Mostly West Pike - Day 306

  Most of the day was spent walking along West Pike Lake, but first we had to pass the end of Clearwater Lake. These peninsulas always make interesting pictures.


This view is not into Canada, but looking south to the other side of Clearwater.


A number of vistas are marked on the maps. These are usually places where there is a bare rock and the trees don't block the view. It was a lovely warm day. Although Bill and David are standing in this picture, we all enjoyed sitting on the warm rocks.


You know you are a hiker when... you can nap on a hot rock and call it "perfectly lovely."


West Pike Lake was also lovely. This is one lake south of the border, so the opposite shore is not Canada. This view is farther east from where we rested.


We saw moose prints almost every day. This was one of the best. My foot for scale.


One of the best finds was dog lichen in reproductive mode. "Lichen porn," David said! Lichen is a symbiotic relationship between an algae and a fungus. They can reproduce in many ways. This is the fungal portion growing those red bumps at the edges. Those will produce spores. I can't begin to claim I understand lichen reproduction, but this was cool to see. Dog lichen gets its name from this exact stage. The growths look something like dog's teeth, and so in medieval times, it was used to treat rabies.


We finally reached Pine Lake Campsite on Pine Lake. I had stayed here before. It's a large site with great level places for a tent. The daylight was fading, but we got the camp chores done (tents, water, cache, dinner), and we built a campfire. As a backpacker, I've gotten so that I don't care much about a fire. However, with the company and cool evenings with early dark, it was fun to warm up and visit for a while.


Miles today: 9.5 (plus 0.5 mile on a spur). Total miles so far: .3574.3

See Clearwater