When we reached the second smaller lake, I wanted a break and a chance to cool and water the dog. We dumped our packs and I threw a few sticks in for Dawg to rescue. I knew we start downhill from the lakes and that we intersect Highland Creek which is a perennial stream. Not too far down from the lake is a flat area on the topo map. I figured we would camp there near the creek. That was the original plan anyway, as I was concerned about camping too near infestations.
Tired, but with plenty of daylight we decide to press on as planned.

The trail down from the lake is much steeper than I anticipated. It is full of loose rock and a descent that should have taken us 15 minutes turns into a 45 minute exhausting section before the trail levels off. We run into a hunter and his wife and stop to talk to them. They had hiked down from Highland Lakes this morning looking for deer. They had seen nothing all day and were heading back out.

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