Steep miles in the boots. Four hours behind the glass. Hands too cold to work.

Sweat on the way in. Cold on the sit.

The hike in is hard work in a boot built for support, and the feet sweat into the socks on every climb. Heels lift and blister. Then you stop, and the sweat goes cold. Wet feet and wet hands lose heat fast, and a long sit turns them numb. Cold, dry air and camp chores crack the knuckles, and the pack-out finishes the legs and back.

Dry feet the night before keep the socks drier on the climb, so they're warmer on the sit. Tape the heels before the first step. Look after the hands every night in camp. Give the back and legs what they need after the pack-out. Central Oregon is deer and elk country, from the high desert to the Cascades.