Tuesday, Aug 26, 2025
30.6 miles, 5666’/4252′ gain/loss
I was up at 6am and out by 6:30am. I had a long climb into the Mt Zirkel Wilderness for the first 9 miles, all the way up to 12,000′, then lots of PUDs above treeline. The trail was very steep and mostly straight up the mountains; the altitude made the climbing slow going and exhausting. The majority of trees I saw today were dead from mountain pine beetle outbreaks, which was depressing. I did see some deer and one marmot as I hiked through the mountains. I heard pikas but still didn’t get to see them.
Like most days before this one, I was chased by many dark storm clouds. It was windy and cold, without enough sun to dry anything. I couldn’t hold still for long without becoming chilled. The cover photo here was the one time I saw blue skies the entire day. It sprinkled off and on all morning, with full-on rain and thunderstorms in the afternoon, making the trail very soggy with a lot of standing and running water.
I stopped around 7:45pm, after passing up a number of places to set up for the night, just wanting to keep hiking until the rain stopped. It never did, but it slowed down at least. I picked a spot between two trees that was full of roots but was fairly dry. My tent was very wet from last night’s condensation with my sleeping bag damp as well, so it’s a soggy evening. Only the promise of town tomorrow kept me determined and not panicking about the cold temperatures, rain, and wet gear.
Transcending Mountains 