Fairly late start…long night of sleep. I haven’t been setting my alarm for a while. Giving myself the chance to sleep in a bit later. I usually hear one of the other guys packing up their gear by 6, so I usually don’t sleep much longer. Today was up at 6:30, and on the trail around 7.
Cool weather for most of the day. I had my gloves and hat on till 9, and took them off as the trail started to climb. Should have left them out instead of packing them away as my hands were chilly till about noon.
I walked alone and fairly leisurely for the morning, then caught JJ and Wolfpack at lunch and continued walking with them for the remainder of the day. We saw a lot of day hikers and backpackers out for just a night or two. This area is very beautiful and accessible so I am not surprised.
Could see Mt Adams and Rainier several times today. Most of the afternoon we walked around Lupins and other flowers near meadows and then at the end of the day we were walking along the edge of a canyon that had many wild flowers as well. Dynamite views that I had not expected Washington to have. There is a bit of a Sierra mtn feel to this area. I really like it.
Tonight it is just JJ, Wolfpack and I at camp, the others having pushed further during the day then what our leisurely pace and many stops would allow. We are camped next to an out-cropping of rock and have great views of the mtns surrounding and valley below. Quite cool already, may get into the 30s. In my hammock by 8…should get a good night of sleep.
Daily Distance: 23
Trip Distance: 2,270.2
Questions or thoughts on this article? Please leave them below: