Mt. Adams 8/31

We are presently camped 3.8 miles from the summit of Mt. Adams. I think it is 12,300ft. and so far it has the biggest glacier we have seen. Maybe it is because we are so close to it that it looks so big. We are looking at the Northwest side. This is our 6th day in Washington and we are finally coming  up into the air. We have been buried in green forests for weeks and other than the occasional view we have barely seen the sky. Today we are above 6,000ft. Cascade Locks was 86ft. Being higher is good for FC and TC. They are energized by the rock and cold air. Walking in the forests was like listening to New Age music. It made you feel calm and serene. Walking high up near the summits is energizing and more like listening to Adele. The rhythmic section is strong and dominating. We have heard that Washinton is challenging. We still have 96,000 ft. of climbing to go. It seemed a bit intimidating at first but now we are high again we feel at home and confident that we can rise to this new challenge. FC and TC come alive when they are close to the sky and above treeline. They are rocking out to this familiar atmospheric beat.

   

Burned forest with Mt. Adams peeking through. 

  Today we hiked in the Mt. Adams Wilderness and a lot of it has been recently burned. The blackened bark is peeling off the trees in big sheets. Sometimes the sheets roll over like wall paper and collect at the bottem of the tree leaving the tree naked and exposed to the weather.The bark is strong and bendable. FC could understand how Indians saw so many uses for it; strong, waterproof and flexible. First the bark goes then the wind and sun bleach the remaining wood white. It can still be logged because the wood is still intact and useable. Sometimes the trunks are also burned and what remains is the blackest charred material imaginable that breaks and crumbles when touched, leaving ones hands black with charcoal. 

   

ET in blue hat setting up tripod & recording device. 

    We were interviewed by a young artist(ET)doing the PCT who is also making a video. It will have to do with doing more with less... Like we do out here on the trail. All F C kept talking about was the lavish hotels they were staying at and her new found love of beautiful sheets and bedspreads. In the end both Princess and FC recommended section hiking as opposed to thru hiking. Princess mentioned all the other things you could be doing with 6 months time and FC said walking, only walking for 6 months is a bit crazy. Her upper body is getting a bit bored doing nothing and her legs are fed up with doing the same thing everyday. She can't wait to start climbing just so she can stop walking. Their take was probably new and refreshing for the young man. They did have him doubled over in fits of laughter. FC hopes he wins an academy award for his documentary. She still wants to be discovered.

The last flowers of summer. 

Tortuga eating a boring bag of mashed potatoes and looking a bit like Aunt Jemima in drag.

Mt. Rainier in the distance.