7.7 miles, 2500' gain, 2000' descent

Now THIS is what the Wonderland is all about. A big day, with big views. The mountain is out. Also too the sun.

It's cold as we set out along the first couple of level miles, frost crunching underfoot through Sunset Park. Then a big descent to the North Puyallup River, where we spread out tents to dry from last night's hailstorm while we eat lunch.

And then a big climb, up one of the rougher sections of the entire Wonderland. The trail is steep, narrow, brushy, and rooty. You can tell we're on the wet side of the mountain because Devil's Club, normally a bog plant, grows way up the sides of this valley.

We carried water up from North Puyallup, because the water source at Klapatche is Aurora Lake which at this time of year becomes shallow, silty, and full of tadpoles.

Klapatche Park has me pinching myself to make sure it's really true that I get to camp in such an amazing special place. This is our halfway point! For the first time this trip, the weather is good enough that other hikers gather for the evening, sitting on logs to eat dinner and watch sunset on the mountain reflected in Aurora Lake while goats and a bear forage on Aurora Peak above us. We chat and share stories.

Getting to hear the stories of other hikers was a highlight of this trip for me. Powerful things about celebration, adventure, grief, family, challenge, and loneliness. I will not share details here as they aren't my tales to tell.