[pct-l] Trail Memories

[radney@ix.netcom.com]

Eah of us have memories of wonderful times we have had on a 
trail.  I would love to hear some of yours and will start by 
sharing the following.  I have posted this before,so if you 
have read it, sorry -- but please send one of yours to 
share.  Thanks


TRAIL DREAMS

Walt and I had left Echo Lake several days before and were 
headed up to Donnor Pass. We had hiked from the Desolation 
Wilderness into the Granite Chief Wilderness and were almost 
to Donnor Pass. Our days had been full of ever changing 
terrain; we had been treated to the magnificent views of the 
Lake from high above Tahoe, crossed the snow covered trail 
down Dicks Pass, over lofty summits of granite peaks, around 
Lake Aloha and with it's quiet beauty, down passes into 
evergreen trees, and through beautiful meadows and hillsides 
that were still blooming with Lupines, Indian Paintbrush and 
Mules Ear Daisies. My feet hadn't stopped hurting me, but my 
heart was full of wonder and thankfulness that I had been 
blessed to have seen such beauty. I would celebrate my 55th 
birthday the next day and we planned on being in town to 
have big breakfast the next day for the occasion.  Alas, it 
was not to be, I hit the wall near Squaw Valley and it took 
all my strength just to get up the pass.  On the saddle at 
Tinker's Knob I sat on a log and told Walt I couldn't go 
another step! It was here that God had planned the most 
wonderful night for us.

Our sunset was so breathtaking.  The sky was a purple-pink 
with wispy clouds reaching to heaven in all directions.  It 
gradually grew darker and then the sky turned a bright blue 
full of twinkling stars and a full moon. I remember Walt 
kissing me goodnight, the birds singing close by and the 
breeze rustling the shrubs around our sleeping place.  The 
sounds lulled me to sleep, I felt at peace and my weary soul 
was soothed.

Almost before I knew it, the sky started to change with the 
advent of morning and the rising of the sun.  The clouds 
were a rosy pink and lined with gold as the sun shown from 
in back of them.  As the sun slowly rose in the east, the 
birds sang their joyous songs of greeting to a new day. Walt 
woke me with a kiss and wished me a Happy Birthday -- one I 
will always cherish -- God is so wonderful!  




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