Summer Adrift Episode 16: Finale in Cirque of the Towers
Welcome to episode 16, the finale of A Summer Adrift!
Before we get into this final episode, I want to take a moment to thank you all. This series, A Summer Adrift, was the first of hopefully many. We had no idea how this format of video would be received, but we wanted to take the time to record, write, and make something more in-depth than we’ve ever made before as a way to process this turbulent year. At the time that we started putting this series together, we had no idea that it would turn into the biggest creative undertaking each of us had ever been apart of. This is the kind of work that we want to make in the future. It’s fulfilling to be able to go out and live all of this, but it’s something else entirely to reflect on it to make a cohesive storyline out of what this summer has meant to us.
I know this last year has been hard, but we hope that this series has brought you all a little bit of comfort and joy.
This series also feels like we’re getting the opportunity (as hard as it is for us) to say goodbye to Luna one more time. As many of you know, Luna passed away suddenly of cancer on January 6th, 2021. She’s our pride and joy, our brave little toaster, our Luck Cat. This will be the last series that she makes an appearance in, but we’re so thankful we now have this place to come back to visit her. Without Summer Adrift we would have never captured so much of her final year. We couldn’t have ever known what was coming, but it brings a new appreciation to documenting our journey and taking the time to reflect on it. Thank you to each and every one of you for being here so we have a platform to share this story, and hopefully, many more to come.
Sacagawea’s grave site
After Dubois, we headed south towards Lander, WY. On the drive, we saw a sign pointing off in a different direction to the gravesite of Sacagawea. Without hesitation, we followed the signs into the Wind River Reservation where the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Native American tribes currently live. We arrived at a small but vibrant cemetery. All the way in the back was a beautiful statue and gravesite for this remarkable woman. While we were there we learned that there is a good deal of controversy around whether or not she is buried here. I’ve always looked up to Sacagawea as one of the few women in history glorified as an explorer. It was an honor to learn more about her and come to this place that was so special to her.
When we made it to Lander, we sat still for a few days at this creekside spot. We came to this area to stage ourselves for one last backpacking trip as a group. However, the smoke was so thick it was burning our lungs just sitting around camp, it felt unwise to load up with gear and do a strenuous hike under the conditions.
View hiking back into the Wind Rive Range
Suddenly, the wind changed directions for a few days and blew most of the smoke out of the area. After thinking it wouldn’t happen, we had our chance, and without hesitation we took it.
We drove towards the trailhead where we took the evening to pack up. Early the next morning we were on trail headed out for a night in the Winds once again.
Our plan was to do a single overnight because the kitties were back at camp in the rigs. In the future when we come to this area we’d like to spend at least 3-4 days out here. The one overnight was nowhere near enough time. We met a guy on trail that had hiked all the way from Pinedale, where we entered the Winds when we summited Fremont. As soon as he told us where he’d come from Owen and I stole glances at each other and knew without saying a word that we both wanted to do that trip someday.
Our home for the night from the pass
The hike out was a breeze. Having spent so much time hiking and backpacking this summer, we all felt really good on trail. With clean air, we enjoyed each passing mile and the new view that came with it.
Peter exploring right before he slipped and fell in, 35mm
Owen filling up water for dinner
The last stretch of trail was windy as we came over the pass. When we dropped into the basin where we planned to spend the night the wind calmed and we found a lovely spot near a creek to set up camp.
Once camp was organized and our tents were assembled, we ventured out to explore further into the basin. We found a picturesque waterfall and eventually made it to a glacial blue lake.
MAK taking a dip in the alpine lake, 35mm by Aimee
Naturally, when you find a lake that is this color you have to get in. Well, that’s our rule anyways. After the hike in we were all sweaty and felt that taking a dip would be a nice way to cool off and get a better night’s sleep by getting the sweat off of us. (there is no worse feeling than being sticky in a sleeping bag. Period.)
We all took turns diving into the refreshingly chilly water. Aimee didn’t have any shorts to get in the water with, so I let her borrow mine. While I was watching her dive in, I was wrapped in a towel when a strong breeze rolled in. The towel came off of me and some poor innocent bystanders saw my butt. It was funny and everyone had a good laugh! At least I hope they were laughing…
View from our camp spot
We made our way back to camp all hungry from the long day on trail. Once we arrived we immediately got dinner underway.
MAK working on dinner
Aimee working on her dinner, 35mm
Sunset on the mountains
These peaks are why we came all the way out here. We wanted to see the way the light moved across them as day faded to night and then again in the morning as the new light of day rejoined us from the other end of the basin.
Up early, it was clear that summer was starting to retreat from this area. The morning brought a bite to the air that kept us in our sleeping bag for hours until the light finally made its way to our campsite.
Backcountry snuggle puddle
It was a fun morning, and as is common with this group, there was a lot of goofing around camp. Even now, it’s hard to believe this was our second to last morning together. We’d all started to develop such a tight bond that it felt as if our time together would never come to an end.
Chase, doing whatever he’s doing, 35mm
Aimee enjoying the view, 35mm
As we started to warm up enough to come out of our sleeping bags, we broke down camp to begin the return journey to the trail head.
Owen and Chase looking over the map
Shruthi enjoying the view
Chase and Owen twinning, 35mm
The hike out was fun, easy and full of incredible views.
When we made it back out to camp (where we’d left our rigs) we all grabbed a beer and walked out to the nearby stream to soak our soar feet. Later that night I made a massive family dinner of fried rice, courtesy of spam my Dad had slipped into our last care package.
We sat together well into the night enjoying each other’s company and reminiscing on all that we’d accomplished despite the weird year.
Our last supper
Enjoying a beer by camp
The following morning, Chase and Aimee were the first to leave, followed by Peter and Shruthi. It’s crazy to think that not that long ago, we’d never met these people. They were just strangers that we admired from afar on the internet. Now, having spent the entire summer together navigating one of the most challenging years of our lives we were coming out on the other side as a family.
The gang
Together, we can weather any storm.
Finally, reunited with Karissa & Linhbergh
Even though Karissa and Linhbergh were not with us for a good deal of the summer, they were always in our hearts. At the end of 2020, Chase, Aimee, Owen, and I decided it best to not go home to family for the holidays due to the high number of COVID cases and having family in the at-risk community. Karissa and Linh took us all in for Christmas and New Years’ where we were later joined by Peter & Shruthi. It was amazing to have the family together again. <3
Again, thank you all for being here for us. We hope you’ve enjoyed this series and we hope to bring another one to life this year documenting our journey in Alaska! (Finally) See you soon!
Love, MAK
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Our work life is powered by Battle Born! They make the best lithium batteries on the market and are a crucial part of our power and solar system that makes working from the road possible! It took an incredible amount of power to create Summer Adrift, and we have Battle Born to thank for making it possible.
We’ve now been living our of our flat-bed Four Wheel Camper for 2 years now. FWC builds comfortable and durable campers that can fit on any truck. We can confidently say that a FWC is the most comfortable and livable rig we’ve had in all of our years on the road!
Maps are your best friend when you’re on the road. On X makes it easy to find open routes and trails near you no matter where we are or the time of year. On X allows us to access saved maps to locate ourselves in the wild. The GPS works perfectly offline, even when service is nonexistent.
MAK’s favorite underwear (or shall I say innerwear) company anywhere! After a long search to find, comfortable, technical and sustainable underwear the search is finally over! Made of ethically sourced Marino Wool, Branwyn underwear are ready for anything you could through at them. Use code BFN15 for 15% off your next order!
Main Line Overland is the shop that built our incredible rig, Roxanne. They are incredibly knowledgable of everything overlanding. We chose to work with them because they build thoughtful, reliable and durable vehicles that can get you to anywhere you ant to be!
Tires can be some of the best insurance when you are out in remote places. We love and trust our Toyo ATIII’s to get us in and get us out safely no matter the terrain. They’re amazing in mud, moon dust, loose rocks, slick rock, you name it!
