One thing that made this trip to Colorado so memorable was staying with the Betz's at their cabin on Pebble Creek at the base of the Gores.  They invited me out for a slide show the evening that I arrived and I was more than willing to accept the invitation.  On arriving, Bill told me that a guest of honor was none other than Joe Kramarsic, the Gore Range connoisseur and author of Mountaineering in the Gore Range.  The other guests were interesting folk as well; it was great meeting them all.  The slideshow was held in the great outdoors under the full moon.  I included scenes from various trips of mine from all season.

After a great nights sleep at the cabin I decided to head out.  My changed plan was to hike up to Pitkin Lake and over "Might Pass" (as named by Robert Ormes) into the South Slate drainage and climb some of the remote peaks like Peak "Q" and "R".  Bill had the interesting suggestion of hiking out the drainage back to the cabin on Pebble Creek which sounded most intriguing.  What to do.

I was a little worried about acclimating.  I recall breathing really hard when I just hauled my pack around the Betz's cabin.  I never felt bad - just short of breath.  I drove down to the Pitkin Lake trailhead in Vail.  The sun was very bright and intense - typical Colorado - and it was hot.  Upon starting the Pitkin Lake trail, which is initially pretty steep, I felt the altitude.  I was deliberately slow on those first steep steps along the trail.  I was breathing heavy, but feeling fine.  The plan was to keep it that way...well, not the breathing heavy.  Hiking Pitkin trail was very familiar; this was one of my most visited trailheads although I've always left it before the lake for climbs in the environs.  This time, I was going to camp at the lake.  I saw several parties on the way down.  Some commented, "You sure are getting a late start."  It turned out that they didn't realize I was carrying a 3-day overnight pack and not a day pack!  They thought me insane when I said I was going to come out the other side.  "That's all trail-less!", they said.  Yes, I knew that.  I guess I was a little crazy...as you'll see as you read on.  I was starting to realize that I really wanted to try the more ambitious itinerary and hike out to Pebble Creek.

A slow three hours later, I arrived at the lake.  I had the entire place to myself, of course, and I wandered around taking pictures and just checking the area out.  A deer wandered very close to me.  The mosquitoes were out but certainly tolerable.  I had been warned about horrid mosquitoes but decided to just deal with the buzzing rather than the stinky spray.  After a good hot meal and some reading, I turned in.  I fell asleep quickly but awoke several times throughout the night with gasps for air!  Not quite acclimated I suppose.  I slept late, perhaps until 7:30.

On to day 2