Angela’s hike.... We found a trail, Miller Peak, just east of Cle Elum with only two cars and a horse trailer parked at the trailhead. And the way was easy, though we had to ford two streams in bare feet and travel logs to cross others. It was about five miles in all, a shorter distance than usual. Some elevation gain, say, 2000 feet. In parts it was steep and at times when I pulled ahead far enough to silence their voices, I heard the wind in the ponderosas (sosheian) and savored clarity and abundance of thought. It was easy. All the running and biking and swimming has worked. In the past few weeks motivation has weakened and workouts thinned. But now I see the results and look forward to next week’s regimen. They said they liked hiking with women and it’s true, it’s better. We share pace and better food. We converse. We don’t wear watches. I hate stereotypes and stereotypical behaviors; I hate the people that make and uphold them. I hate hiking with men who treat the trail like a time trial. And I tire of women’s apprehension. I want to gag at excessive proclamations of nature’s beauty. But I want to go again despite the multitude of ambivalences. I like the day hike, the light and small pack up and down in a day trip. I never do those. It’s always the heavy full pack on a long trail or the heavy climbing pack in the snow. Kate, you want to go?

Wait.

-----Original Message-----
From: stranger@drizzle.com
Sent: Sunday, June 16, 2002 11:05 PM
To: kvnev@hotmail.com
Subject: hike?

Hey Kate,

When is your good day for a hike?