The hike yesterday went very well. It was a big elevation change in a short distance, but unlike out east, they use a lot of switchbacks going up a mountain. Roads and trails in the east go straight up the hills. Roads and trails in the west weave back and forth up the hills. I think I held up slightly better than 7 of 12, whose ability to exercise has been limited in recent years by the birth of his son and the long hours he works. 7 and I had some nice conversations on our three hour trek up and down the mountain.

The weather here has been absolutely gorgeous, but apparently back home it is flooding. All traffic was shut down in my county and neighboring counties due to rain. None of my family was flooded out, but a lot of properties near the river were, including one of the hospitals.

Anyway, today I went to Mount St. Helens. in Washington. It was absolutely spectacular. Even now, twenty six years after the eruption, the area has barely recovered. I walked on volcanic ash, and could see rows and rows of dead trees, still standing even now. I went for a four mile hike and got as close to the volcano as I could, but due to some recent volcanic activity that was not as close as I would have liked. Great day though, except for a bit of sunburn. Tomorrow, I will hike the Columbia river gorge.