July 12
Graduation in the past, Pete dons his working threads and we head for the Marble Mountain Wilderness. At the top of a climb we meet a man who introduces himself as the UNIBONGER. Indeed he is, and it is quite a while before we are on the trail again - and almost out of water.

Suddenly the valley floor drops away into shadows, the trees thin out, and we are high on a mountainous ridge in the sweltering sun. It's a strange, beautiful, and thirsty walk to Shelley Lake.

| Pete's Journal
July 13
These unexpected mountains have us as excited as children. We hop from one side of the ridge to other, finding magical lakes and heartening views. We pass stark Marble Mountain, search for hidden springs, and finally come to rest on the long grass of Big Ridge. The wind sings us to sleep under a vast starry sky.
| Pete's Journal
July 14
The trail has brought to life a new knowlege in us: there are many wonderful people in this world. We are dirty, stinky, hairy people, but all along our journey people have helped us without cause and treated us kindly. Today a group of equestrian women make us sandwiches, and when we reach Seiad Valley we have the good fortune to make it to Ashley Regan's Wildwood Lodge.

I can't list all the incredible favors Ashley does for us, but we will always have a warm place for Seiad Valley due to him.

| Pete's Journal
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