This was a Thursday night adventure with TNAB so there was none of that well-maintained trail nonsense. Instead, we bailed off the Forest Service trail after a quarter mile and followed an abandoned route that uses a web of intersecting boot paths to climb steeply to a rock pile at the base of an even steeper hill.

Though not the halfway point of the trail, it's where we stop on the way up and down to transition from a forest hike to a trail-free scramble. I put on a helmet and Tink got out her claws for traction. There was no snow left on this south-facing slope so we found steps among the beargrass wherever we could. It was not fast. And just when it felt like we were cresting the ridge we realized it's just a false summit and it's time for the rocks.

I could see a PreNAB hiker that had started early high up on the summit. Larry waved and we doubled our pace for a few steps before I realized that was folly. We had far too far to go to maintain that pace. At least we finally got into some snow to cool us down.

The actual summit is slabby rock, but easy enough to climb to look over the edge into the lake basin below. One day, I'll take the time to learn what crazy geologic forces produced this sharp ridge, but for now I'll pretend it was a giant dinosaur that carved out the lake basin and left the jagged rocks on the edge. (Sounds like it could be real, right?)

We caught a great sunset between lowland clouds and the coming storm and it would seem Tink had learned all about PNW hiking. Except the hike down. This was where the real fun began with loose rocks tumbling down and searching out the trail in the fading light. Finally, she got to crash in the back of the car for the short drive home.

You might think she'd be done with me after this experience. Certainly, there have been humans that have declined to adventure with me after a trip like this, but not Tinkham. After a quiet Friday at home she was raring to go again.

That's my girl.