July 4, 2006: Dalton Highway, Mile Post 226
The cabin at Summit Lake, astride the Arctic Divide, is little more than a hollowed-out framed shell. Both windows were missing all their glass. The door, held shut with a rock, was missing its bottom quarter, eaten through by ground squirrels and bears.
I brushed aside some squirrel turds and settled on a plywood bench, exhausted.
The temperature was in the 20s.
I climbed into my sleeping clothes and got a fitful five hours of cold, uncomfortable sleep.
Nearby were two sets of tents. In the morning, I found that one held a trio of geology graduate students sampling lake cores for a climate change study. The other set of tents was filled by ten Boy Scouts, who didn't get up until after I'd left.
Today was sunny with building clouds. I hurried over tussocks to the far side of the pass. Without Jason, it was hard to judge my speed.
Doonerak, the most prominent peak in the area, loomed its menacing north face over my walk.
I cut a corner and tried to stay high, but was forced into brush and sidehilling.
There were no caribou trails, just thin, multi-use trails used by moose, wolf, bear - fresh bear. It made me nervous. In fact, all day I'd been nervous - criss-crossing streams, stumbling over rocks, charging down bear trails - alone. Alone, even the simplest mistake here is potentially serious. A swim, a trapped foot, a bear.
My feet ached deeply.
My infections healed, but a new problem had arisen in Anaktuvuk Pass - one inch splits on the soles of my feet, making them tender. All day, when faced with walking over fat, hard cobble rocks, or soft, slow sidehilling, I chose sidehilling. Until near the end, when I thought about Jason. During our long walks together, when our destination was near and the walking bad, Jason would fire it up and say, "I just want to get this one over with!" So I shook off my self-pitying limp, and fired it up, strided out.
I reached the Dalton Highway just after midnight, some 600 miles and 23 days, 8 hours, since Kivalina.
- Roman Dial
Congratulations, Roman, and to you Jason and Ryan, for an inspiring journey and the accompanying tale. I'm sure the bed waiting back home and your family will be a welcome sight after all those miles. Thanks for letting me tag along here. Can't wait to see the photos and all the stories you all have to tell.
Posted by: Miguel Arboleda | July 06, 2006 at 06:04 AM
Undaunted Courage comes to mind.
Posted by: Larry Keeney | July 06, 2006 at 07:26 AM
Good on ya, Roman! Glad none of the larger 4-footed furries gave you any problems!
Posted by: NAL | July 06, 2006 at 07:39 AM
I've already said it in a previous post but, I just can't thank you guys enough! Thank you for sharing this with us. It has been a real pleasure following along. It has been a rare treat to be included in the planning that went into this, both here and on the BackpackingLight site. I have learned a lot. I also want to offer my congratulations on an inspiring and epic journey, and like Miguel, I can't wait for more. The insights on what worked and what didn't and the lessons learned will be fascinating.
Posted by: Eric Noble | July 06, 2006 at 07:45 AM
Courage
Commitment
Continuity
Congratulations to all three of you.
Wandering Bob
Posted by: | July 06, 2006 at 08:10 AM
Eric Noble put it wonderfully in his post a few hours ago, "...an inspiring and epic journey...". A journey of this length, difficulty and danger started by three and fulfilled by one, documented for all to live and learn through vicariously. I've enjoyed reading along and look forward to the discussions post-recovery. Thank you.
- Mule
Posted by: Mule | July 06, 2006 at 08:13 AM
What an adventure. All three of you have been such an inspiration. Now see to those feet.
Posted by: Gil Aegerter | July 06, 2006 at 10:32 AM
Congradulations Jason, Roman and Ryan What an adventure! I wish I was in shape to make the trip with you but I have to settle for being more of an armchair adventurer these days. Mom and I looked forward to the daily announcements and mom got the Yosemite Park staff to look up the web updates for us when we were in the park. We couldn't stand to miss the wonderful commentaries of Roman. Chalk up another adventure that will leave so many others drooling to walk with you. I am so very proud of you and and all that you have accomplished. Love, Dad.
Posted by: Jack Geck | July 06, 2006 at 07:39 PM
Well done, gentlemen, all three of you. This has been a really wonderful, spirited story to follow and I appreciate you sharing it here.
Posted by: Mark | July 06, 2006 at 08:14 PM
So proud of you. Stories like this keep me out there on the trail.
Posted by: jeff parker | July 12, 2006 at 09:59 AM
Today I read an atricle in the sunday paper regarding this experience and the website. A pr peice that almost came word for word from the web release and I have been glued to the monitor untill I read every word. Thank you.
For more than you realize you have given me. Next adventure , come to cocoa beach and have a margarita.
Posted by: Gary M Borgman | July 16, 2006 at 08:26 AM