Day 14.199: Clouds and flowers on the piste

Our hike to Saddleback summit on Day 14.190 was short, steep, difficult and wet and although we got a few glimpses of the view from part way up, it was - as we discovered a tiny fraction of what you can see on a clear day. Here is a flavor of it:

One thing the slow ascent up the steep ski trail was good for was seeing all the many wildflowers (and a wild strawberry). These were all taken on the ski trails on our way up the mountain. All the more amazing when you think that for a good part of the year this ground is buried under several feet of hard-packed snow: