19 July 2004
Big Duck Lake
Erin's dad, Lowell, has a goal: to see every lake in the Marble Mountains and the Russian Wilderness before he dies. That's over 100 lakes! I'm not sure how many lakes he's seen so far. In the few years that I've been included in the annual Mason father-daughter backpacking trip, we've seen Paynes Lake, Taylor Lake, Hancock Lake, and this year, Big Duck Lake. This lake is remarkably clear, delightful to swim in, and situated in a stark white marble cirque. We only had to share it with one other party. The first night, we heard them shouting incoherently. Later, they explained that they were trying to warn us that they had spotted a cougar in the dark.
One of our traditions is to read aloud to each other around the campfire. Here's what we read this year:
- Aram: "Introduction" from The Way of The Scout by Tom Brown, Jr
Even in the United States, there are still men who can live naked and tool-less in the woods and can tell by your footprint whether your stomach is empty or full.
- Lowell: "The Piazza" by Herman Melville
The grass is always greener....
- Me: "The Quarrel" from The Iliad by Homer
It's fun to read epic poetry in the majestic wilderness.
We all agreed that this trip was too short—only a day and a half at the lake itself. Even though my calves are tied in knots from this moderately steep, five-mile hike, I'm eager to do it again. Fortunately, Erin and I have planned another trip for two weeks from now!