I'm not zeroing in Snoqualmie Pass, so it's back to the trail today. After an intentionally slow start, I packed up my gear and started hiking.

Leaving Snoqualmie Pass involves a big climb right out of the gate, but you're rewarded at the top with a walk across a narrow ridge called The Catwalk. It normally provides stunning views, but it was shrouded in smoke for me. Oh well.

Eventually, though, I began the inevitable descent and passed by some alpine lakes, which were beautiful (like always).

When I finally set up camp, it was in a tight cluster of bearded trees. It was pretty cool to lay back and look up at it and watch the sky darken.