6.4 miles, 900' gain, 2900' descent

A short, easy day, almost a rest stop. After a couple of levelish miles across to Mowich Lake, we spread everything out to thoroughly dry, pick up our resupply buckets from the ranger cabin, and hang out relaxing for hours. B and A and S visit, bringing treats including lemonade, fresh bread, mozzarella, and SALAD OH MY GOD YES! It's so fresh and crunchy and great. We go for a swim, and it's lovely to be reminded of things beyond this narrow intense time of my being away doing Mountain.

We leave Mowich midafternoon, feeling great that gear is solidly dry all the way through for the first time in days. We're carrying excess water because we know there'll be no good source at our camp for tonight, with the next opportunity being on the far side of the river beyond where we're stopping. We quickly drop several thousand feet through forest to the valley floor, cross the North Mowich River on a convenient log bridge (thanks, trail crew!) and nab campsite #1, which is a log shelter rather than the usual open patch of ground. Wary of mice, we set up tents inside the shelter.

It's a cool but strange place to sleep, with light only reaching my tent from one side and a second roof keeping my tent dry when it rains during the night. My knee feels better. I fall asleep to a jumble of thoughts about closeness, distance, independence, and flourishing.