Glacial Erratics

Pratt Lake Swim

September 20, 2004

As it is incumbent upon Seattle-based couples to visit nature and pose a bit as rugged paragons of health, Sabrina and I drove east and up a bit to visit the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area and take a walk.    (O5B)

Our original plan was to climb to the top of Granite Mountain by way of the Granite Mountain Trail. We chose instead to take the Pratt Lake Trail which shares its start with the other. You see: as we drove to the trailhead the very nearby white fluffy things commonly called clouds in the midwest didn't get any further away. So the combination of hard uphill sweaty slog with what would usually be called rain, if it came from above, tempered our enthusiasm.    (O5C)

Which is just fine because after two and half hours of mostly gentle uphill climbing, through stands of pines and across many waterfalling streams, we got a lovely view of Olallie lake:    (O5D)

http://www.burningchrome.com/~cdent/PrattLakeTrail/ThumbDSCN2755.jpg + ++ T    (O5E)

(More pics at PrattLakeTrailThumb)    (O5F)

We then turned back, making it back down in an hour and a half, complaining of hips (me) and knees (Sabrina). I also seemed to have lost contact with my hands.    (O5G)

It was both hot and cold the entire time. My ultra-modern wicking fibers were hard pressed to keep up.    (O5H)

On the drive back we stopped for food at an International House of Pancakes from an alternate universe. On a scale of 1 to really freaking me out, everybody in there was at least a 3 and most tending more to the apogee.    (O5I)

In the parking lot, after passing through the portal, when we rejoined with our usual universe, we saw a rainbow.    (O5J)

Comments

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On September 20, 2004 01:59 PM Dr. Surly said:

So... was there a midget? 'Cause this would all be in keeping with our rules of cinema if you'd seen a midget.    (O5K)

On a scale of 1 to really freaking me out, everybody in there was at least a 3 and most tending more to the apogee.    (O5L)

God I miss you.    (O5M)

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