Day 3 of 4 comes to an end. I’d finally reached Mowich Lake in the late afternoon & was prepared to push on to Ipsut Creek. The Park Rangers had closed the eastern half of the park and now much of the northern half. I could backpack the WT further, but then would have to turn around to be evacuated from Mowich Lake. Thus I decided to end my thruhike here. Much self-healing had been achieved, I’d bawled my face sopping wet with tears & sweat, yelled at God, asked Goddess for help, questioned their existence, felt their presence, and, shit, y’know, I was done. Peace & calm grounded me into the shores of the lake. I felt serenity even as the long-awaited rain began to fall. Mt. Rainier National Park, NW Corner, Thursday night of the 7th of September 2017.