Smoke in the east
When I arrive at the lower falls I take off my backpack and pull out my camera. The trail has been climbing at a steady angle, and with a momentary break in the trees I at last have a view back to the east. The far ridges are obscured by smoke. I resign myself to missing the distant vistas that are one of the treats of a hike into the high country. The smoke looks even worse in the camera's viewfinder than it does to my eyes; I think that my polarized sunglasses cut through a lot of the reflected haze.