29 August 1986. Friday is
cold, misty and wet. Typical northwest
weather has arrived. The sky was clear
when we crashed last night so I was surprised to see the morning fog. We break camp in the rain and head out,
hoping that the fog will lift. It does
not. We move out pretty briskly since
it's too cold to stop for very long. The
fog eliminates any views we might otherwise have. We did see some adjacent ridges swathed in
fog but our views are of the misty forest with its towering trees, ethereal in
the the mist. The cold and wet spur us
to move briskly and we reach Lake Susan Jane in less than six hours. We put our ingenuity to work and rig another
shelter for dinner. Today is colder so we are in the tents much earlier tonight.
Facing the end of the
trip is a time of reflection. I am
amazed at the past week, at the places that I have walked to
and through. The Alpine Lakes Wilderness
is wonderfully beautiful and largely unspoiled.
I find it satisfying that I have the skill and willingness to visit this
place and experience it so intimately for an extended time. Comprehending a place like this is impossible
in a day or weekend trip. Even a week is
insufficient but it does allow the opportunity to experience the wilderness'
profound grandeur. This place is life
itself--water, rock and soil nurture and support life. No human hand could ever create this although
human hands could easily destroy it.
Tonight's the night for Long Trip Philosophy.
Hard rain falls. I listen to it pound the tent
while comfortably wrapped in my sleeping bag.
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