We walked this evening in a crimson glow. The sunset was a beautiful, tiered affair. Middle Sister and South Sister were illuminated, full natural red heads. Scattered treasure chest whisps floated to the west, silver lining turned gold. Black glass, Obsidian, crunched underfoot, flashed reflection at the evening lightshow.
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The terrain was varried and new to us today. Coming around Mt. Washington, we climbed up and over the Belknap Crater, a great time capsule. Three millennia ago, liquid rock flowed down the slopes, finally cooling and cracking, leaving scoured tracks and thick, arid mounds to this day. Walking was tough on the feet throught the lava fields and we encountered more as we crossed Route 242 at McKenzie Pass and entered the Three Sisters Wilderness.
Many hikers are out today. We passed groups and horse riders and solo hikers right on into evening. Had a laugh and a sigh of relief when we successfully followed John's note to find Eliza's poles hidden near the first Hemlock, eight steps uphill, behind boulder pile . . .
At a register left by the road at McKenzie Pass by Meadow Mary (whom we didn't see in the flesh today although Eliza swears she saw her in Sisters yesterday) we read that another couple, Eric and April, had dropped off the trail. Their last log entry was short, scribbled, barely legible. It read: "Off the PCT, mile 1150"
[Eric and April" I wonder what did it. It could have been anything, really. Eliza and I both agree that, ultimately, if you've got other things that you are thinking about, other places that you think you could be, other options or obligations that are occupying your mind, you may be in trouble when push comes to shove. A few rainy days, a bad bout with the bugs, a sore sole or a seepy scab (I apologize, reader) and that's it. They're the second couple we've seen leave the trail in the past 200 miles. Another one bites the dust.]
For us, no mosqitoes around the dry, sterile lava flows today, at least until evening as we set camp here on the sandy flats just SW of Middle Sister's snowy summit.
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I swam naked in North Mathieu Lake. The feet were sore and the water was perfect.
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