In which I realize that mountains are more beautiful with clouds and clouds are more beautiful with mountains.
Wednesday June 23rd 2021
If the trail is really like the Tolkien Hero’s quest about that golden round loop, then Kennedy Meadows was The Prancing Pony, and Whitney is like Mordor and Mount Doom.
Then Rae lakes is like walking into Rivendell, or at least what seems to be our best shot at the forest paradise in the west. Waterfalls that grace the rim of finely carved grey white granite with natural painted streaks of color. Lush evergreen pillars stand tall over the shores of turquoise blue waters reflecting the pointed peaks high above into the dotted cloudy sky.
And I realized that going northbound on the pct is more like walking “out” of the painting, rather than “into” the painting, since we come down off the top of the most magnificent high alpine crags and descend down past the bluest and most magical lakes. We often have to turn around in order to see the majestic view we just experienced in person.
It really feels like walking with Bob Ross up here, every happy little bush or shrub singing along to make the whole world chorus together in joy.
Where it is perfectly acceptable to absolutely blast Enya in your headphones (or should be required). You may be expecting the LOTR Enya song but here’s one better to accompany your lakes photo browsing:
I went over the hill and into the 60 Lakes Basin and spent two Nights and a full day in there. After leaving an elaborate treasure hunt, some friends found me for tea and coffee the next morning at my hidden campsite before heading back to trail. It made my spot feel more like returning home at the end of my day of exploring. I got myself a room at the hotel California, and I may never leave...
So I went a little nuts with the photos in 60 Lakes Basin. The clouds came in and brought some rain, so the lighting and reflections were incredible from every angle. Here they are:
I even had time for some watercolors:
And more, eye-popping wildflower colors and glacial lakes:
And the most incredible sunset with orange clouds after the rain subsided:
After exploring so many, I just had to go back for swimming in the sunshine the next morning at my favorite of the lakes:
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