Aug 9-10th - Heat wave continues!

Having us a heat wave, a tropical heat wave.

Well it was about 90 degrees riding from Cedar Creek to Holland Lake on Wednesday. Next day forecast to be 96, Friday 101, Saturday only 94 before returning to the 80s on Sunday. The 90 degree day really toasted me, at least after I had my post ride beer. I was not my normal get up and get 'er done self, and went to bed very early for me. We were planning on taking another day off to explore some water fun in the Lake Seely area, but seeing the forecast, it might be 2 or 3 days before the intense heat breaks. Glad I am not on a rigid schedule as the next day (and the few after) will be the hardest climbing on this trip to date. It also reportedly heads into a fantastic alpine cirque and want to be able to enjoy that more. Glenda and I avail ourselves to the local lakes, swimming to stay cool, and canoeing down the Clearwater river/wetlands to Seely Lake on Friday.
We hike out to Holland Falls from the campground and later go visit Gus, the oldest known western larch tree, a spry 1000 years old at a 153 ft tall. Gus is in a grove of ancient larch trees, open and park like just outside of Seely Lake.
While cooling our toes in the west side of Seeley Lake, we notice a strange cloud growing over the ridge of the Swan Mtns on a cloudless day. A fire for sure. It is the Brownstone fire burning in the Bob, being monitored by the forest service as it is in a wilderness area. It's been so hot (>100 degrees today), re enforces the urge to get moving  on the route before fires shut me down.