Long Reverse
Monday, July 19, 2021
“The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.”
Went the other way around Long Lake (counterclockwise), and up the trail from the Brainard parking lot, instead of the road. I had checked the website for trailhead parking, but those lots seem entirely booked all summer—very odd. Spots at Brainard were filling up fast: there were six left on the website when I signed up.
I arrived amid numerous families, many with fishing poles, paddle boards, canoes, etc. There were a couple of kids pulling wagon-loads of pool noodles and potato chips, and probably everything else for a picnic in the park. Someone at the lake had set up a beach umbrella. Not a swatch of gore-tex anywhere in sight. This is not the Brainard of olden times—it’s become Cherry Creek Reservoir.
Well it was a blue sky day and almost 80 degrees at the lake, with nary a breath of wind. Probably ok to skip the rain gear. Unless you’re old-school, like me. I prayed for a thunderstorm. A cloud passed over, gave everyone a glance, and went on its merry way.