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The trail was level for at least a mile. Then we had to turn left and cross a creek to begin an ascent, of probably six to eight hundred feet, skirting around and up a mountain. It was all densely wooded with Ponderosa and Sugar Pine, Coast Redwood, Sequoia, Western Red Cedar, Tanbark Oak, Madrone, Douglas Fir, Whitebark and Foxtail Pine, Mountain Hemlock and alpine meadows. Of course I did not know the names of all this stuff. I just looked it up. The name of a tree by any name 'is not a tree', has always been my philosophy. For me a tree is as I feel and experience it.
Close to the top we encountered a thunder and lightening storm. We had to pitch the little tent we had really fast. I picked a soft spot on spongy moss in a hollow, off down hill from the trail. Sophia gave me a rope and said to find a branch and throw the rope over it. I didn't know what she was talking about - what for? "Bears" she yelled. The wind was blasting through the trees and drops of rain were beginning to fall, and I was wandering around trying to find a branch, but with these giant trees there was nothing. I didn't find a branch and it began to pour. We dove for the tent which leaked like a sieve, especially from the bottom.
I had to pick a swamp to pitch in - but well it was soft. We had to get out of there fast. The rain slackened and stopped. We pulled up stakes packed up and went back up to the trail. We thought about tenting again on stone hard ground, but with no mats of any kind.
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