2004 HikeBy Diane Dorn We have arrived at the bowl that holds Breeze Lake by 2 pm, and there is a slight breeze coming through from the pass. Lying out on the rocks, looking across the lake, voices echo off the wall. Where are the hikers? The voices aren't from our group. The splashing and shrieks from jumping into the frigid waters have ended. The cross-country route up the wall has been scouted, so now we just relax. No mosquitoes; what a relief from the meadow we hiked through this morning. Tomorrow I will lead the group cross-country to Chain Lakes. It should not take too long and they will have another afternoon to be lazy and enjoy the sounds, smells and the feel of a mountain lake. I am nervous and yet excited. I have taken myself cross-country in the past, but never have I led inexperienced hikers who were dependent on me. The girls did well climbing up the mountain with full packs; it was a tough climb, yet we made it in less time than anticipated. Lots of photos; this is the highest point we will reach in our hiking. Now just downhill to the lakes. Walk ten feet, stop, help the person behind you over the gap, up the step, down the step, under the branches. What was quick going up is very slow going down. There goes Denean, skipping over all the places others need help with. She has really come to life today. No complaints, smiling, showing she can do this. The pace slows, making it difficult to judge how far we've traveled; yet they keep asking. I need to angle 10 degrees west to meet the second lake. No way to go west, I can't take them uphill. They have been doing so well, yet spirits are slipping. We left camp two hours ago- how far have we gone? I'm not sure, check the map again. I didn't miss the trail. No way, I can't miss the trail. The girls are hungry and now getting tired. They want to know how long. I can't tell them, so all I can say is "soon." Let them take a break; we'll form a sight line with the adults: one stays with the girls four come with me. A turn in the path, leave one adult, continue with three, over a hill, leave one adult, two with me, into some trees leave one adult, one with me. Through the trees and there's the trail. Leave the one and see how close to my point I wanted to get to. "Yeah! How close, I came within 50 feet." Running back down the trail: "We're here, I'll go let the girls know." I reach the girls. "Have we arrived?" "Yeah, we're here, only five minutes, your pace." Denean asks for a stopwatch. Good, I kept my word. Five minutes their pace. "It's 12:30. The rest of the day is yours to relax. Great hike, let's swim. Anybody want to go for a hike after we swim?" "NO"
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