Well the photo feature of this app is giving me trouble. I’ll post ten photos and only two show up or sometimes none at all. Hopefully my post can share enough.

Today, we got up and got moving through the green tunnel after waking up to our gear absolutely soaked. There were actual pools in our tent from the condensation. After packing up, our tent weighed a good two pounds more. To boost my spirits, I drank a Dr. Pepper that I packed out from White Pass.

I learned two new terms today: Vitiman I (ibuprofen), and slowbo (hiking slow, whether you’re going nobo or sobo).

After stopping at lunch and drying off our tents, we started our climb up to Chinoot Pass and met another Frenchmen who started in April, but after tearing his calf, had to take a month off in Bend, Oregon. We came upon Mount Rainier. It was a breathtaking reveal of the mountain. We stopped and soaked in the view for so long that it shortened the mileage we did in total. We’re now camped at Dewey Lake listening to the nearby elk call in the distance. Such a surreal sound.

Polar Express vibes…

We barely slept from all the elk sounds. So loud and constant the whole night. At one point, an elk got very close to our tents but stayed away a bit.

We got moving a bit later and passed by a good bit f day hikers before hitting the parking lot at another pass. Trail magic. And we got vortexes as it’s called when you don’t want to leave a spot.

A guy by the name of Mr. Ed served over five servings of food, beer, soda, hiker box, and even his own songs. He played them over his car speakers that had lyrics very appropriate to hiking. He said to search for his channel: MisterEdVentures Playlist: Thru Hiker Ballads and Trail Songs

It was a shorter day today as well. We stopped after just 15 miles. We did manage to see some mountain goats. For now, we’re set up, cowboy camping near a spring. Big day tomorrow.

Happy trails…