Having perfect weather but a start time of 1100 from the state park or West Ridge trailhead, I hiked steadily up to Rimrock before 1400, and after lunch blazed northerly towards South Peak. All the old blazes got fresh paint, plus another 10-12 trees that have grown big enough to take a blaze on their trunks. They’ll help guide hikers in winter.<\/p>\nRemarkable among passing hikers was one who mentioned that his sister, among others, has taken to demolishing cairns as they hike trails; she claims cairns diminish habitat for wild
\ncreatures. I explained how cairns guide travelers in winter or across open areas with no trace of a trail, around the world, for thousands of years. They actually create new habitat for
\nwild creatures. He said he would pass this viewpoint on to his sister and her internet friends.\n
Blazing is slow work, and I used every reasonably opportune tree trunk for a new blaze. I reached the Ranger Cabin Trail junction after 1600, had a snack, and decided I’d rather descend in daylight than stagger on wearing my headlight. I got down to my truck at dark, 1900. Still to blaze is from that junction to the ranger cabin and up Clark Trail to the summit, where Kim stopped blazing from the north on Friday 8\/16.<\/p>\n