For two months, my friend Bruce has been in a hospital in Texas. His gallbladder is four times the normal size. Before surgery, his duodenum ulcer needs to heal.

Each week, I send him hiking stories from my journal and funny athletic failures.

Nason Ridge High Alpine Lookout, October 31, 2017

Karen and I hiked 12 miles round trip. By Fall, we are stronger and can do longer hikes. Days are getting shorter.

"If I had known we were going to gain 5,000 feet elevation, I wouldn't have gone," Karen joked. Up-and-down we went, sliding on snow, climbing increasingly steep hills. Snow was softer in the afternoon.

Temperature dropped as we gained elevation. It got icy underfoot. We used micro-spikes for the last half-mile to the lookout.

Howling winds were the leading edge of tomorrow's snowstorm in the mountains. At the fire lookout, I crept out on a precipice to photo Glacier Peak. Sheer drop-offs on three sides.

Stood up and was blown backward into an evergreen tree by a powerful gust. Frightened, I dropped and crawled off the precipice. Got the photo.

Descending, we entered a burned forest. Silver trees were crashing down in high winds. Sounded like gunshots. Worried about being hit by falling trees, Karen and I sprinted through the silver forest. Near the end of the long hike. Amazing how adrenaline boosts your energy.

Dusk slid into dark. Used a headlamp for the last mile. Karen forgot her headlamp. I led and lighted the way.

A spectacular day.