance. The closest one was definitely boiling so did not attempt to measure and did not venture into the area for a close-up of more distance spring. The third thermal area had a trickle of water running through it. There were several steaming vents. Did not attempt to take any temperatures.
At Forest Spring there was another boiling and muddy looking spring and the lake was bubbling on the near side, and to a lesser extent a little ways out.
Rest of the hike was through forest and there were many patches where there were a lot of mosquitoes. Quite a few claw marks on trees. The bears seemed to like marking the trees that were marked with trail markers!
Got to 4M2 to around 3pm and set up the bear bag and tent in a hurry because of a thunderstorm coming in. Got camp set up just in time and stayed in the tent until 5:30, then worked on dinner even though it was raining lightly. Had beef stroganoff and shared apple crisp.
Got a fire going with some downed wood we found around camp even though it was damp. Enjoyed the fire for a little while, it seemed to suppress the mosquitos a bit.
Breakfast was eggs at the lodge. Did 24,820 steps, 113 floors, 12.03 miles
Backpacking, Smoke, and Rain My buddy Kristian and I made a second attempt to hike to Fairyland Basin the week of August 16, 2021, and . . .