July 19 - Elk Lake Stopover and the Sisters

July 19 - Elk Lake Stopover and the Sisters

Although today was supposed to be a short day I decided to make it a little longer. I was running short of contact solution so I thought I might check out the store at Elk Lake Resort, especially since I knew I'd be ahead of the crowd. Arriving early at the trail junction I stowed my pack behind some trees and quickly walked the mile to the resort. I arrived at 10:15, a full forty-five minutes before they opened! Now what resort that caters to campers and fishermen doesn't open for breakfast? Apparently this one. Fortunately they had a plug outside and I had brought my charger. A few minutes before eleven I saw someone inside and asked though the open window where the store might be. The woman invited me in and showed me the store, all eight feet of it. When she found out what I was looking for she called around to other stores but couldn't find any. That was really nice of her. 

About that time Alex and his dad, Mark, arrived for resupply and lunch. I decided to stay long enough for a milk shake, which they had heard were awesome. It was a good shake, made with real icecream, but I'm not sure it was worth the eight bucks it cost. Mark and Alex weren't completely sure they were going to make it to our prearranged campsite so we said our goodbyes. 

I walked back up the trail and picked up my pack and entered the Three Sisters Wilderness. All along the trail today I wondered when the forest would give way and I might see the Three Sisters. It took most of the afternoon, but late in the day the trees melted away and gave me an awesome view of the south Sister, one of three dormant volcanoes in a row. As I walked across the meadow I met a couple and asked about my friends, who I assumed to be ahead of me. The couple said they had seen them about 90 minutes before. As I was within a mile of our prearranged camp area I thought they had skipped it for some reason. I was right. They were nowhere to be seen. So with the sun starting down I kept on to the next likely spot. Almost an hour later there they were, playing in another meadow. I was happy to see they had waited for me. Now we just had to see if Mark and Alex were going to make it. Sure enough, an hour later they arrived. We all had dinner together, swapped stories, and made plans for tomorrow. We'll stop at Obsidian Falls before moving on to our separate destinations. 

Mark and Alex

South Sister revealed. 

Our campsite next to a babbling brook. 

Hiker Trash. Alex, Monica, Bill, Carlos, Roberto, Mark. 

Lupine

Really big Lupine. 

Hikingsolo (aka Allen)