Hey, just got back from that hiking trip we talked about. The weather was perfect, not too hot and barely any bugs. We tackled the 10-mile loop around Mirror Lake. The elevation gain was steady, nothing too brutal. The wildflowers were just starting to bloom near the meadow. I was thinking a lot about what you said regarding trail conditions. You were totally right that spring is the sweet spot before the summer crowds hit. We had the whole summit to ourselves for about 20 minutes. I have been sorting through the photos I took. There is one from the ridge at sunset that turned out amazing. I also finally tried out that new camping stove. It boiled water in under two minutes. Let me know if you want to borrow the gear list for your trip next month. Hope you and the family are doing well. Let us catch up properly over coffee or a beer sometime soon. Take care and talk later.

I finally decided to try baking sourdough from scratch. It took a few tries to get the starter right. I kept feeding it and waiting for it to bubble. The first loaf I baked was a little flat but the flavor was surprisingly good. I followed a tutorial online that made it look so easy. The second loaf had a much better rise and a nice crunchy crust. It is really satisfying to make something so basic but so delicious. I have been experimenting with adding different types of flour. Spelt and rye add a nice nutty taste. I also learned that the hydration level of the dough makes a huge difference. A wetter dough creates bigger air pockets in the crumb. I am thinking of trying a cinnamon raisin version next weekend. Let me know if you want a loaf dropped off. It freezes pretty well too. Anyway, just thought I would share my new obsession. Hope you are having a good week.