Over the past three days the sun has shone until we were happy to dip our dusty legs into a tiny mountain lake, still harboring snowy islands.
The flowers have brightened with each foot of elevation gained, nodding over the trail fresh and perky.
Mirror Lake beckoned to us from the ridge just above our camp at Emerald Park,
providing a quiet afternoon of fly fishing, reading, listening to a John Piper sermon. And a bit of slipping-off-the-log swimming for John. And an opportunity to bushwhack (essential to any enjoyable hiking trip, according to John) as we searched for the route on the way home.
Around a corner on the way to Milham Pass we found a quiet basin, flower-filled and view-lined.
John has spurred us on to new adventures and also kept us laughing.
John has risen early to build our fires, never donning anything warmer than his t-shirt even in the chilly morning air. We have feasted on meals Mom and I dehydrated at home: Teryaki Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Vegetables over Noodles; Beefy Beans and Rice with Salsa, Corn, and Cheese; Cous-Cous with Roasted Vegetables and Smoked Salmon. The apricots have all been picked out of our trail mix. We have documented the days with a slough of photos, Dad, John, and I all snapping shots with our Nikon DSLRs. We have listened to a sermon and discussed it together. We have quoted our current Scripture memory portions to each other on the trail. The moon, a mouse, and a doe have awakened us in the nights with a bright beam, a light scuffle in our hair, a tromp-tromp and a clatter of dishes. We have relished the beauty of the place and the joy of sharing it with each other.
The next morning, we are up early to pack up camp, tramp back down the mountain, and catch the boat. We are happy to have time to jump into the lake, sweat and dust giving way to cool, clean Lake Chelan, before the boat arrives. It is our fourth annual hike together, the four of us, and we hope the tradition continues!
