BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Mountain claims soul/sole

By Sharon Albert Brier, Staff writer | September 25, 2019

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Austin Welch and Mike Mains said goodbye to the Grand Tetons.

The annual adventure that Mike Mains and Austin Welch make had some unexpected challenges on a hike in the Grand Tetons. Trails named Death Canyon and Devil’s Staircase could have included Clouds of Mosquitoes, Dehydration Day and Sole-Separated Shoe. When Mike’s boot toe separated, he was duct tape-ready on their 6.3-mile trek. Soon after rain and sun came and went, a plague of mosquitoes arrived. They were still optimistic until Mike’s boot got soaked by wet plants on a narrow path. The boot sole, now halfway down, left him flip flopping on the ascent, forcing them to return. A swarm of flies and then marble-sized hail followed them with the message, “Get the h… out of the Tetons.” They took the hint.

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