Mile 44.5 – 63.4
Our guide book marked a significant stretch of today as being an “unnaturally straight meadow”. We were not disappointed, as we did hike in a very straight line for more than six miles. Meadows are pretty rare so high up in the mountains, and as long as it’s not too hot and sunny, they’re quite pleasant to be in. My dad swore this marshy meadow was the ultimate location to spot a moose. He spent the six miles looking around in search of the mystical creature, but unfortunately only spotted squirrels and pikas. Today was also the day we witnessed the largest ant nest I have ever seen, stretching more than five feet in each direction, and if seemed as if the entirety of the mound was constantly shifting with formic horror.
I don’t like ants. I do have a soft spot for pikas though, who resemble a cross between field mice and rabbits. They stand high on their hind legs, letting out a not very menacing ‘eeek’ when we approach, before running off.
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