= Trail Creek CG to Noah Pickup Near Callahan Day 4 =
I wake at dawn to a chilly morning, make coffee and breakfast and walk down to the riverside. A sign near the outhouse informs that this campsite has numbered "reference trees" which are watched by the forest service for purposes of estimating timber value and growth. A sign in front of a majestic pine in the picnic area declares that it is 200 ft tall 86" around and contains 22,000 board feet of lumber. On the way to the riverside I set down my coffee to admire the cones and wonder at another of these silent giants. I'm filled with mixed feelings, on the one hand awe at this incredible tree and on the other hand at the tragedy of our decades of destruction which felled so many of its companions for so little gain.
{{../2021-06-01-sugarpine.jpg|Sugarpine Cones|width=75%}}
After breaking camp, I head back to the river for a morning swim. Last night when I pulled in I sent a message over satellite to Noah letting him know I'd likely want pickup near Callahan. I notice how I've changed. The former me would have at least waited until today to send to Noah, thinking something like, "I wouldn't want to bother him until I'm 100% sure I'm not going to pull the full 50 miles to his house." But I know my motivation to ride 50 miles on another 100 degree day is far too small to go for it, which is a change. I've done stunts like that in past years, and can let the need be fulfilled. I also have a sense that I've spent so much of my energy over my life hardening my body thru trials and effort, and I've decided that now that I'm over 50, it is time to enjoy the fruits of that labor.
There is a part of me which scoffs at my plan for a 20 mile day with less than 2000 feet of climbing. This part tempts me with the imagined potential glory of arriving at Noah's house after the epic ride. This part of me helped me out in my 20s to defeat my "weak and skinny" self-image from childhood. This part of me helped to push me to build strength. But I'm not needing that anymore. I don't need a story of an epic ride to prove my strength, because I've learned what is true strength.
And, what I've decided is important to me on this tour is enjoyment and relaxation. It doesn't matter that I'm taking 4 days to ride what others (including myself at age 23) would ride in one day. Perhaps I will do more epic rides, there is an enjoyment of pushing my body to the limit. But not on this tour. On this tour, I sit by the stream until I feel ready to plunge into the frigid rushing water and then scamper over to the spot of sunlight on the bank and watch the bees enjoy sweet pink nectar as my pimply skin steams away.
{{../2021-06-01-salmon-swim-hole-trail-creek-cg.jpg|Salmon Swim Hole Trail Creek CG|width=75%}}
{{../2021-06-01-carter-pass-view.jpg|Carte-3r Meadows Summit|width=75%}}
{{../2021-06-01-the-final-descent.jpg|The Final Descent|width=75%}}
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