Back home in full colour

Finally I began the 4000 foot drop back down to civilization.

Too Many Cairns. Not enough goats.

It was blissful, and my disappointment and frustration from the goatlessness of it all eventually faded away.

Exploring Snow Lakes

The chipmunks and whiskey jacks mounted a joint attack force and my resistance was futile.

High in the mountains

Though marijuana use is now legal in both Oregon and Washington… this is the high I’m after.

Grizzly Meadows

Somewhere between the upper and lower meadow, one of the most incredible mountain vistas I’ve ever witnessed comes into view. ~Art Bernstein

Berries and Butterflies

I was deep in the forest at this point and had no panoramic views.

Ever so much more than a hike

So often mishaps along the way turn into side stories and discoveries I would have never anticipated.

Columbus Day backpacking – Is that a bag of poo?

Arno hung a thermometer in the tent and when we checked it in the morning, it read 30 degrees. Below freezing inside the tent.

Columbus Day backpacking – Can I burn the map now?

We were the first people to leave the packed down PCT since the snow had fallen. It was about two feet deep at the point where we left the trail. Arno suggests 1 1/2 feet deep. Either way, it’s a lot to break trail through.

Old Snowy Mountain and Goat Lake

Well, on the way we realized we were in Argentina, when we spotted the llamas.