New Binoculars!
After an extensive breakfast at Butch and Sandy’s house (thanks guys!), they drove Honeybuzz and me back to the trail and we hiked out with bursting stomachs. Eleven miles later, my dad met us at Highway 140 near Fish Lake with even more coolers full of food – good thing hikers have an unlimited appetite…
It was nice to see my dad for the first time in 1,650 miles, and he brought a wonderful gift. A representative at Leica, having heard about the loss of my binoculars several weeks ago in the Sierra, sent me a new pair as replacement, free of charge! For the first time in 900 miles, I’m hiking with binocs around my neck, and it feels great – just in time for my home state.
Honeybuzz and I continued hiking north into the Sky Lakes Wilderness, putting in about 21 miles. The mosquitoes are pretty thick; welcome to the Oregon Cascades…
Hooray, Noah! I’d be so glad to have binocs again, too! Leica was great to help you out… So, any ideas when you’ll get up to the Hwy 58 or Hwy 126 areas?
Article in today’s paper is talking about dangerous snow conditions up this way and in Washington for hikers this year, but I suspect you’re already aware of the conditions ahead of you…
Thanks for keeping us vicarious hikers posted!
Woo hoo! Binos in hand again… let the birdies fly-by!
(Oh and yes, the skeeters have been very thick in the Cascades…they are starting to decline, but probably not at the altitudes that you will be traversing!)
wow! good on Leica.
The word I’ve heard on Cascades skeeters is that they’re thick just below the snowline, where it melted say 2-3 weeks ago.
Good luck, Noah! May those new binos bring you much happiness!
Wow! So nice of LEICA to send you some new binocs!! Great PR for them! I just got a total knee replacement last week, so only backyard birding for a while for me. So, I want to read some great bird reports from you!
Yeah for your new binocs! I felt devastated for you when I read of your loss. Need to put some miles on this new pair now.