We arrive at our first junction of optional paths. The original tentative plan was to either continue along Cascade Valley at this point, or to cross Fish Creek again here and head south up to Marsh Lake. From Marsh Lake we would head northwest, paralleling Cascade Valley, past Lost Keys Lakes and meet back up with the Cascade Valley trail a little further along at Sharktooth Creek. From there we would continue west initially and then north into the Devils Postpile/Reds Meadow area. From there it would be a 5 mile hike back to the car. These routes were originally chosen basically to maximize the distance travelled, since early calculation put the trip only in the mid thirty mile range.

However, there was another alternative. We could climb northeast out of the valley and back up to Purple Lake. From there we would retrace our steps back to the start. This plan offered the shortest distance, which now was an important consideration. It also would get us out of the mosquito mecca of Cascade Valley the quickest. On the down side it required a nearly 2000 foot ascent to Purple Lake followed by another 500 foot ascent to Duck Lake. Phil is enduring some nasty blisters on his heels which are most troublesome on ascents, but since we are at our lowest elevation of the trip, we have to go up regardless of which route we take. The decision is quick and unanimous- we begin the climb up to Purple Lake.