This trip is a lovely little loop. We start on an access trail to the PCT and then follow it a short distance. Where it continues south and drops in elevation, we hop to an unofficial trail that climbs steeply. This is where Tink starts having fun. Not that she wasn't stoked to be out hiking in the first place, but she was on trail as we worked past camp sites and other hikers. Once where nobody else was, she was free!

The views came when we left the trees and climbed the rocky slopes of Tink's namesake peaks. The hard part done, we traversed between its two summits with lakes below us to the north and Tahoma to the south.

The west peak is more frequently visited so Tink was back on leash. Good thing, too, because as we approached the summit there was a friend for her. Well, she considered it a friend. I doubt the marten would have been overly excited to play with Tink. It stuck around just long enough for us to get pictures before it disappeared into the rocks.

We also didn't linger and instead headed down the trail. A quick stretch on the PCT (where Tink pointed out a pika we otherwise would have missed) and the off again for a quick swim.

Since our swim earlier in the month we've decided this is the way. Tink beat us into the water, but we followed quickly. She was still as confused as last time and swam around and around until I was able to give her a place to stand with my knee.

Back to the PCT to the access trail and out. Tons of cars were at the trailhead, but we had seen only a handful of people all day. That was probably the one thing Tink would have liked more. She loves people almost as much as she loves the mountains. Almost.

📍On the lands of the Wenatchi people.