Navaho Peak, Navaho Pass — Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025

I went on a hike today without my dogs. Sigh... 

It was kind of a spur of the moment decision to leave them home and I felt horrible all day, but it is what it is. It was nice being truly alone, but if you think I hike fast when the dogs are with me...holy smokes...I practically ran to get home to them today. 13.7 miles, 4,250 ft vert, average 16:30 miles with my pack. Either way, with or without them, it seems I can't relax. 

Anyway, I got started up the trail around 9:30am. There were two other vehicles in the lot on this Tuesday morning.  The trail is super dry and dusty, as usual this time of year. The first 3 miles or so are mostly in the trees and just a mild incline, so it was pretty cool busting through there. I passed one person picking huckleberries and then another carrying an overnight pack up. Those were the 2 vehicles so I knew I likely wouldn't see anyone else on the way up. 

I kept pressing on. Just after the big meadow I saw a very large deer. I must have startled it as much as it startled me. At the "moon landing" section there was full sun, but a little breeze, so the 80° temp didn't feel too bad. I made it to the summit at 11:40. I've been up there so many times there wasn't much need to linger. I drank my first water of the day, took a few pics and headed back down for my least favorite part - the hike out. 

On the way out I passed 3 different people hiking in, one of them just picking berries, I think. There were tons of thimbleberry and huckleberry, which I noticed more on the way out. Wildflowers are a bit past peak at this point but they aren't completely gone. There are definitely still some decent ones remaining. 

I rolled my ankle twice, nothing unusual, which is why I wear my boots. This time I also somehow rolled my leg right above my boot level and thought I broke it, with two miles to go. It was the sharpest pain ever and I dropped and could barely put any weight on it, but it wasn't my ankle. It was much higher. It was weird. I think it is ok. I grumbled a lot more on the final hike out. Not sure what I would have done without an emergency beacon, but anyways. Probably hopped out on one leg, knowing me. lol. 

I got home around 3:00, happy to see my girlies, but still mentally poopy today. Mountains + exercise do help though. Life is messy. Take care of yourselves.