This site on the Crater Island mud flat was home for one night. The mud was in an almost ideal condition: firm and dry enough to make hiking with a handcart easy, but still moist enough to allow the insertion of tent stakes. Additional dry weather would allow the mud to become bone-dry, creating a surface that is a pleasure to hike on but much too hard for most tent stakes.

While setting up the tent a stiff breeze developed, necessitating the addition of stabilization cords. An hour after I took this picture, the wind direction changed dramatically and I had to move the cords to the other side of the tent. That night, the noise of the flapping tent made sleep difficult. The tent is an REI "Half Dome."

This view is to the north. The "shore line" of Crater Island is about 200 feet (60m) to the left. Joe Tripod held my camera for this campsite photo, not allowing the wind to affect his performance.

I transported this equipment six miles on a home-made hand cart that is out of view. Background information about the handcart appears at the gallery level.