This morning started off clear and calm turning the small lake we camped near into a reflecting pond.

We hiked up trail through pine forests occassionally broken up by clearings and meadows.

There were wildflowers coming up and at first glance from a distance, they reminded me of corn sprouting up. (Can you tell we’re from the Midwest?).

Around lunch time we passed near a road and came across three awesome ladies doing trail magic! We sat and chatted for a while cooling off with cold pop and beer and snacking on fruit. Thanks again!

Amy hiked away first while I fixed my pack, so I packed out an extra beer to surprise her with later. To keep it cool in the high temps, I put the can into an old water bottle, packed snow around it, then wrapped it in my sit pad for insulation.

Everytime I passed a snow bank, I added a little more snow as it continued to melt. I also added some pine boughs I found on the ground for shade.

It was a good thing there was snow laying around, Amy had zoomed up trail and I wouldn’t catch her for nearly 10 miles.

The temperatures continued to rise towards the 90s (pretty hot for being over 8,000ft up!)

The trail climbed up and into the Granite Chief Wilderness.

Then it stayed on a dry open ridgeline behind a ski resort mountain for several miles.

I eventually caught up with Amy at a water crossing and delivered the (still) cold beer.

We hiked together the rest of the evening passing some nice lookout points and walking under a ski lift before making camp near Squaw Creek.