Nine
“I know the hike is four miles each way, but what’s the elevation gain?” Ben asked, craning his neck to stare up at the granite outcrop that towered above the pines climbing its shoulders.
“I believe the lake sits at about eighty-five hundred feet. We’re standing at just under seven thousand,” June replied. She slipped her arms through the straps of her backpack. “So, we’ll climb about sixteen hundred feet. I promise, it’s not that bad. Not too steep, and the trail is fairly well maintained.”
“So, this is your start-of-summer tradition?”
“Yep, since I started teaching. The first couple years, before Aelissm, Luke, and Pat came out here, I hiked with Nick and Beth Hammond.”
“And apparently their son happened on one of those hikes?”
June laughed. “Thankfully, no. They both have mo
