[Pictures here.]

Since I didn’t quite finish Section 6, we came up with a plan that was light on hiking (for those with whining tendencies) but high on views and interest.

First we stopped by the Taylor Creek Visitor’s Center, to see if the salmon were running the stream yet.  The unique Kokanee salmon turn bright red and return to this creek to spawn each fall, and I thought we might see a few along the Rainbow Trail.  Alas, we were a few weeks too early for the salmon, and just saw a few trout and bluegill.

However, the path which winds through aspen groves punctuating a grassy meadow wasn’t without interest.  I was especially intrigued by the aspen bark, not just the old carvings scabbed over until many are unreadable and delightfully abstract, but also the natural scars associated with old branches, shaped like Count Olaf’s ankle tattoo.

After that, we drove up to Echo Lake to take the water taxi to the far end of Echo Lake, only to find that the season had just ended and the last boat was headed up the driveway towards it’s winter storage.  A helpful resident named Steve agreed to give us a lift to the far end anyway, and we had a nice walk back only the granite massif constituting the north shore of the lake, admiring the diminutive cabins (accessible by water only) tucked in around the shore.

Again the air, sky and light were pristine, the terrain exquisite, and the ancient flora fascinating.  I could go on and on, but you really just had to be there - or as a poor substitute look at the pictures.

After that I did the short bit left up from Echo Lake to Echo Summit, where I started the previous day, completing the entire section, plus a little bonus mileage.

[Mileage: 142.0 | 4.5 (not including the boat ;-)]