ITI 2025 Day 9: Carlson Crossing Cabin (374) - North Fork Innoko River Cabin (416.2)

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TL; DR: Slow trails, low motivation, will make the move to more moving at night

Ryan’s ride (all times in AKST):

*Departed @ Carlson Cabin (mislabeled “Collins” Crossing, 374) at 12:30p

*Arrived @ N. Fork Cabin (416.2) at 3:32a

42 degrees and rainy. Yuck.  Ryan relayed the trail was slow, motivation was low, but moose were out and about (yay for a saving grace!).  Temps didn’t drop and the trail didn’t get good until 9-10p, and with a similar forecast for the next day (today), he pushed through the night to get on a sleep during day, ride at night schedule.  He’s got in some beef stew, a few nappies, dried out the gear, and pretty much ready to move on to his resupply drop in 4.5 short miles (more on that tomorrow). 

Enjoy this throwback from his first 1000 on foot, where fellow walker Chris didn't seem too concerned with his impending head-on collision ;-) 

What Say You Ryan?

Day 8: (Keeping in mind we weren’t expecting 42 degrees)....Which would you rather?  And, I got his ranking, so you can put them in order if you’d like (1=most preferred, 4=least preferred)

1. Overflow (4, scary, no)

2. Deep snow (2, a pain but not scary)

3. White-out (3, a pain...and sometimes scary)

4. ***Bone cold (1, I run hot. We good)

Day 9: Audiobook or song you’ve enjoyed most on the trail?

1. Pucking Around (a fun surprise when the book about hockey isn’t really about hockey, but one girl’s unexpected chance at love)

2. “Big Bamboo” (IYKYK, but basically it’s like a story in a song!)

5. “Tennessee Whiskey” (for obvious reasons, but also it’s fun to serenade the trail when it gets good and fast)

6. Into the Wild (Krakauer pens a good adventure and the main character’s pursuit of freedom found in the wild is inspiring)

Comment with your guess and I’ll reveal the answer tomorrow!!