July 8

7/8

22 miles (1030 to 1052, Kinney lakes)

We are in familiar territory tonight. We are close to home, hiking on part of the pct that we have been on before. Clay knew of some camp sites on a lake slightly off the trail. We got to camp around 6:30 and clay made a fire, the first that we have had on our own. We sat holding up socks and shoe foot beds to try to dry out after soaking rains today. 

We woke up last night to a tree falling, it was loud and scary and we realized this morning, only about 100 feet away. When we got up this morning the sun was out, but we were soggy. Everything was damp. We hiked with the intention of laying everything out, mostly the tent and sleeping bag, while we ate lunch or second breakfast but the sun didn't stay out for long. Thunderstorms rolled in and it was hailing and raining by 11. It didn't let up till 3. We are starting to become annoying with getting stormed on. 

At first we tried to find a dry spot in some trees to wait for it to move on, but it became apparent that the storm wasn't going anywhere. So we headed out into the rain and lightening. It was wet and cold. When it cleared up around 3, it was beautiful. The sun never did come back out and sprinkles forced us away from the fire and into our damp house.