The last morning at Sherwin Lakes. We broke camp slowly, knowing what it meant. The hike out took us through a marshy meadow to connect with the main trail, and the going was easy compared to the off-trail scrambling we'd been doing for the last two days.
Along the way, we found a chunk of obsidian sitting right on the trail and stumbled across the remains of an abandoned camp. Whoever was there left plenty behind. It was the kind of discovery that makes you wonder how many other camps are scattered through these mountains that nobody's found in years.
And just like that, four days in the Sierras were over. This trip changed something in me. I'd never been to this part of the mountains before, and now I can't imagine not coming back. I'm hopeful that the people who visit this place will keep treating it with the respect it deserves. As for me, I aim to make it back to this area, but next time with my own bride-to-be.