[Cdt-l] Umbrellas in the Basin

[Scott Williams]

We who had umbrellas last July used them for sun and rain and wind across
the Great Basin.  One of the biggest blasts of the summer hit us mid way
across, rain and hail, thunder and lightening and 70 to 80 mile per hour
gusts and a sky as dark as night at 2pm.  It hit fast and as we were in a
hollow, and had higher ground all around, I popped my umbrella as the rain
hit.  It was one of the few times I had to use a hand to hold the umbrella
which I usually just snug down under my chest strap.  I aimed the chute
into the wind and the force of it smashed it up so tight across my face and
upper body that it became like a stiff piece of clothing.  I just looked
down at my feet, as I couldn't see forward, and trudged on until I was
stopped by the sound of panicked whinnies.  I grabbed the edge of the
umbrella and pulled it away from my face and caught a group of terrified
mustangs, rearing in the wind, blond mains flying, illuminated in the
flashes of lightening.  Those magnificent wild horses, hooves clawing the
air, bellowing at the terrific storm, remain one of the most dramatic and
beautiful sights I've ever seen.

Needless to say, I loved my umbrella and used it often from NM to Canada.
 I also carried it on the PCT and used it a lot in the desert and then
again in WA.  I should have sent it home for the central part of the hike,
but who knew.  When you don't need it, you wish you hadn't brought it, but
when you do, it's simply a Godsend.  I used it enough to give it an
unequivocally positive endorsement.

Shroomer


On Wed, May 22, 2013 at 1:25 PM, Tony Mason <tony at greyrock.org> wrote:

> I will be hiking the Basin in WY in July and am debating on bringing an
> umbrella.
> The shade would be nice but I am not sure if it is worth the weight plus
> umbrellas don't like wind.
> Any advice from those who have gone before?
> Tony
>
>
> --
> Robert Anthony Mason MD
> Windsor Family Clinic PC
> 4630 Royal Vista 7
> Windsor, CO 80521
> 970-530-0575
>
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