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The next morning was crisp and heavy fog filled the valleys below us like snow. Heart Lake was mirroring the fog and the high mountains in the still morning air. We sat around sipping our morning coffee taking in every sight. I talked to Josha about letting Andrew sleep in her tent, so he wouldn’t have to carry the extra weight. She was glad to do that. Shannon would take the tent that he and Marvin stayed in. Chris would bunk in with Brian. Pat would have his tent and Marvin could move in with me. It was settled.

Brian and Shannon walked back down the trail to refill water bottles and canteens. They came back into camp and told us about “Plan B”. They suggest that they could carry some of our gear. A lighter load would take excess strain off our knees and joints, then see if we could all continue on together and see how we fare. I was in agreement with that plan and asked Marvin what he thought. He said it might work and was willing to try it as far as Goat Ridge, the next mountain range east, about 2 miles distance. We quickly packed our gear and divided the weight. Brian carried my tent and Shannon carried Marvin’s food and some other weight. Thus we began day two of our trip.

Today was supposed to start from Goat Ridge and end up at Elk Pass. Today would be the most strenuous and most scenic day of all. We were already two hours and two miles behind schedule but focused on what we needed to do. In a couple of hours we were on top of Goat Ridge looking down into the next valley towards Snowgrass Flats. We stopped for a snack and photo shoot before proceeding on the descending trail towards Goat Lake.

As we old guys in the rear approached Goat Lake, we noticed the younger “trail burners” were already on the shore dropping their packs and starting to rest. I had my DV Camera out and was filming when we noticed someone was swimming in the lake…..it was Josha! The next thing we knew Brian waded out into the cold water and dove in like he was doing the Fosberry Flop, or something! I did manage to catch it on film before it forever disappeared into the mountains of Goosebumps and shivers.

Goat Lake is normally frozen over this time of the year because of the heavy snowfalls these mountains get during the severe winters. This is the second year I’ve seen the lake thawed out. Like before, the water was the color of a light shade of Army Green. This is apparently caused by the color of the rocks under the water. There was still a lone patch of snow on the opposite bank, indicating the water temperature was still in the 40’s. I yelled out to ask Brian if the water was cold. He replied, “About 20 degrees”! Indeed it was as I dropped my pack, removed my socks and walked out into the freezing liquid of green.

I was not about to take a swim like Brian and Josha but I did like the feel of the cold water on my aching feet. Shannon and Andrew said they couldn’t handle the cold water and choose to remain on the bank. It wasn’t until we were filling our canteens through my water filter that I noticed Shannon taking off his boots to try the water. He said he couldn’t justify coming all this way and not do something out of his comfort zone.

There were no snowfields between Goat Lake and Snowgrass Flats like many years before, and water was not as plentiful along the trail, yet it was enjoyable in its own way. It brought back many memories as we hiked. At Snowgrass Flats we turned and saw the trail marker that identified this end of the Lily Basin Trailhead. Now I will not need to imagine what that trail looks like or where it goes. I will do that one again someday.

After a brief rest, we made our way uphill towards the top of Old Snowy Mountain. We would have a hard climb ahead of us for the next 5 or 6 hours. The trail soon emerged from the last of the trees and connected with the Pacific Crest Trail 2000. Marvin and I stopped and recalled our trip of ’96 with the Boy Scouts. I pointed out the spot where we had made camp that night and where I have camped several times since then. He was glad to be here. He was still doing good and not complaining, although I know he was hurting and being tested. Chris and Shannon’s knees were beginning to hurt. Pat and I had our aches and pains but we were doing much better than we had on previous hikes. Towards the north we could see the saddle of Old Snowy Mountain, where we needed to be before mid afternoon.

Standing beside the weather worn trail marker identifying the Pacific Crest Trail, thoughts of other past hiking adventures to this very spot filled my mind. The area seems to change with each passing hike into these mountains. The wildflowers of every color, type and shape fill this rich volcanic soil as with an artists’ brush. Ever moving, ever changing, every year is different.

Today I notice the area is overly dry and the wildflowers have withered and died, waiting for water that failed to come. The stream beds were dry. This was evidence that last winter was drier than normal and the snowfall was less than what was needed to sustain the meadows through the dry months of July and August.

We began our trek, ever climbing towards Old Snowy. We stopped to rest, more frequently now because we grew weary of today’s workout. We paused near the last grove of weather beaten evergreen trees to answer the call of nature; girls to the left; boys to the right.

As we approached Old Snowy, we caught a view of Goat Lake off to the left in the distance. We were amazed that we had traveled this far in that short amount of time. Our minds retraced our steps from Goat Lake, recalling the bravery of those who chose to take a plunge into its icy waters. I took notice that the long waterfall descending from the overflowing lake into the beautiful valley below was virtually non-existent this year; more evidence of last year’s snowfall.

As we topped the last rise for a view of the Old Snowy saddle, our respite from the grueling uphill, to which we have become so familiar, our eyes came to rest upon an enormous snowfield. So this was the hiding place of our next drink of cold water. This was the place where our sunglasses would come in very handy.

.....to be continued.....