09/09/10 Cory Pass

After a minimalist breakfeast (one croissant and one toast, but we don't really care since it was so cheap), we jump on our bike and roll down to the Cory Pass parking. We hide the bikes in the woods, hang the food between two trees and have a second breakfeast before walking the trail.

The trail starts hard. It goes really steep along a ridge. we are surrounded by cliffs so abrupt that Amelie is feeling dizzy.The Pass itself is a cold and stony passage. It remembers us the desolation landscape of the Mordor in the movie "The Lord of the Ring". On the other side of the pass, we can see the massive Brewster mountains. On the way back in the valley, we can see numerous signs of bear activities: eated berries, footprint, scratched bark and obviously huge bear poo. Yes, we are in bear contry! Amelie is scared so she doesn't stop singing and talking loud to chase the animals.

When we arrive at the parking, it is pretty late and we decide to camp in the woods just beside the parking. It will be our first real test sleeping with the bears and the grizzlies. At dark, we pitch the tent. Suddently, we heard a loud noice and see spotlights. Shit! Hope this is not the ranger. We are not supposed to camp here. We wait in silence and immobility for a couple of minutes and then decide to check what is going on. Fiou! This is only a Westfalia doing the same has we do, camping in a restricted parking area.

Cory Pass: 13 km, elevation gain 915 m