Chief among the benefits of working from home is the elimination of commute time. In the before times, I would have spent an hour and a half walking, riding buses, and driving to get home from the office. Now? I shut the lid on my laptop, lock it away, and BOOM! I'm home. What would you do with an extra hour and half in the evening? Well, duh: Hiking.
We headed north on the Pacific Crest Trail for all of about 100 feet before jumping onto an abandoned trail. Those in the know use this trail to bypass a LONG switchback on the PCT at the expense of some steep, rooty joy. Well worth it. Plus, it allows for a loop as opposed to an out-and-back. AND it goes by a wee little waterfall perfect for a warm afternoon.
Needless to say, we detoured from our detour to the waterfall and had a few moments of quiet contemplation. Or at least as quiet as can be expected when you've got a dingus dog intent on splashing in all the water.
Once our feet had become sufficiently numb, we got back on the trail and eventually rejoined the PCT at just the right spot to work our way through talus fields just right for pika. There were plenty for the seeing and Lilly snagged my camera to take some great shots.
While I was waiting on the successful conclusion of her latest hunt, Tink alerted to something at our feet. A pika? Nice and close? No. But it was a... um... an American stoat! (No, I didn't know what it was either. iNaturalist for the win! The little guy poked his head out and darted away. He'd pop out in another spot and disappear. I got a couple of good shots before we decided to leave him in peace.
The rest of the walk out was as expected. Mostly downhill, long and switchbacky. I'm sure nobo PCT hikers appreciate the slow climb, but when you're ready to head home it's definitely not as direct as we might have liked.
📍On the lands of the Wenatchi people.
