Even in the early morning the trudge up to Gothic Basin was hot, steep, and rough. On the way up the only relief came from the cool streams (more than a trickle but not full strength either) and the almost ripe blueberries. Lonesome hiking on the trail - a couple of backpackers and a few day hikers (though there was a lunch time crowd pacing the Monte Cristo Road). The basin, as shown in the picture, is as grand and picturesque as always. The other picture is what one gets when one sticks a camera down a large log whose center has rotted away (leaving a cylinder of bark and a hiding place for young plants). Five and a half hours of sweat to Foggy Lake and back to Barlow Pass. Trail is in the best shape I've seen it (though that's not saying much - it's still rough and ragged). Only a few bugs but they weren't much bother. Hiked all morning without seeing any wildlife - then I returned to my house to find that an owl had moved in under the gables.
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