5.2 miles, 3140' gain, 850' descent

"Only five miles", he says.

"This day is going to be easy", he says.

I don't know if it was fatigue from the day before, or if the trail following up alongside the Carbon Glacier was unusually steep, or if it was the heat and resulting sweat dripping everywhere, but my pace was glacially slow (ba-dum, see what I did there?)

Further up the trail enters Moraine Park, which is a wonderland (the puns just keep coming today, eh?) of meadows and marmots and summit views. Then a gentle downhill to Mystic Lake, at which point words fail me. I can find no more puns. Is this the spot where I want my ashes scattered someday? Of course not, because it's a fragile environment that doesn't need messing with. Meanwhile my soul says YES OF COURSE.

I can't put my finger on just what makes this place so special. The lake is large, and varies in color depending on which angle you view it. It's backed by interesting peaks in all directions, but no summit views unless you climb up to the nearby ranger cabin (which is a worthy extra 0.4 miles). It's just a perfect lake. A perfect place.

Mystic Camp is 0.2 miles downhill past Mystic Lake. I set up camp, ate dinner, then hiked back up to the lake to enjoy the sunset, only to discover my camera battery was flat and the spare was back at camp! Fastest 0.4 miles I ever ran :-)

It got windy during the night, so I didn't sleep well. Gusts kept blowing a super fine dust into my tent, covering all my gear and getting in my eyes. Where is this coming from? I would find out tomorrow...