A Noticeably Better Day

7-27-13

PCT mile 2214 (Blue Lake) - 2227.5 (Mosquito Lake).   13 miles

Elev. 4637 - 3930

Bundled up in our down jackets and zipped into our sleeping bags we slept warm in spite of the breezy night. My back is much better once we get going and warm up. Once again Peggy carried my food bag for me plus we carried less water. We hiked in cool shade this morning and discovered that today was wildflower day!  Hillsides and meadows covered in white fawn lilies all with faces toward the sun. As we came out of the trees and were admiring flowers along the edge of a small lake we met a south bound (SoBo) distance hiker named Toucan who asked about upcoming water availability. Because we both carry maps and were almost finished with this section Peggy gave hers to him.  Mosquitoes were bad so both he & Peggy had headnets on. Later we passed a hillside covered by boulders and strewn with pockets of wildflowers that needed to be photographed!  So we took a break, here's a sample of what we saw.

Fawn Lilies

Red Indian Paintbrush and spent lilies against dark boulders.

Anyone know the name of this one? I can't seem to remember it.

We met day hikers A.J. & Kelly who also asked about water availability, they didn't carry maps- only GPS.  I think hikers should always carry hard copies of maps even with GPS & electronics - it's wise to be safe.   We stopped for lunch and met another distance hiker named Paul. After lunch we kept seeing glimpses of Mt Adams as we descended into the basin and arrived at Mosquito Lake around 4:00.

This is Mt Adams framed by bear grass, we also passed blooming patches of lupine, penstemon, pink salvia, red paintbrush, pearly everlasting & pink heather. 

My dinner was curried red lentil soup & vegetables over rice. The only food we have left after breakfast tomorrow are snacks for lunch but we hope to eat in Trout Lake instead! 

Our last night's camp until resupply at Trout Lake tomorrow!