We woke up to the sun at 7:15. Mandy and I are not early risers. Last night I had terrible gas, which kept me awake for several hours. Camp food will really mess me up. I packed up my sleeping gear and started hot water for tea/coffee. Today there is a 9ish mile water carry, but we don’t know how long precisely. We think the first two creeks Alder and Pole, are dry. There is also 12 miles of burn scars from the 2017 Mill fire and the 2012 Pole Creek Fire, which burned a combined 50,000 acres of dense forest in the Sisters Wilderness. I’m feeling a little nervous about a full day of burn and sun exposure. Mandy and I drink extra water before leaving camp and each carry 2 liters.
Leaving Matthieu lake, we turn our feet east towards the sun. The first descent was in a mix of burn and live trees. It is a quiet morning and we don’t see anyone on the trail. We begin the first climb of the day – 1000 feet up a ridge of burnt trees. I check my water, and still have 1.5 liters. It’s 11:30 and starting to get warm. Soon, we meet the group of 4 from yesterday, we learn they are from Sacramento. They had camped a couple miles before the Matthieu lake, and did not stop to fill up before heading into the burn. They were unaware that the first 2 streams in we would cross in the burn are dry, making the water carry over 11 miles for them. We wish them well then keep moving. Shortly after, Mandy suggests that we turn around and give them some of our water. I agree. They welcome the extra water. I’m fact, one of the people in the party is completely out of water.
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