Scott’s offer to pull the Burley had been followed with his following slowly behind me on Saturday. Both Doug and Scott were looking out for me and I appreciated it.

Scott put this event together and it takes more than a little bit of planning. Despite his touring experience, Steve had never been self-supported without a hotel and restaurant nearby. Doug and Scott had discussed the route as they have done with many other adventures hiking, rafting, and biking. Jen and Scott are both certified Adventure Cycling leaders with first aide cards and Jen is a first responder. Neither Steve nor I could cook well enough to take a turn. The other three handled that chore with aplomb, purchasing provisions and providing all the gear, pans, pot, filters necessary. Steve and I pitched in with the clean up, but clearly we were following directions.

Impressively, Scott not only had a detailed map but a GPS. He referred constantly to both and seem to actually have visualized in three dimensions where we’d go. Yes, I understand how to read isobar lines on a map. It was more like Scott was seeing the hills rather than reading isobars. And Steve provided an even more complex and detailed map from the survival officer at his guard unit. Steve, Scott and Doug often consulted all three sources. The GPS actually offered place names not on the maps. I felt very comfortable knowing these guys knew where we were even if I didn’t.

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