Day 31. Monday, July 20, 2009. Mileage: 1103 to 1122.6 (19.6 miles)

Breakfast was not oatmeal today! On the rocks of our temporary home on Aloha Lake, we ate almond butter and bagels. The wildflowers this morning were a delight. We saw thru hikers Five Dollar, Waffle, Oz, Whiskey Jet, Strider (like a pack of wild dogs, those boys) on our way up the rocky trail to Dick’s Pass.

We walked quickly to get to Dick’s Lake for a private swim and a sun bath. After eating the perfect lunch (apple, hummus, and cheese and triscuits) on a waterside rock, I absorbed one of my last lake swims on this trip.

Danger and I hiked the last 9.6 miles very fast. We must have passed at least ten tucked away lakes in the morning and early afternoon today; it was all so spectacular.

One lake in particular looked like paradise. Bordered by boulders, this lake dropped off into a small but proud waterfall, which then separated into diverging creeks.

Desolation Wilderness is all that people said it would be, but it could only last so long. The terrain soon turned forested and buggy.

I walked 4.1 miles in an hour to Richardson Lake, which was occupied by several other campers when I arrived.
I am feeling strong physically, like I want to hike for more weeks, but I think mentally I am ready to stop. It feels as though my personal growth is tapering off. I’m not sure what I’m thinking about during the day anymore, and I find myself hiking as fast as possible just to see if I can do it. Danger may be ready to stop hiking too. Her stomach alone seems to be done with trail food.

The pack of wild dogs are trying to catch crawfish in the lake next to my tent.

We’ve decided that tonight is our last night out here.