Pacific Crest Trail - Day 176 - Alpine Lakes Wilderness

Start: Mile 2405.6 - Backcountry campsite
End: Mile 2430.9 - Waptus River

We woke up in a the mist of cloud and some supernatural light coming through the forest.

The pass where we hiked over the ridge yesterday evening.

The morning miles were windy, cloudy, rocky, and very slow going, but were easily some of the prettiest views on the PCT.

Autumn.

Spectacle Lake. Indeed.

This massif is called Four Brothers which had me reflecting on my brothers and the dozens of people adopted by my Mom as a ”fourth brother/sister”. It’s infinitely more powerful to be inclusive than exclusive. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

We caught the very start of a forest fire on a hillside across the valley. As far as we could tell there weren’t any roads or campgrounds over there.

Maybe it was a controlled burn since there was already a helicopter overhead?

It was remote and grew considerably as we traversed the ridge into the evening. It was such a feeling of powerlessness being across the ravine not being able to do anything about a freshly started forest fire - not even able to call it in being without cell service in the wilderness.

:/ not stoked.

The light coming around this corner was 💯.

I’m convinced there is a certain energy you acquire after immersion in wilderness which provides you with opportunities to experience nature on a more meaningful level and proximity than you ever imagined beforehand.

Or maybe we just smell like sweat and the forest.

Go on, little tree! 🌲