Mountains beyond mountains. Ahead looms the fortress-like cliffs of the Kendall Peak ridge complex. Beyond peeks glacier-covered Mt. Rainier. The truncated, flattened, open cone of Mt. St. Helens is visible just above the horizon line in the center on the far left. 8:53:12. Been moving slow as mud all morning, but feel myself beginning to speed up a tad. Well, for an out of shape, out of condition 61 yro fella, that is. And a former thruhiker to boot!