DSC01813 Photo by Bill Bushnell

Mammoth Trip, 2019

September 16

Valentine Lake

The not a single person we were expecting to see was there with his dog. Bill set a very brisk pace up the long, initial climb, and we passed the man and dog couple, but they then matched our pace at a short distance.


Though we were working harder than I really wanted to go, and though the man stopped here and there and moved branches and rocks around in acts of trail maintenance, we were not able to shake him off for a long while. I felt a little bit hounded by the hound. But I wasn't able to keep up with Bill, either.

When we reached the top, rather out of breath, Bill said he thought I was feeling rather energetic, and he wanted to stay just ahead of me. -F.