Smith Lake, Olympic National Forest
Journal entry September 1998.
I begin this journal with a day hike from our first base camp in the Olympic National forest. Our general objective was to bag a few neighboring small peaks and get the lay of the land.
We're in high country where even a long summer has not melted all the snow yet. It's hot so we stay on the snow fields to keep off insects and stay cool.
Looking North toward Enchanted Valley above, below we cross a very deep snow field that connects a rugged ridge.
The same snow field looking West toward the Pacific ocean.
Here we go bagging an un-named peak. I realized we were stomping through an ancient burned forest and, looking up, snapped this photo.
The view from the top.
Below a conglomeration of rocks that have been sheared off over the years by extreme cold and pressure. Now it's the remnant of an old glacial pool, rimmed with snow.
We take a break. Richie is in his surfer's board shorts.
