Monday, July 12, 2004
Three Tiny Ripe Strawberries
Three Tiny Ripe Strawberries
07/12/04
We hiked through lodgepole pine forests of many different qualities today. The mature forests were the nicest. The logged and thinned areas were the worst. We went through strange thick stands of stunted lodgepole growing close together. None of the trees were more than 15 feet tall.
The mature forest, and some on their way to maturity, had a sea of green below them. I think they are red huckleberries, but I'm not sure. Got to eat three tiny red alpine strawberries today. Yum. I have not mentioned it, but we've seen wild strawberry plants in blossom almost every day on the hike. I've lived in commercial strawberry country, and I think I've seen more plants on this hike than in the vast fields of central coastal California.
Road walking was the theme of the day, lots of road walking. Most are former logging roads, but some are also recreational, when hiking is the lowest on the food chain. We can always get plowed down by a bike, but only sometimes by a motorcycle or ATV. So far people have been sane.
It's not even dark yet, and I'm nodding off. I thought I got a lot of water today, but I'm so thirsty. Hopefully there will be water early tomorrow.
Saw Sara and Oshi today. They were northbound, making up a small section. The Otter also showed up, making it a gathering of six CDT thru-hikers in one place.
We are camped on an open hillside, but on a level spot.
