Date: August 20, 2017
Miles: 2397.8 – 2425.4
“As I walk, As I walk, The universe is walking with me.” – Navajo rain dance ceremony
There’s a wild, ancient spirit in the Washington backcountry. I could feel it radiating from the giant spires rising high out of the valleys from which we climbed, the waterfalls tracing long, cascading paths down their faces, and the alpine lakes dotting the basins. For the first time since I started this journey, I felt absolutely capable of being in the wilderness and completely content to be in this body in this moment and to have my home on my back. That energy came from the powerful surroundings in which I found myself today.
It wasn’t an easy day of hiking, as the terrain went up and down like a roller coaster – it took all of my energy to do 27 miles – but I enjoyed it quietly. We continued through the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and had lunch at Delate Falls, then continued on to camp at the Waptus River with quite a few other people who came out to do some weekend backpacking. I tend to forget what day it is, so it didn’t occur to me that it’s a Sunday and so many people would be out and about.
