Two friends reconnect during the COVID-19 pandemic after first meeting 20 years earlier…with nature as much as with themselves…and must one confront the Trail to embrace the Wild?
*Note: This foto-essay has 103 fotos and 13 short videos*
Lake Josephine from the Icicle Creek Trail in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA. We left the PCT to head downhill to the lakeshore.
The magic of this adventure surprised me as I rarely go on overnight backpacking and camping trips. Once one has experienced going out for several days and nights it’s difficult to go back to merely one or two nights out. Such trips can be a lot of work and takes time to prepare for and to clean up afterwards. Edan had invited me to go with him. He’d encouraged me, and chose a fairly easy trip with low mileage as we both felt out of shape. Having had a surprisingly wonderful time overnighting solo on the PCT a month earlier, I agreed. Glad I did. Rediscovered the joy and ease of overnighters. Turned out to be one of my most favorite backpacking trips ever. We had balmy Autumn weather with a burst of Indian summer conditions. The scenery of Washington’s Alpine Lakes Wilderness is magnificent. And two long-time buddies, both divorced with kids all grown up, got to spend some rare time together in a place neither had been to before.
Edan Z and William B, friends for 20 years, pose at the Trailhead. The author’s on foto right holding the camera. Sunday 4 October 2020. We left parking lot on foot at 11:18. Bit of a late start for an overnighter, but not as late as those we encountered later in the dark. All’s well, tho, as such a later start isn’t ideal. Yet we were well-rested from a good night’s sleep. Edan drove, and we were determined to enjoy the journey anyway.
