Connie makes an honest man of me

Her name is Connie, and if I hadn't met her I wouldn't have pushed myself so far today. Tammi, my intended hiking companion, bailed due to the heat. But it wasn't the heat so much as the humidity, which weighed on Tiger Mountain Hikers today. I squeezed water out of my sweatband several times during the hike as evidence.

I met Connie where Tiger 3 intersects the Talus Rock Trail. We talked. She said she was training for Mount Blanc. I thought she would be a good incentive to head toward the top instead of toward the caves, and off we went.

Connie is from Nebraska, and worked the Alaskan oil fields. She is familiar with Lynden Transport, and has been to an ice island, which Lynden trucks resupplied. She also has traveled extensively in Africa and is planning a trip to the Far East after she returns from Europe. I told her about my time in Cambodia and gave her my e-mail address in case she wants to learn more.

We parted at the 2.2 mile mark -- farther than I expected to get. But it was a good time to head back, because by the time I reached the Fit I was spent.

Because I had forgotten my Discover Pass, I parked in the lower lot. So where were the legs of the trip:
0.5 miles: Lower lot to trailead
2.2 Distance to 2.2 mile point from Trailhead; .8--distance to Talus Rock Trail from Trailhead
1.1 Distance from turnaround to Talus Rock Trail.
0.4 Distance to caves
0.9 from caves to flat
0.5 from flat to bus and back to flat entry point
0.7 from flat entry point to car

6.3 miles: total distance hiked (conservative estimate
Elevation gain: at least 1,000 feet

Statistics:

Distance: At least 6.3 miles
Load:light backpack with Platypus
Time: under 4 hours
Elevation Gain: 1,000 feet at least

Stats, year to date:

Distance: 140.20 miles
Elevation gain: 31,400 feet