Climbed Horse Lake Mountain today and tried out a new hiking partner.
What a steep hike! Great views. We hiked twelve miles with over 2,500 feet of elevation gain.
I hiked with Karen and Charlie, a retired third-grade teacher I met on Fitness Singles dating website. This was a tryout for Charlie as a hiking partner. He was fun and kept up. Karen is moving to Yakima in October. I will miss her.
"You and Karen are both strong hikers," Charlie said. "I need a nap," he repeated after the hike. He usually hikes only four or five miles.
We did a big loop. Karen and I like returning a different way. Runners understand this.
At the summit, we found two bronze 1941 U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey markers. The bronze markers were a foot off the ground after high winds scoured away dirt and rocks. Karen put rocks around the markers so people don't trip on them.
We steeply descended in a cool, shady gully. In places it was so steep, I thought, "This is slicker than coon shit." Ha. That's what I get from reading books by Southern writers.
Almost back to the cars, we found a lone apple tree leftover from the original homestead.
Hiking in eastern Cascade Mountains, we find traces of original homesteads: fruit trees, rock chimneys, the original house footprint, Honeysuckle bushes they planted, etc. It's so arid, it's amazing the apple tree survived without irrigation.
Photos. The haziness is from wildfire smoke.
Nearby Enchantment Mountains had no snow after an extreme heat wave and drought.
We were shocked by far less snow on Glacier Peak. Usually it looks like a snowball.
Original homestead apples were not ripe yet.
U.S. Coast and Geodetic markers at the summit. Photos taken last year. Different weather.
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Cyklone
Level 7
Sep 17, 2021
1
Arid (dictionary.com)
being without moisture; extremely dry; parched: arid land; an arid climate.
Annual rainfall is far less than in Western Washington. In the center part of the state (Wenatchee), rainfall is approximately 7 to 9 inches.
@LiterateHiker I know the definition but I live in the driest state in the driest country in the world. Our idea of arid is a little different. I had to upload photo to first comment
Where do you live? Which state?
@LiterateHiker South Australia 
Your countryside looks beautiful.
How long did that take?
Jolanta
Level 9
Sep 17, 2021
2
I figure it took us five hours to hike 12 miles. We didn't stop to rest.
We normally hike two miles/hour. This was a steep hike.
Karen picked us up at 9 a.m. The gravel road was terrible. She had to drive slowly. We stopped for lunch at the summit. I got home at 3:30.
@LiterateHiker Did you have to go to bed at once after all that work?
Although I felt like I'd been beaten with a 2x4, I carried on.
Was much better after nine hours of sleep.
@Paracosm, @Julie808, @Larimar, @Ohub, @KKGator, @Sierra4, @NoMagicCookie, @Lauren, @Redheadedgammy, @SeaGreenEyez, @Gwendolyn2018, @bobwjr, @MyTVC15, @anglophone, @freedom41, @HippieChick58, @Mitch07102, @xenoview, @HankSherman, @Bigwavedave
Here's another photo from today's hike.
I love the Bonsai look of this tree. It lost its top, probably from lightning.
Alone at the summit braving high winds and little rain.
LiterateHiker
Level 9
Sep 16, 2021
11
Awesome
Nice
Naturally occurring Bonsai is the best kind!
It is a great picture. I hope you find another hiking partner. I know how much you love it. Hiking alone in normal terrain is easy enough. Hiking elevation alone at elevations and with significant elevations bears significant risks. Will you hike solo?
I never hike alone. It's unsafe. What if I get lost or hurt?
"Hey, pretty lady! Where are you spending the night? We'll join you!"
It was terrifying.
Guys on horses with guns and booze were riding uphill for the high hunt. One-by-one, my women hiking partners had dropped out. So I backpacked alone to beautiful Spider Meadows.
That night alone in the tent, I jerked with every snap and crackle in the woods. Expected to be raped and/or killed.
At first light, I packed up and ran eight miles to the car with a 40-pound backpack bouncing on my back.
@LiterateHiker yes, I recall you telling that story. One of my good friends hikes alone often. He has fallen twice in the last three years. He broke his wrist and had a very difficult time making it back to his car as there were ladders indeed. I hope you find a new reliable hiking partner.
Lovely pictures! Hope your new hiking partner turns out to be a good fit for you. 
Redheadedgammy
Level 9
Sep 16, 2021
2
Beautiful pictures as usual. Is he a keeper?
xenoview
Level 8
Sep 16, 2021
2
Only as a hiking partner. The jury is still out about that.
His short beard is like a white wire brush. It would tear my tender skin.
To my disgust, Charlie repeatedly hawked and spit on the trail. I had to step over it. Yuck.
Have never been around a man with that coarse habit. Gentlemen don't do that in front of women.
So does Charlie get a second date? Sounds like a good day.
HippieChick58
Level 9
Sep 16, 2021
3
I am not attracted to Charlie. His short beard is like a white wire brush. It would tear my tender skin.
To my disgust, Charlie repeatedly hawked and spit on the trail. I had to step over it. Yuck.
@LiterateHiker YUCK indeed.
@LiterateHiker ooops, I should have read the comments first! LOL. Sorry Charlie was a dud. 
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