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This backpacking trip was six months in the making. Sounds dramatic but it kinda was. I recall, clear as the sunrise on that early December morning, waking up in Alabama Hills before dawn. The early rise was in order to make it into Lone Pine to siphon some wifi from the local Carls Jr, and apply for some backcountry permits. 4 people, 4 phones and 1 computer later (all thanks to "Camp Counsellor Brian") permits were secured. Flash forward to the end of June. The plan was to spend 5 days out in the backcountry. To date this would have been the longest backpacking trip I had been on, and I was determined to be prepared. What does prepared mean? Packing way too much trail mix, apparently. I have never tried so hard in my life to get rid of unwanted food. The chosen trail was one I had hike before, but without carrying an extra 25 pounds. It was rough. But the solitude and scenery made it all worth it. I took this photo while exploring some of the surrounding lakes near where we had set up camp. The wildflowers had been hiding from me until this very moment where they decided to show up in full force next to a somewhat terrifying talus field. When writing this, I told myself not to talk about how the mosquitos were so bad that we all decided to bail out a day early. But despite my best efforts, these pesky insects somehow manage to creep their way into every conversation my friends and I have about this trip. But honestly, I'd gladly trade one million mosquito bites and subsequent PTSD to relive these few days out in the wilderness with my friends.