Day 131 Smoke, Diamond Peak and Mushrooms

Day 131 Smoke, Diamond Peak and Mushrooms
23.88 miles
From Windigo Pass (mile 1879.8, elevation 5827)
To trail camp approaching Shelter Cove (mile 1902.5, elevation 6421)
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Descend 3041

I laughed at this whimsical sign. There was a small lake a little way off the trail where you could collect water.

Today’s walk surrounded the Emigrant Fire, so there were more signs of smoke than I had seen. But as the trail headed east of Diamond Peak, the air seemed to clear as Diamond Peak blocked the smoke from the west.

Morning sun through clouds/smoke and reflecting on Windigo Lakes

Smoky landscape after leaving the camp towards the ridge.

Smoke was very evident over the hill when near Diamond Peak.

Smoke layer looking north from Diamond Peak

I’ve never really studied mushrooms, but the diversity of them (and other mushrooms) really caught my attention in the morning. Where I identified one in the photo caption, it came from the Seek app and a sanity check by searching for the name when I had an internet connection. I don’t have enough experience to attest to those identities. That also explains why I didn’t eat any of the mushrooms I found along the way.

Veiled Purple Wax Cap

Yellow Coral Mushroom

thaw clitocybe

Gnome Plant: It is not a real mushroom, but it does not have chlorophyll.

The top of the forest floor is a layer of organic matter about an inch thick, like a mat. The fungi push that layer up.

Fungi pushing up the layer of organic matter.

While stopping for lunch, I played around with the lyrics to “Trail Angel” and got some decent ones for all the verses. I still have to play with them a little more.

I received a warning from Becky about lightning, dry conditions and high winds. The sky is no longer light blue, but is almost completely cloudy. We’ll see what the afternoon has in store for us.

There was a very light drizzle shortly after receiving Becky’s warning. But it seemed to slow down (and the sky cleared) after walking to the far side of the mountain from the Emigrant Fire.

Partridge – I like the complexity of the leaves.

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