Apple Watch stats: 9.8 miles RT, 3904 ft elevation gain
The start of this hike is a really pretty, winding up the slope through the forest. I saw Douglas squirrels, a chipmunk, woodpeckers and this really cute brown creeper. I have never been able to get a good picture of one of these little guys until now. They really don't care about gravity at all - hopping around under branches and up and down tree trunks.
There were still a few late coral mushrooms along the slopes.
There is a particularly pretty waterfall along the trail, and it was lined with the most beautiful nodules of ice, clumps of icicles, and frozen water droplets. The beauty of it doesn't show up well in these photos.
Farther up I heard a bird call and a cute gray jay came down into a nearby tree. It hopped closer, and looked at me hopefully. So let's just say I was examining my trail mix with my camera on, when astoundingly it landed on my hand and selected a cashew.
I was already tired from yesterday's hike up to Lake 22, so my thighs were really burning about half way up. It sure was worth the effort though! Once I reached the summit it was a 360 panorama of stunning snow covered peaks as far as the eye could see.
Get out there and enjoy our world!
