In the style of Robert Service ...

On our Chilkoot Trail trip, we were looking through the logbook at Happy Camp (i.e., the campsite after the big long day over the Chilkoot Pass) - we were amused to see the entries commenting on "amazing view", "wonderful weather - +30 C so we went skinny dipping in Crater Lake" and so on, seeing as we were fogged in over the pass with rain and a wind chill likely below freezing. So we were inspired to write this poem to describe *our* trip, and we wrote it in that same logbook (because it was still raining we decided to sleep in that morning, take our time making breakfast and taking down our tents - we didn't leave Happy Camp until 12:30 or 1 pm) :


"There are strange things done in the midnight sun" - no wait, we didn't see the sun, let's start over.

There are strange things seen when you're with Noreen, when you're hiking the Chilkoot Trail;
There is lots of pain in the driving rain when you're determined not to fail.

Four packs were snatched, a plan was hatched, and Anderson saved the day
Three were found, lying around, and we were on our way.

Marcia hiked with a pack she disliked, a Walmart special she had;
Allison sewed by the headlamp glow and made it not so bad.

In the night, Aurora would recite "The Cremation of Sam McGee";
Other hikers were impressed as they sat to rest, at the campground of Canyon City.

It's so wet and cold, Chloe's clothes smell like mold, and no she is not lying;
You'll have no fear, when Emily's orange pants are near, of getting lost and crying.

In the fog, the summit shelter was clogged by hikers seeking respite;
Laura and Jen trailed, but in the end they prevailed, the top was a welcome sight.

So here we sit, about to split, our clothes dripping on the line;
Past Happy Camp we'll still be damp, but we leave you with this rhyme.

(Written by the Victoria Potluck Link and friends on August 25, 2005 - inspired by Robert Service)