"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face." This quote, attributed to Mike Tyson (along with its variants), frequently goes through my mind whenever I think about heading outdoors. Blue skies lead to big plans which often get upset by weather, trail closures, physical abilities, or full parking lots.
Kristen and I had plans to take a boat across Two Medicine Lake, climb two summits and hit the boat on the way back. A missed boat (both ways) and a thunderstorm changed our plans to one summit, a longer trail hike, and a bonus moose.
As you're heading out this summer, especially in the national parks, make sure you're bringing along your patience and flexibility. It's also not a bad idea to bring along a warm hat, gloves, and a rain jacket... and maybe a map with a couple of other options should the need arise.
Check out our climb up Mount Helen on a wonderfully variable day and hope you find grand adventures both planned and unplanned. As Jagger and Richards famously said, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometime, you'll find you get what you need."
the trail awaits...
Jake and Kristen
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