1st Day - 7/10/93

Today was the Thirty Miler's first day of hiking. We drove 8 hours up to the Marble Mountains. We started at the trail head with a bear story by ex leader Bob Bourdet. His trip ended early because a very intelligent bear ate his food. We decided to not go to the more populated lake, Lake Campbell, instead we went to the small Log Lake. We started to hike, led by Sierra. Everyone hiked 4 miles in the burning sun with about 40 pounds on our backs. Mr. Ray Waugh says that we did really well, better than the 50 miler people. Megan ran into camp with glee and as soon as we set up camp we went straight to the lake. Of course it was freezing.

Afterwards, we had our first delicious meal, then we bear bagged our food. When it got dark we started our campfire. Emily accidentally threw her hair brush in the fire by accident. We all are having tons of fun. I wonder what tomorrow's day will bring.

2nd Day - 7/11/93

Well, today's breakfast was filled with much excitement. As we were eating, a black bear walked into our camp. Sierra said calmly, "there's a bear, there's a bear". Sam (female leader) shooed it away. We started our beautiful hike shortly after. Not too long after, Emily fell and hurt her already hurt knee. We hope it will be okay to hike tomorrow. We hiked into camp at Summit Lake. The lake was much bigger. The leaders checked the campsite. Then we had a nice lunch. The girls then went swimming, and stayed out on a warm rock. Sierra, Meghan, and some other people caught newts* in the shallow waters. We washed our clothes and our hair and then we were ready to start dinner.

Swimming at Summit Lake (88KB)

But we fished just a little more. Jessica, who fly fished, caught the first trout, but lost it. Mr. Ray Waugh, Mr. Vern Tucker, and Emily also fished. We then started dinner. After we were all cleaned up, we began to bear bag. Once we were sitting at the campfire we noticed a doe deer eating the scraps from dinner.

Summit Lake (210KB)

Summit Lake, seen from the ridge above (103KB)

Today was fun and the lake and hillside is gorgeous.

* newt (n Uut, nyUUt) n.
Any of several small, slender, often brightly
colored salamanders of the genus Triturus
and related genera, living chiefly on land
but becoming aquatic during the breeding
season.

3rd Day - 7/12/93

Today we woke up with a chilly morning, and started breakfast. It took us a while to get started on our hike, but finally we did. Today's hike was mainly uphill. After awhile we got to Gold Spring and filled up our canteens with delicious spring water. We had lunch on the trail. Soon we were into camp. All of us were soon attacked by biting flies. We found our campsite and got ready to relax. The lake water was FREEZING! Though the girls still swam. Some girls skied down the little snow mounds in their water socks. Meghan skied in her bathing suit and got a nasty snow burn. We then cooked dinner. The view of the Marble Valley is breathtaking. I can't believe the view, it is soooo gorgeous. We started to fish. Jessica caught a trout and cleaned it. She will cook it at campfire tomorrow which is our lay-over. I'm glad.

4th Day - 7/13/93

Today was our lay-over day. The people in Troop 253 did the usual on the Milers, swim, wash, and fish. I, myself, caught a trout and so did Jessica. Emily, Megan, and Cindy went up climbing to a rock. It was fun! Then Ray Waugh, Sierra, Meghan, and Sam, climbed up to a high cliff to look over the valley, it was so lovely.

Marble Valley (92KB)

Many girls rested. We had a huge dinner. We didn't eat all of it. Soon after we went to Scout's Own. It was very beautiful. Everyone spoke about their cultures. We came back and fried fish.

Tomorrow will be fun.

5th Day - 7/14/93

This morning we woke up with frost on our bags. This morning was really cold. After breakfast we got ready to go. We traveled cross country to the Pacific Crest Trail. We planned to go to Gate Lake but then with lots of planning we decided to hike to the farther Paradise Lake. We started the 11 mile hike. At 11:30 we stopped at the packer's camp for lunch. Then we had to hike up hill for about 6 miles. At about 2:30 we hit so much snow that we had to use a safety line. After that we hiked a little farther, there we found a huge patch of snow that was very steep. Another safety line. Everyone went and slipped. It was pretty scary. It then started to rain. We then had to spend like one hour on slick snow. This was our DEATH MARCH. When we got out of the snow we had to still hike about 3 miles. We got into camp about 5:45. We set up shelters and started dinner. At campfire we sang songs. Tomorrow's a layover day.

6th Day - 7/15/93

Today was our lay-over day. We planned to swim and fish, but, instead we mainly laid in our sleeping bags. It was sooooo cold! Meghan, Emily, Sierra, and Megan climbed up 1300 ft. for a day hike, up to Kings Castle and had lunch up there. The rest of us relaxed. Then we rested and got ready for dinner. After dinner we decided to stay for another lay-over day.

King's Castle & Paradise Lake (61KB)

7th Day - 7/16/93

Today was our last lay-over day. We woke up and made breakfast. After breakfast we did laundry, washed hair, and sponge bathed. We then took a day hike lead by Vern to see Turk Lake. We came back and had time to do whatever. Jessica and I (Cindy) went fishing. On my first cast I caught a fish. I cleaned her and put it on snow. We prepared for rain and got ready for dinner. Then we had campfire. To think a whole week in the wilderness and it feels like home. I don't want to leave and neither does Ray. This place is so lovely and how can you leave? Tomorrow's our last day.

View of a small lake on the floor of Marble Valley as seen from our perch at Paradise Lake (76KB)

8th Day - 7/17/93

This morning the girls woke up at 6:00 and Ray was STILL asleep. So Megan, Meghan, Emily, and Cindy went to wake him up. We sang the song he sings to wake us up: "Birdie with the yellow bill ..." He said that was the first time in 15 years that has ever happened. Since this is his last year as a Girl Scout Leader, it was very special, like it was meant to be. All of us had our last breakfast. Then we had our group photo and hit the trail. It was 7 miles down hill. After about 5 miles we ran into a lady on a horse telling that 40 pair of cattle are going to come through and that we have to get 100 feet off of the trail. Well everything was practically straight down hill. So our leaders got very upset and said "you want us to put our girl's in danger for a bunch of cows?"

Here are some other quotes from girls and adults:
"This is absurd"
"What a bunch of bull"
"They smell"
"You're going the wrong way"
"Let's write to congress"

and some others. These cattle not only smelled and left scat but they ruined the trails. None of us were very pleased. Soon we got to the trail head and we met Mrs. Daffern and she had an excellent lunch for us. We got the cars and left for PIZZA! We drove to Red Bluff and had pizza at Pizza Hut, it was good! So now the thirty miler is over it is so sad. I had too much fun. You never know what you have until its all gone. Thanks for everything Ray, we'll miss you. Thank you Sam, Vern and Mrs. Daffern too.